GM Adds EV Part Manufacturing To Toledo, Ohio Transmission Plant

GM’s EV plans get even more serious.

GM’s made a big deal out of its EV push, and now the brand’s electric vehicle efforts will affect its ICE efforts, too. Its Toledo, Ohio transmission plant now will also produce electric vehicle drive units, announced GM.

Now called the “Toledo Propulsion Systems” plant, the plant currently produces the 10-speed automatic for RWD truck applications, and the nine-speed automatic used in many FWD applications. GM is investing $760 million in the plant, which will now also build EV drive units for GM EVs alongside the current transmission production operation. Renovation to the plant is expected to begin this month, but GM hasn’t unveiled when EV drive units will officially start rolling out of the Toledo Propulsion Systems plant.

This allays some fears that electrification could destroy jobs, or cause automakers to not rely on its current workforce. Clearly, GM has a least, some intention to utilize its current workforce. “Our Toledo team has a long, proud history of building great products and they have worked hard to earn this investment….this investment helps build job security for our Toledo team for years to come,” said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability.

These EV drive units are expected to power anything that goes into the GM Ultium platform. Currently, the Toledo plant employs 1,500 people, it’s unclear if, or how many jobs will be added with the electric drive unit line. This addition of electric driveline manufacturing is part of GM’s full EV push to sell a majority of EVs by 2035.

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