Governor Whitmer on GM’s Latest Investment to Develop Next-Generation Battery Facility in Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today released the following statement following the announcement by General Motors of an all-new Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center.

The new facility will significantly expand the company’s battery technology operations and accelerate development and commercialization of longer range, more affordable electric vehicle batteries from GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren.

“Michigan continues to prove it is not only home to a proud automotive manufacturing heritage but is also ground zero for the future of mobility and electrification. We are thrilled to welcome this new investment by General Motors as we continue to work together toward a carbon-neutral future, while at the same time underscoring our state’s leadership in creating the roads, talent and cars of the future.

“Today’s announcement continues to build on Michigan’s strong momentum throughout the automotive industry, having added 15,000 auto jobs and secured billions of dollars in additional investment to transform existing plants for electric vehicle production and to build new assembly plants. We look forward to growing our automotive, mobility and electrification leadership even further as we cement our role as the automotive and mobility capital of the world for generations to come.”

Today’s announcement by General Motors builds on a host of additional investments made by the company since January 2020, including:

• A $2.2 billion investment at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plan to produce battery electric trucks and other electric vehicles, creating more than 2,200 manufacturing jobs at the facility.
• Adding more than 1,200 jobs at its Lansing Grand River Assembly facility to support the launch of the Cadillac CT4 and CT5.
• A more than $100 million investment in the Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant to produce the next-generation GMC Acadia.
• A $32 million investment at the Flint Assembly plan for future production of heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.
• A $17 million investment in the Romulus, Michigan propulsion plant to enhance automation and increase capacity of GM’s 10-speed truck transmission, which is used in full-size pickups and other key products, including the all-new Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the Cadillac Escalade.
• A $3.5 million investment at Orion Assembly. An additional $750,000 will be invested at GM’s site in Brownstown Charter Township, Michigan. Both investments are related to additional production of the Cruise AV test vehicle at Orion Assembly.

This news further builds on the Governor’s announcements last month around innovative mobility initiatives and programs. This includes the Michigan Revolution for Electrification of Vehicles Academy/Academies to proactively prepare the talent needed for automotive mobility and electrification current, emerging, future jobs and career pathways. The Governor also announced the Lake Michigan EV Circuit to create an electric vehicle route with reliable charging options along Lake Michigan, as well as an initiative to develop the nation’s first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in the U.S. right here in Michigan.

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