GM considers launching their own battery production
General Motors apparently intends to produce their own battery cells in the future. This is the result of statements GM has made to the US car union United Auto Workers (UAW) in current talks to settle a strike.
Within the framework of contract negotiations, General Motors has promised the union investments in the USA totalling 7 billion dollars over the next four years – among other things for the production of an electrically driven pickup in Detroit as well as for the aforementioned production of battery cells in Lordstown in the US state of Ohio. According to Reuters, GM’s electric pickup is scheduled for 2022 and could roll off the production line at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. There is no further information on the apparently planned production of battery cells.
In principle, GM promised the auto union to invest in eight facilities in four states. The focus will increasingly be on advanced drive systems for electric vehicles as well as on the production of trucks and commercial vehicles, which are considered the core of the brand.
As is well known, the US car is currently undergoing a painful transformation process. In November 2018, the GM boss announced a rigid austerity course. According to the restructuring plan, General Motors aims to save six billion dollars a year by the end of 2020 through plant closures, among other things. In this way, funds will be freed up to invest in the development and production of electric cars and autonomous vehicles.
While production of the Chevy Volt came to an end at the beginning of the year, they have confirmed plans to position Cadillac as the leading brand for the Group’s future electric models. However, a fully electric Cadillac is not expected to come onto the market until 2021. The E-Crossover will be the first to use the new BEV3 platform, which will later be used to build sedans, crossovers, SUVs, minivans and the long rumoured pickup.
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