On the Dash
- GM and Lockheed Martin are discussing an arrangement for the automaker to produce commonly used components for missile and munitions programs.
- No agreement has been finalized, and the companies are still determining which parts GM could supply.
- The talks reflect a broader push by the Trump administration to pull automotive manufacturers into the defense supply chain.
General Motors is in discussions with Lockheed Martin to manufacture components for the defense contractor’s weapons systems, a move that could significantly expand the automaker’s footprint in military production, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The two companies are evaluating an arrangement in which GM would produce commonly used parts to help Lockheed scale up munitions output. Although no agreement has been finalized, both sides are still working to identify which components GM could supply.
Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have drawn down U.S. missile and interceptor stockpiles, prompting Pentagon officials and the Trump administration to push defense contractors to accelerate production and pull non-traditional manufacturers into the supply chain.
GM CEO Mary Barra has met with administration officials to discuss a larger military role for the automaker, which re-entered the defense sector roughly a decade ago through its GM Defense subsidiary. For Lockheed Martin, the partnership could ease supply-chain bottlenecks that have complicated efforts to scale up interceptor and munitions output.
The talks emerge alongside the Trump administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, which includes significant investment in missiles, munitions, and drone production. Industry observers note that limited overlap between automotive and weapons supply chains could cap the practical upside of any deal.
