More than a year after saying it would shutter its Detroit-Hamtramck plant because of low demand for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Chevy Volt production, General Motors (GM) is pledging to invest $2.2 billion to make electric trucks and other electric vehicles (EVs) there.
The plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls, and tooling.
GM’s first all-electric pickup begins production in late 2021 and will be followed by the Cruise Origin, a shared, self-driving EV from autonomous vehicle (AV) startup Cruise, a company owned partially by GM and Honda. In Super Bowl commercials, the company pledged to revive the Hummer brand name as an EV pickup for the GMC brand.
When the plant is fully operational, this investment will create more than 2,200 good-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs. GM will also invest an additional $800 million in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks.
Since the fall of 2018, GM has committed to invest more than $2.5 billion in Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments at Orion assembly, GM battery lab in Warren, Brownstown, and the direct investment in Detroit-Hamtramck.
GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3 billion to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck.
“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” says Mark Reuss, GM president, during a press event at the plant. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”
Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates one shift of production, employing about 900 people to build the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. The plant will be idle for several months beginning in February as renovations begin. https://www.gmc.com
EV, hybrid adhesives
To lower battery cost, raise performance, and ensure operational safety and reliability, Henkel materials specialists have developed adhesives to quickly produce at large-scale, reduce the risk of thermal safety concerns, and enable various battery architectures including cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic cell designs. https://www.henkel-adhesives.com
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