General Motors wants to invest $7 billion and create 4,000 jobs across four manufacturing locations in Michigan as it transitions to an all-electric future.
The Detroit carmaker will expand its Orion Township plant, create an electric battery manufacturing facility in Lansing, and update two Lansing area factories, thanks to $824.1 million in state subsidies.
The $7 billion investment is the largest in GM's history, and its location in Michigan is perfect, according to Mary Barra, the company's CEO.
GM plans to invest $4 billion in converting an Orion Township plant to produce full-size electrified pickup trucks.
A total of 2,300 new positions, at an average of $27 per hour, will be added to the plant's present 1,000 employees.
Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said: "It will create ripple effects in our community for decades and decades to come."
The construction of the $2.6 billion electric battery complex in Lansing is estimated to produce 1,700 new jobs paying $22.50 an hour.
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A total of $510 million will be spent on two existing Lansing-area plants. "GM is redoubling their commitment to make it Michigan," Whitmer said, "building on our past and crafting our future as leaders in electrification."
GM is the first company to take advantage of a new $1 billion state economic incentive fund aimed at helping Michigan compete for business.
It was founded late last year after Michigan was denied an $11.4 billion Ford Motor Company investment in electric vehicles.
A $600 million vital industry program grant, a $66.1 million grant for public infrastructure renovations in Lansing, and a $158 million Renaissance Zone tax incentive were all authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Whitmer, standing in front of a large “Made in Michigan” project, said this investment shows Michigan can “compete for transformational projects.”
When the Orion Township and Lansing plants are completely operational in 2024, the manufacturer estimates it will be able to build 600,000 electric trucks.
They willl be joining the Factory ZERO plant in Detroit-Hamtramck, which launched as an electric car facility last year.
General Motors plans to roll out 30 electric vehicle models by 2025 and transition to solely manufacturing electric vehicles in 2035.
General Motors President Mark Reuss said: "All this is just the tip of the iceberg as we’re preparing to launch more vehicles, build more volume and extend our team’s reach even beyond automotive applications."
The Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra will be built in Orion Township. Factory ZERO is set up to produce new electric Hummer pickups and SUVs, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado and the Cruise Origin, a self-driving car.
Barra added the company is committed to helping Michigan be the epicenter of EVs, and that’s why we have these EV manufacturing facilities here.
