GM Makes Major Plant Announcements Including Next-Gen Products
As it prepares to cut production in Oshawa, Ontario from three shifts to two starting this fall, General Motors on Wednesday announced plans to invest about $4 billion USD (close to $5.5 billion CAD) over the next two years to increase U.S. production of both gas and electric vehicles. The new import tariffs are the driving force behind the two moves.
Combined with the recent investment to build new V8 engines, GM will have the ability to assemble more than two million vehicles per year in the U.S.
- Also: GM’s Next-Gen V8 Engines Benefit From Another Huge Investment
- Also: GM’s Battery Breakthrough Promises to Make Electric Trucks Cheaper
First, GM will begin production of gas-powered full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups at Orion Assembly in Michigan in early 2027 to help meet continued strong demand. As a result, Factory ZERO in Detroit-Hamtramck will be the dedicated assembly location for the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Cadillac ESCALADE IQ as well as GMC Sierra EV and Hummer EV.
Next, Fairfax Assembly in Kansas will support production of the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox beginning in mid-2027. As GM pointed out, sales of the freshly redesigned compact SUV were up more than 30 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025.
Fairfax also remains on track to begin building the second-generation 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of this year. But wait, there’s more: GM expects to make future investments in this facility for another next-generation affordable EV. What could it be? That’s a mystery for now.
Elsewhere, the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee won’t just build EVs such as the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq. Contrary to previous reports that claimed the gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer would not return after 2025, GM has confirmed that a successor is coming and will be manufactured in Spring Hill rather than Mexico.
“We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” CEO Mary Barra said. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S and to support American jobs. We're focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love.”
The official debut of the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is eagerly awaited by many people in Canada and the U.S. alike, should take place in the coming months. Stay tuned!
