General Motors (GM, $37.72) to invest $700 million and create 450 jobs in Ohio
General Motors confirmed plans of selling its Lorsdtown, Ohio factory to electric truck maker Workhorse Group, a deal in which GM has confirmed its plans of reinvesting $700 million and bringing 450 new manufacturing jobs at Toledo, Parma and Moraine facilities in Ohio.
If the deal is finalized, Workhorse -- which specializes in manufacturing electric vehicles -- would be run by a newly formed affiliate partially owned by Workhorse.
Once the deal is complete, Workhorse will have a stronger position in the electric vehicle community as the company can focus on building a commercial electric pickup truck. The plant could begin its production as soon as the sale is finalized.
In March, GM closed its Lordstown plant to reorient its attention on more profitable trucks and SUVs. GM’s Lordstown plant has built more than 16 million new vehicles over 50 years. On the other hand, Barra is shuttering most of its sedans to refocus on utility vehicles, autonomous driving and electric vehicles. By this year’s end, the company will have closed five production plants across the U.S., cutting more than 14,000 jobs.
United Auto Workers union, which represents workers at the Lordstown plant, will be monitoring the situation as it holds GM responsible for idling plants.
President Trump preempted the automaker's announcement over Twitter about an hour beforehand, thanking Barra for selling the plant to Workhorse and reinvesting money in other facilities in Ohio.
