GM Invests $1B Into US Manufacturing, Adds Thousands of Jobs

Stephen Elmer
by Stephen Elmer
Larry Conarton, right, and Ben Spedoske install wheels and tires on a pre-production 2016 Chevrolet Camaro for testing Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the General Motors Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan, where GM announced today it will invest $175 million for new tooling and equipment to build the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro – and the return of hundreds of workers to build America's best-selling performance car for the last five years. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)

General Motors has announced a $1 billion investment into its U.S. manufacturing facilities just a week after being called out by President-elect Donald Trump.

GM is the latest automaker to be called out by President-elect Donald Trump for building new operations in Mexico and will look to placate the incoming President with the announcement. However, it was not Trump’s lambasting that led GM to make the decision, which has been in the works for some time, though GM feels it is a good time to go public with the information.

A total of 1,500 jobs, some new and some retained, are tied to this new investment, while in the next few years, GM says it will be able to create 7,000 new jobs in the U.S. 450 jobs will come back to the U.S. thanks to axle production for next-generation pickup trucks, while the vast majority, 5,000, of the new jobs are expected thanks to insourcing of IT workers.

Trump recently commended Ford for cancelling a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico and FCA for announcing a $1 billion investment in Michigan and Ohio. “I hope that General Motors will be following,” said Trump in his recent news conference.

SEE ALSO: BMW Not Threatened by Trump’s Big Border Tax

GM CEO Mary Barra also admitted that these decisions were made years ago, though she says she is excited to tell GM’s story on U.S. employment to the new administration.

Trump has threatened automakers with a 35 percent tariff on vehicles that are built in Mexico and brought to the U.S. He has gone after Toyota and BMW for their plans to expand in Mexico, which has all automakers on edge.

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Stephen Elmer
Stephen Elmer

Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>

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