After months of pouring investments into new electric vehicle factories and plants, General Motors says it will make do with its current infrastructure of ICE and EV facilities around the country.
GM executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, Gerald Johnson, confirmed this strategy on the Daily Drive Podcast. Noting that the company does not expect to close any facilities, Johnson explained that the automaker already has “the right bandwidth” to satisfy the demand for both battery and gas-powered vehicles. Rather than prematurely preparing for growth in the sector, he explained that the OEM giant planned to acclimate production based on the market through its current infrastructure: “We’re trying to keep that flexibility and that bandwidth to be able to flex up EVs or ICE as we move forward, knowing that the transformation is still going to happen over time.”
Earlier this year, there was a noticeable slowdown in GM investments aimed at expanding EV infrastructure. In January, the automaker canceled plans to build a fourth battery-cell facility with LG Energy Solution. Months later, the auto brand also announced the closure of its Chevy Bolt line, ending the run of one of the most popular budget-friendly models on the market.
However, in more recent months, the car manufacturer has made multiple appearances in the news, partnering with Samsung SDI to build a new battery factory in Indiana and investing over $1 billion to retool two Michigan plants to build its next-generation electric truck. Although it seems GM is unlikely to pursue additional facilities, its investments into EV infrastructure have only grown. But whether the car manufacturer’s goal of selling 1 million EVs by 2025 is attainable with its current production capabilities, as Johnson claims, remains to be seen.
