GM Reveals $384 Million Investment Plan For 2 Michigan Plants

Apr 09, 2014 10:31 AM EDT | Matt Mercuro

General Motors has announced a $384 million investment plan in two of its Michigan plants to improve its electric car research and production capabilities, according to CNN.

The investment will likely add approximately 1,400 jobs and will be divided between GM's Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant and Brownstown township battery assembly facility in Michigan.

The company is just one of two automakers to still have plants in the one-time auto capital, which is currently going through the largest-ever public sector bankruptcy in the U.S.

"Today's investment represents the largest single investment that we have made in the plant," said GM Manufacturing Vice President Gerald Johnson, according to CBS Detroit.

GM's investment includes upgrades to the assembly lines for the Chevrolet Volt and at least two "future products," the automaker said.

The Detroit-Hamtramck plant produces a number of electric vehicles, like the Volt and Cadillac ELR, along with the Chevy's Malibu and Impala vehicles.

"Certainly we'd expect these investments to drive some new hiring, as well as to retain the work force we now have in place," Johnson said.  We're not willing to commit to you today whether we'll have a second shift or not.  We certainly hope so.  But the market will tell us what to do."

Back in December, GM announced a $121 million investment plan to improve its logistics at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant.

The automaker has had a hard time increasing sales for its electric Volt, which registered a 57 percent drop in sales in 2013, according to Reuters.

Last fall the automaker cut the Volt's base price from $40,000 to $35,000.

The announcement was made at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association, attended by both Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said the investment is "good news" for Detroit, according to CNN. 

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