GM invests $154M in plant to make new EV part, creates 230 jobs

Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

In its transition to becoming an all-electric car company, General Motors will invest $154 million in a components plant to start making a key part used in its future electric vehicles.

GM said Friday the Lockport Components plant, in western New York, will build the electric motor stator module. The module helps power Ultium Platform-based electric truck and SUVs. The Ultium platform is GM's proprietary propulsion system that will underpin the 30 new EVs GM has promised to bring to market by 2025.

GM is investing $35 billion by 2035 in developing EVs and self-driving cars, with the aspiration of having an all-electric vehicle lineup by that time.

An employee at Lockport Components in western New York. GM said on Jan. 21, 2022, that it will invest $154 million in the plant to build a component for future EVs, creating 230 jobs.
An employee at Lockport Components in western New York. GM said on Jan. 21, 2022, that it will invest $154 million in the plant to build a component for future EVs, creating 230 jobs.

The investment in New York will create 230 new jobs at the plant from 2023-26, GM said, adding that "actual staffing plans will be finalized closer to the start of production as the facility transitions to support EV motor component production."

"This is an excellent example of how we are bringing our workforce along on the journey to an all-electric future while we scale our EV production capacity and maintain a flow of parts for our current vehicles," said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability, in a statement.

The stator module that Lockport Components will build. GM said Jan. 21, 2022, it will invest $154 million in Lockport Components to make the part which is key to propelling electric vehicles.
The stator module that Lockport Components will build. GM said Jan. 21, 2022, it will invest $154 million in Lockport Components to make the part which is key to propelling electric vehicles.

Lockport, New York is about 20 miles east of Niagara Falls. GM employs about 1,300 hourly and 200 salaried workers at the plant there, where it makes radiators, condensers, heater cores, HVAC modules, oil coolers and other components for numerous vehicles across Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac.

In a statement, Terry Dittes, UAW vice president and director of the union's GM Department, said GM's investment is a commitment to the plant's UAW members and their families, as well as the future of the region's economy.

"GM’s commitment to invest $154 million to produce a key component of electric motors recognizes the skilled work of UAW Local 686 members and cements the Lockport facility as a key UAW plant in the transition to future electric vehicles," Dittes said.

The $154 million investment will be used to renovate the facility, buy and install new machinery and equipment used in the production of the stator module. The facility renovations will begin immediately.

More: GM and local UAW at odds over contract at plant that makes the Corvette

More: Super Bowl LVI will be GM's big chance to make splash with ads

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM invests in components plant to make new EV part, creates 230 jobs