How General Motors Manufactures 30 EVs At Once

General Motors has implemented a new system for manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) at its Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Site in Kansas City, Kansas.

Instead of building a constantly changing mix of vehicles, Fairfax is using a process called “batch build” for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt.

It is part of GM’s manufacturing strategy named “Winning with Simplicity”. 

The company describes the strategy as focussed on reducing complexity so teams can work more efficiently, protect quality and lower the cost of building new vehicles.

Bolt production process 

On the plant floor, 30 similar Bolt LT or RS models, all in the same color, roll down the line in one unbroken sequence. 

GM says the batch-build approach simplifies the complex process of assembling modern high-tech vehicles. It says its teams are meeting their monthly electrical first-time quality targets, which is a key electrical-system check.

The company says that the system has offered improvements in supply chain, floor space and paint operations, and that its “clone process” has helped quality control. 

Michael Youngs, General Motors’ Fairfax Plant Director, says: “We’re proud to be the first GM plant in North America to adopt batch build.

“It’s paying off with quality and efficiency. The lessons we are learning here will carry over to the next products we build here, and we believe it will also carry on to other GM plants in the future.”

GM’s global manufacturing

GM has more than 160,000 employees across the globe. It has a vast global manufacturing footprint with hundreds of factories spanning the US, China, Mexico and Korea. 

In the US alone, GM has 50 assembly and parts facilities across 19 states. Spring Hill in Tennessee is one of its largest sites which is supported by Fairfax Assembly, in Kansas and Orion Assembly in Michigan.

GM also manufactures vehicles in India in Bengaluru and it manufactures in China with its partner SAIC, across four major bases. Additionally, the company has a footprint in Brazil, Mexico and Egypt.

GM’s range of automotives

GM operations include a range of worldwide car brands across internal combustion engines and EVs, with its flagship brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. 

Its model range is expansive across its brands supporting GM in its millions of vehicle deliveries per year. In 2025, it delivered 2,853,299 vehicles across its brands. 

Some of GM’s top models are the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, both full size pickups. 

Buick offers the Encore, Envision and Enclave; GMC offers the Terrain, Yukon and Acadia; Chevrolet offers the Traverse, Equinox and Tahoe. 

GM’s strategy

GM says its long-term strategy is focussed on “zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion”.

The company says its teams bring their technological, engineering and design expertise to move it closer to its goal every day.

Mary Barra, GM’s CEO, says: "We have the ambition, the talent and the technology to create a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion."

The company is working on smart technology like drive assistance to prevent crashes while its manufacturing of electric vehicles supports its emissions goals.

GM’s leadership team

Mary is GM’s CEO. She’s focused on strengthening GM’s ability to provide transformative technologies such as electrification, software, and personal autonomous driving. Mary began her career with GM in 1980 and has held a range of positions since then.

Shilpan Amin was appointed Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer for General Motors in April 2025. In this position, Amin leads the development and implementation of GM’s long-term purchasing and supply chain strategy.

Sterling Anderson is GM’s Executive Vice President, Global Product, and Chief Product Officer. He oversees the end-to-end product lifecycle for both gas and electric-powered vehicles, including hardware, software, services and user experience. 

Cassandra Garber is GM’s Chief Sustainability Officer where she is focussed on focused on delivering both business and societal value.