LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — General Motors will invest $4 billion to shift SUV and pickup production from Mexico to the United States, with the shuttered Orion Assembly plant in Oakland County among three factories set for a reboot.
“Support American jobs.”
The plan, confirmed June 10, includes building full-size SUVs and light-duty trucks in Lake Orion, Michigan, the gas-powered Equinox in Fairfax, Kansas, and the Blazer in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
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“Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S. and to support American jobs,” CEO Mary Barra said in a statement, noting the company will now offer a broader lineup to meet consumer demand.
Trump’s tariffs.
The move comes amid pressure from a Trump administration policy imposing 25% tariffs on autos and parts from Mexico and Canada that do not meet U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) standards, according to The Detroit News. The company had previously planned to convert Orion for EV truck production, but market headwinds forced a pivot.
President Trump praised the decision as proof that his trade approach is working. “No president has taken a stronger interest in reviving America’s once-great auto industry than President Trump, and GM’s investment announcement builds on trillions of dollars in other historic investment commitments to Make in America,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said.
Reshoring is expected to boost Orion’s workforce, which had dwindled after Bolt production ended in 2023. The shift also positions GM to cut tariff exposure, which the company estimated could hit $5 billion this year.
“This investment is a game-changer for our district and a big win for hard-working Michiganders,” Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.) said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer echoed support: “I am grateful to GM for bringing more auto manufacturing back to Michigan.”
The UAW is on board.
The United Auto Workers union also praised the shift, calling it validation of a strategy to push for onshore investment. “GM is showing that strategic auto tariffs work,” UAW President Shawn Fain said.
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The changes are expected to roll out by 2027. GM said no immediate job cuts or plant closures are expected in Mexico, despite the reallocation of key models like the Blazer and Equinox.