GM Changes Mind About V8 Production
General Motors is walking back plans to produce EV parts instead of V8s at its St. Catharines, Ontario plant.
Originally set to transition from making Gen 5 V8s and DCT transmissions for the C8 Corvette to building electric-drive propulsion units, the plant’s timeline has been pushed back. The delay, according to a report from The St.Catharine's Standard is directly tied to the slow growth in EV demand.
In February 2023, GM Canada announced plans to invest in the plant to produce over 400,000 EV drive units annually, supporting around 500 jobs. These units are intended for GM's Ultium platform, used in various vehicles including the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer, and Silverado EVs, as well as BrightDrop delivery vans.
However, as EV demand remains tepid, GM is reassessing its strategy, especially considering the high-profit nature of the Gen 5 V8. A company representative noted ongoing work on retooling the assembly lines but emphasized building to demand for propulsion technologies. This translates to a cautious approach given the current market conditions.
This delay mirrors broader industry trends. In April 2024, Ford announced a 2-year postponement of production of a new electric SUV at its Oakville, Ontario plant, now expected in 2027 instead of 2025. This follows delays at Ford’s Blue Oval City plant in Tennessee, now slated to open in 2026 rather than 2025.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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