GM Invests $2.9 Billion in its First All-electric Vehicle Plant

General Motors has just announced a plan to invest $2.9 million at its Detroit-Hamtramck factory to build all-electric trucks and SUVs exclusively.

Due in late 2021, the first model on the assembly line will be a pickup that’s expected to wear a Hummer badge (with up to 1,000 horsepower and more than 600 kilometres of range, according to rumours). After that, GM will start manufacturing the Cruise Origin driverless vehicle unveiled last week in San Francisco.

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“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” said GM president Mark Reuss. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”

More than 2,200 jobs will be created when the plant becomes fully operational. The automaker will also invest over $1 billion in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks.

For example, the plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling, GM says.

Meanwhile, the battery cells for the electric vehicles to be manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck will come from Lordstown, Ohio as part of a joint venture with LG Chem, which is investing $3 billion of its own.

Detroit-Hamtramck currently employs around 900 people to produce the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala. It will be idled for several months beginning at the end of February as the renovations begin.