LAKE ORION, Mich. (WXYZ) — General Motors announced Friday it will invest $300 million in its Orion Township assembly plant that will produce a new Chevrolet electric car.
The company says the plan will bring 400 new jobs to the Michigan plant.
As part of its continued business commitment, GM is investing a total of $1.8 billion in its American manufacturing operations, creating 700 new jobs and maintain 28,000 jobs across six states.
“We are excited to bring these jobs and this investment to the U.S.,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra during an announcement at the plant with employees, elected officials and community leaders. “This new Chevrolet electric vehicle is another positive step toward our commitment to an all-electric future. GM will continue to invest in our U.S. operations where we see opportunities for growth.”
The production of GM's new electric vehicle had been scheduled to be outsourced outside of the United States. But the decision to bring production to Orion was based on these factors, according to the company:
- The Orion plant currently builds the Bolt EV, and the new Chevrolet EV will be based off an advanced version of the same vehicle architecture.
- Moving production to a U.S. manufacturing plant supports the rules of origin provisions in the proposed United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement.
Other GM manufacturing plants adding jobs include Flint, Michigan; Spring Hill, Tennessee; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Arlington, Texas; and Toledo, Ohio.
UAW Vice President Terry Dittes released this statement regarding GM's Lake Orion investment:
“The great workforce at Lake Orion understands that today’s announcement will provide over 400 new jobs for a General Motors product of the future built by UAW Local 5960 members for years to come right here in Michigan. Today’s GM commitment of $300 million to build this electric vehicle, with our UAW members, is a good start on GM's investment toward keeping future manufacturing jobs here in America.”
Watch the announcement below:
