GM's Orion Assembly Reopening Delayed Until Late 2025

The UAW strike is dragging on, but automakers still have everyday business problems to deal with, like how to produce millions of electric vehicles and sell them. It turns out that the “other” problems are just as serious as the strike, and General Motors’ recent announcement is a great example. Earlier this week, the automaker noted that it would push production of its upcoming electric pickup trucks back at one of its Detroit-area facilities.

GM cited high demand and a need to upgrade the Orion facility before production and said the delay had nothing to do with the strike. Consumer demand is a moving target, and the company needs to improve its manufacturing processes to reduce costs and improve profitability.

At the same time, GM will continue forward with Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV pickup production at its Factory Zero location nearby. The company will likely add another shift to the facility to support GMC Sierra EV production in 2024 when it arrives.

GM’s 1,000 Orion Assembly employees will be eligible for a temporary transfer to other locations in Michigan and can return to Orion once the updates are complete. That said, the retooling was initially scheduled to be completed in early 2025, so the move to reopen late in the year could be disruptive for some employees. The upside here is that GM plans to invest billions in the facility, and CEO Mary Barra noted that the company would triple employment when Orion reopens.

[Image: General Motors]

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from TheTruthAboutCars https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/news-blog/gm-s-orion-assembly-reopening-delayed-until-late-2025-44503315?utm_medium=auto&utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=all_full