LANSING, Mich. – General Motors has announced a major investment in electric vehicles, and it’s going to bring thousands of jobs to Michigan.
This week, the automobile manufacturer announced a $7 billion investment, the biggest in GM’s history. The news comes with an announcement that GM will expand the Orion Township assembly plant, as well as build a new electric vehicle battery plant next to the current Lansing Delta Township plant.
Electric vehicles are the wave of the future, and GM says that Lansing will be the focal point of electric vehicle production.
GM has plans to producer 30 different kinds of electric vehicles by 2025. Lansing will serve as the headquarters for battery production, making it one of the most crucial cities for GM and the greater automobile industry. The move is expected to retain 1,000 jobs and create 4,000 more.
“This project really makes us a leader,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow, (D) Michigan, said at the announcement event. “If we are making those here in Michigan, that’s going to draw others to come.”
Sen. Stabenow added that she’s worked closely with GM to bring the production to Lansing. Having batteries built in Lansing, she says, will help make Michigan and America more competitive on the global front.
“China has put a huge amount of investment into electric vehicles,” she said. “We can’t let them take the lead when we are the ones to develop the technology.”
To help attract GM to Lansing for the battery plant, the city of Lansing and Michigan gave GM tax incentives and grants. It’s a move that’s garnered approval from Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
“We need to be aggressive,” Rep. Slotkin, (D) Michigan, said. “If we are not aggressive on attracting all kinds of tech firms, all kinds of innovation in automotive, battery technology, if we’re not aggressive, China is going to take those jobs… When they see investment going into a place, companies start paying more attention.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer added that GM’s battery investment helps continue Michigan’s rich history in the automobile industry.
GM will start building the battery plant this summer, and production is schedule to start towards the end of 2024.
