Silverado (Chevrolet)

On July 23, GM CEO Mary Barra told investors during the company's second-quarter earnings that GM is again delaying the launch of electric truck production at its Orion Assembly plant, this time by six months to mid-2026.

Orion Assembly, which previously built the Chevrolet Bolt EV, was originally scheduled to begin Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV production there in late 2024.

In October 2023, however, GM pushed back the electric truck launch at Orion plant by one year to late 2025, which would have left the plant idled for up to two years.

GM’s electric trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV, are currently built at Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck.

(Detroit News article on July 23, 2024)

For the second model year of Chevrolet’s all-electric pickup truck, the 2025 Silverado EV will be highlighted by several notable updates, including the introduction of the all-terrain Trail Boss model.

The 2025 Silverado EV Work Truck will now be available with three battery sizes,  including the Standard Range (2WT), the Extended Range (5WT), and the Max Range (8WT), replacing the 2024 Silverado EV‘s 3WT and 4WT trim levels.

The 2025 model year will also see the introduction of the LT trim, positioned as an affordable consumer-focused variant with capabilities similar to the Silverado EV WT, and non-First Edition RST trims.

With production of the 2025 model yet starting on September 3, the Silverado EV continues to be built on the GM BT1 platform at the Factory Zero plant in Michigan. 

(multiple sources on July 8, 2024)

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a USD 5 million performance-based grant and 15-year 100% SESA tax exemption worth up to USD 6 million to support Spanish automotive supplier Gestamp’s plans to invest USD 390.2 million and create up to 580 new jobs in Michigan.

Gestamp, whose North American headquarters is in Troy, Michigan, is renovating and expanding plants in Chelsea, Mason and Lapeer, according to a briefing from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Gestamp is planning to weld steel assemblies at a new 460,000-square-foot plant in Macomb County.

Gestamp is also building a USD 64.5 million, 450,000-square-foot plant in Chesterfield Township, where it will occupy a build-to-suit plant already under development on a 42-acre plot that allows for a 300,000-square-foot future expansion.

Up to 390 workers at the Chesterfield factory will weld steel blanks to make assemblies for EVs at GM’s Orion Assembly. GM had delayed production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV at the Orion plant to late 2025, due largely to a slower demand than anticipated.

Gestamp is among the world’s largest body-in-white and chassis suppliers with more than 100 plants in 24 countries.

(multiple sources on July 10, 2024)