General Motors plans a new round of capital-investment for its Bedford, IN, aluminum diecasting operation, to increase capacity for EV drive unit parts. The new capacity is directed at casting aluminum housings for electric drive units to be installed in the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV and 2024 GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 EV pickup programs, units that will convert electricity from GM Ultium battery packs to power mechanical motion at the wheels.
Ultium is the electric propulsion system that will power 30 battery-electric vehicles GM has committed to introduce by the end of 2025.
Last year GM committed to invest $35 billion through 2025 in technologies and operations for electric and autonomous vehicle design and production, and it expects to produce 1 million EVs in North America in 2025.
The Indiana diecasting expansion project will begin immediately, according to GM. More specific details about new production equipment and/or facilities were not provided, and no new hiring plans were announced in connection with the capital investment. The aluminum diecasting plant currently employs 821 workers.
The automaker noted it has invested more than $456 million at Bedford since 2011.
Last December GM announced a CapEx program totaling $51 million for diecasting capacity there, and for those same EV programs. In 2021, GM Bedford started casting parts for EV drive units installed now in the GMC Hummer EV pickup.
“Our Bedford operation is one of the leading aluminum diecasting facilities in the world and this additional investment is really an investment in the Bedford team and their commitment to excellence," stated Phil Kienle, GM v.p. of North American manufacturing and labor relations.
Kienle added: "This investment helps build job security for our Bedford team for years to come as we continue to prepare our entire manufacturing footprint for an all-electric future."