General Motors keeps growing its production capabilities in Ohio, announcing today it plans to invest $71 million into two Ohio manufacturing facilities.
The Detroit-based auto company will pump $39 million at its Toledo transmission plant and $32 million at its Defiance casting plant. At the Toledo plant, the company will upgrade its facilities to improve production of its 8-speed rear-wheel-drive transmissions.
The Defiance plant will see updates to prepare the site for “future” engine casting components production, the company noted. The moves will keep 240 jobs at the two locations from being shifted to other sites or eliminated completely.
(GM moves ahead with battery plant.)
“Through these investments, GM continues to strengthen its significant manufacturing presence in Ohio,” said Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North American Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “Our Toledo and Defiance teams continue to focus on building world-class products for our customers and these actions are an investment in their futures.”
The investment comes as the company moves ahead on the production of an EV battery facility in Lordstown, Ohio with partner, LG Chem. Once completed, the $2.3 billion plant will produce battery cells for GM’s new Ultium battery technology.
GM officials noted that the company has invested more than $3.3 billion in Ohio since 2009, employing more than 3,800 people in the state. The company has a long history in Ohio with the Toledo Transmission Operations opening in 1916. Plant employees produced truck transfer cases and transmissions for four- and six-wheel-drive military trucks throughout World War II, the company noted.
(GM, LG Chem investing “up to $2.3 billion” in new battery joint venture.)
Now about 1,700 workers produce 6-speed, 8-speed, and 10-speed rear-wheel-drive transmissions and 9-speed front-wheel-drive transmissions that are used in a variety of GM vehicles. Defiance Casting Operations opened in 1948 and currently employs about 580 employees. Now the site manufactures cylinder block and cylinder head castings for inline-four, V-6 and V-8 engines.
I see Trump’s hand in this.