How GM is Advancing the Electric Future & Creating Jobs
In the blog 'GM drives America: How weâre creating jobs by investing in manufacturing' Jeff Morrison, senior VP, global purchasing and supply chain at General Motors reflects on the manufacturer's exciting progress moving into 2025.
High up on the agenda for the manufacturer is strengthening its strong commitments to the future of electrification.
Jeff shares how GM is set to increase its already prominent investments in battery innovation within the US and beyond, whilst stepping up its supply chain resiliency and workforce initiatives to combat EV material challenges.
These developments will build on the impressive milestones made by GM in this area so far.
With that said, here's in depth look at what Jeff had to say.
Investing & collaborating to drive progress
Jeff explains that GM is committed to innovation across both EVs and petrol-powered vehicles.
He emphasises that GM continues to collaborate with its supplier network to drive progress for the industry, create good jobs and deliver value to customers nationwide.
Jeff highlights that over the last five years, no other American automaker has invested more capital in battery manufacturing and infrastructure than GM.
He demonstrates that these investments are already showing results with GMâs US EV sales surging 50% in 2024 and its domestic EV market share doubling.
However, while Jeff acknowledges that EVs represent a major opportunity, he asserts that the manufacturer remains committed to petrol and diesel-powered vehicles as well.
In order to strengthen its commitments in both these areas, he explains that GM has been taking a closer look at its supply chain and workforce.
Solving EV material challenges: strengthening the supply chains & the workforce
GM is a significant employer in the American automotive sector, employing approximately 90,000 people in the US and generating US$12bn in taxable wages annually.
This is a major contribution to local economic development, with GM since 2014 investing more than US$35bn to develop and support its US facilities.
In addition to this, GM has apprenticeship programmes at nearly all of its 30+ manufacturing facilities, more than any other automaker.
GM has not only created jobs through investing in its US manufacturing presence, but also through its strategic EV adoption.
Jeff then refers to a recent report by Atlas Public Policy and the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation, which found that the auto industry has made US$209bn in domestic EV manufacturing investments between 2000 and September 2024, creating an estimated 240,000 new jobs.
GM has been a critical part of this movement, investing US$17.6bn in EV infrastructure.
Jeff mentions this is more than any other domestic automakerâincluding Ford, Stellantis, Rivian and Tesla.
Despite these positive developments, Jeff notes when it comes to electrification a key challenge still remains: the tight supply of critical materials.
He outlines how GM is tackling this issue by securing access to North American raw materials for battery production and ramping up recycling efforts.
Vital to securing this access has been building a more resilient supply chain for key materials like lithium and cathode active materials, as well as essential components like battery cells and magnets.
Jeff emphasises how through continuing its EV journey and investment in American manufacturing, new labour opportunities will continue to be created.
Key material and EV milestones
Jeff highlights that GM has already made critical milestones in shoring up its supply chain.
These include a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar agreement with Vianode to supply synthetic graphite anode materials starting in 2027 and a joint venture with Lithium Americas to develop the largest known lithium resource in the U.S. at Thacker Pass, Nevada.
Alongside this GM has played a key role in the completion of MP Materials’ first rare earth metal, alloy and magnet manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, with production expected to begin in late 2025.
Finally Jeff shares that GM supplier e-VAC Magnetics is also breaking ground on a new magnet facility in Sumter, South Carolina, with production expected to start in early 2026.
Jeff stresses that public policy plays a vital role in supporting these efforts, advocating for policies like permitting reform and incentives for domestic manufacturing and supply chain investment.
He argues policies of this nature are crucial to maintaining the USâs leadership in the future of mobility.
As we move into 2025, Jeff affirms GM's commitment to advancing the future of EV innovation and US manufacturing workforce development through building superior supply chains.
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