GM to convert Detroit plant to EV trucks

US automaker General Motors (GM) plans to convert its Detroit-Hamtramck plant in Michigan to produce all-electric trucks and sports utility vehicles by 2021.

GM will spend $2.2bn to idle and to renovate the plant, which currently runs one shift to produce the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala sedans, for several months at the end of February in order to produce the company's yet unnamed all-electric truck.

Once in operation, GM will pair with technology firm Cruise to add the Origin, a self-driving shuttle, to the plant's production line.

The upgraded plant will grow from the current 900 employees to roughly 2,200 by late 2021 when production kicks off, GM said.

Battery cells will come from GM's Lordstown, Ohio facility, which has a planned groundbreaking in mid-2020 following a $2.3bn joint-venture with LG Chem late last year.

In addition, GM will spend $800mn in supplier tooling and "other projects" related to the launch of the new electric trucks.

GM announced plans to spend $7.7bn worth of new investments in the US as a part of its agreement with the United Automobile Workers union in October. With these two investments, the company still has an additional $3.2bn of spending to meet its goal.

By Zach Schumacher