General Motors has invested $2.2 billion at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs, including GM's first all-electric truck.

The Detroit-Hamtramck plant will be GM’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant, the automaker said. Production of the electric truck is scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle.

“Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years,” said Mark Reuss, GM president.

When the plant is fully operational, this investment will create more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturing jobs, the automaker said. GM will also invest an additional $800 million in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks.

The plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling.

GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3 billion to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck.

Since the fall of 2018, GM has committed to invest more than $2.5 billion in Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments at Orion Assembly, GM battery lab in Warren, Brownstown, and the investment in Detroit-Hamtramck.  

Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates on one shift of production and builds the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. Approximately 900 people are employed at the plant. As previously confirmed, the plant will be idled for several months beginning at the end of February as the renovations begin. 

The plant has built more than 4 million vehicles since opening in 1985.