While so much of the talk in auto world is about the investment the major auto manufacturers are making in their EV efforts, one of the majors is also investing heavily in facilities producing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, too. General Motors recently announced plans to spend billions in upgrades to auto factories in Flint MI; Fort Wayne, IN; and Arlington, TX.
At the Flint Assembly plant, GM is making $788 million in updates, including a body shop building expansion, general assembly conveyor expansion, and new tooling and equipment.
Across town it’s investing $233 million in new stamping dies, making press refurbishments and purchasing new equipment. Earlier this year, the company announced it would spend $579 million in Flint Engine Operations for sixth-generation Small Block V-8 engine production and $103.5 million in the Davison Road Processing Center for technology upgrades to improve workplace safety and ergonomics.
In Fort Wayne, IN, General Motors is investing $632 million in an assembly plant to prepare it for production of the next-generation internal combustion engine (ICE) full-size light-duty trucks. The investment will support new conveyors, tooling and equipment in the plant’s body and general assembly areas. Fort Wayne builds the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500.
GM also plans to invest more than $500 million to prepare its Arlington, TX, assembly plant for production of future internal combustion engine (ICE) full-size SUVs. The plant will receive new tooling and equipment in its stamping, body shop and general assembly areas. Arlington Assembly builds GM’s entire portfolio of full-size SUVs: Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade-V.
GM’s U.S. manufacturing operations, include more than 50 assembly, stamping, propulsion and component plants and parts distribution centers nationwide. Since 2013, the company has committed to spending $31.6 billion in its U.S. manufacturing and parts distribution facilities.