GM's Electric Vehicle Plant Will Now Produce the Gas Models That Consumers Actually Desire | Carscoops

      The gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer has received a stay of execution and will be manufactured in the USA.

      General Motors is ramping up production of gas-operated vehicles after scrapping plans for an electric vehicle plant in Lake Orion, Michigan. The facility will now focus on producing gas-powered trucks and SUVs.

      GM has come to the realization that there is a lack of interest in the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. Recently reported sales figures show they sold only 2,383 Silverado EVs and 1,249 Sierra EVs in the first quarter.

      These disappointing numbers seem to have sealed the fate of turning Orion Assembly into an EV plant. Initially set to produce electric trucks in 2024, the timeline was postponed to late 2025 to better manage capital investments and align with changing EV demand.

      Fast forward to today, GM has abandoned its plans for electric trucks, and Orion Assembly will now manufacture gas-powered full-size SUVs and trucks starting in early 2027. This means the plant is expected to produce the revamped Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban, as well as the GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL.

      The Silverado EV and Sierra EV will still be produced at Factory Zero in Hamtramck, which also manufactures GMC Hummer EVs and the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

      Meanwhile, the aging Chevrolet Blazer was anticipated to be phased out, but it is receiving an extension as production will commence at Spring Hill Manufacturing in 2027. This facility is primarily known for producing the electric Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, although it also manufactures the older XT5 and XT6 models.

      In addition, Fairfax Assembly is set to start manufacturing the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of this year. It will also produce the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox, which is scheduled to begin in mid-2027.

      GM indicated that this decision will bolster sales of the popular crossover, which saw a year-over-year increase of over 30% in the first quarter. However, it's noteworthy that the model is presently produced in Mexico, which may have influenced the decision to relocate some production to the United States.

      As expected, GM did not address tariffs or the slower-than-anticipated adoption of electric vehicles in their announcement. Instead, CEO Mary Barra framed it positively, stating, "Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the US and to support American jobs."

      She further commented, "We’re focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love," subtly implying that gas-powered vehicles are here to stay.

      GM announced that the investments will amount to around $4 billion, approximately the same sum they had allocated for transforming Orion Assembly into an EV truck center. This raises questions about the financial impact of their previous investment in electric vehicles.