General Motors announced Tuesday plans to invest $4 billion through 2027 to increase U.S. production facilities for gas and electric vehicles, including in Tennessee.
Expanded operations in Michigan, Kansas and Tennessee will focus on "finished vehicle production of several of GM’s most popular vehicles," the company said. The new investment is in addition to $888 million recently announced for the next-generation V-8 engine Tonawanda Propulsion plant near Buffalo, New York.
The move comes in response to newly imposed 25% tariffs on imported vehicles.
The General Motors Spring Hill Plant will begin building the gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer in 2027, company officials said. It currently produces the Cadillac Lyriq and Visitiq EVs, and the Cadillac XT5.
The gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer are both currently produced in Mexico. The vehicles will continue to be built in Mexico even once production starts at U.S. facilities in order to supply markets outside of North America, according to a company source.
Company officials said they plan to ramp up to build more than two million vehicles each year in the U.S.
At Orion Assembly in Michigan, GM plans to build gas-powered full-size SUVs and light duty pickup trucks starting in 2027.
"As a result, GM’s Factory Zero in Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan will be the dedicated assembly location for the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ, and GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV," GM officials said in a statement.
The gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox will start production in mid-2027 at the Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, Kansas.
"Fairfax remains on track to begin building the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of this year. GM expects to make new future investments in Fairfax for GM’s next generation of affordable EVs," the company said.
In November, GM announced layoffs of about 1,000 employees nationwide following lower than expected demand for electric vehicles. Company officials did not specify where the cuts were made, but its Tennessee facilities appeared unaffected.
The company operates 50 U.S. manufacturing plants and parts facilities in 19 states.
"We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. "Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S and to support American jobs. We're focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love."
— Reuters contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: General Motors to move Mexico-built Chevrolet Blazer to Tenn. in 2027