General Motors will build an electric pickup for sale in the fall of 2021 at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, CEO Mary Barra confirmed at a company event Tuesday night.
In November 2018, GM said it would shutter four U.S. factories, Detroit-Hamtramck being one. But during UAW contract talks this fall, GM agreed to keep Detroit-Hamtramck open and invest $3 billion in the factory to build an electric pickup and other EVs there, as well as battery modules.
D-Ham, as it’s called internally, will eventually employ 2,225 people, GM said.
But it is unclear whether GM will hire a new workforce or will recall the hundreds of workers already transferred from Detroit-Hamtramck to other factories since November 2018, should they want to return. When asked, Barra declined to be specific.
“We’ve already had discussions with the UAW on how we’ll handle hiring going forward,” said Barra. “I’m not going to comment further on that until we’ve had a chance to work everything out.”
A spokesman for the UAW said recall hiring rights are dictated by union local seniority agreements and vary by individual employee circumstances.
On Dec. 3, GM said it would lay off 814 hourly and salaried workers at Detroit-Hamtramck to retool the plant to build the EVs. The UAW workers affected, about 753, will be offered buyouts or jobs at other GM facilities.
GM is continuing its quest to eventually go all-electric. Last week, the company announced it partnered with LG Chem to build a battery facility for electric vehicles near Lordstown, Ohio. Also GM has made $40 million available in financing to Lordstown Motors to help it buy GM’s former plant there and start its production of electric trucks.
More: GM to lay off 800 workers at Detroit-Hamtramck
More: GM to partner with LG Chem on a new Ohio factory for electric vehicle batteries
More: GM lends millions to Lordstown Motors with an option to buy back plant
Barra spoke to reporters Tuesday after GM unveiled the all-new Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban SUVs in Detroit.
Asked if GM might make electric versions of the two SUVs, Barra declined to commit to it, but she did reiterate GM’s goal to have an “all-electric” lineup in the future.
For now, Barra said the Tahoe and Suburban are critical to GM’s revenue and these new designs were made with the customer’s top preferences in mind.
“We always want to work to strengthen our position in the market,” said Barra. “We looked at every single detail and took it to the customers. We are looking to put the customer at the center of whatever we do.”
Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.
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