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By Jon Lauckner, Global Product Planning Vice President
I can’t think of a better way to start the New Year than with a historic milestone for GM, the state of Michigan, the automotive industry and most importantly, the United States.
Three years ago today, I was part of the team that revealed the Volt to the world. While many lauded our efforts to resurrect the electric vehicle, there were also a number of skeptics who challenged the concept because "batteries weren't included.” However that was simply because the battery pack for the Volt wasn't designed and developed yet. Of course that changed quickly – today, the first advanced lithium-ion battery for a mass-marketed electric vehicle rolled off the line at our new Brownstown Battery Pack Assembly Plant. Challenge met – batteries included!
This morning I stood in a building that just five short months ago, was an empty warehouse. Now this state-of-the-art, 160,000-square-foot landfill-free facility is buzzing with some of the most talented men and women in the industry and cutting edge technology ready to make history. And once again, we’re leading the way with the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing plant operated by a major U.S. automaker.
As part of our next steps to bring the Volt to market, we’re driving investments, creating jobs and accelerating technology development here in Michigan and across the country. That’s why today’s start of battery production in Brownstown is a momentous occasion on many levels.
First, it’s good for Michigan. The $43 million investment in this plant brings GM’s total investment to $700 million in eight Volt-related facilities across Michigan.
Most importantly, this is an enormous step that will help take America from a petroleum-filled past to a potentially gas-free future.
The first batteries produced will be used to validate the plant’s equipment and processes before being sent to our Global Battery Systems lab in Warren for further testing. Once validation and testing is complete, the next batch of batteries will be delivered to the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Center for integration into production-validation Volts later this spring. This will get us prepped and ready to have these vehicles on the road later this year.
Today’s event goes beyond just batteries. The development of electric vehicles, like the Volt, create many unique business opportunities for the auto industry. A whole “ecosystem” is needed to bring these vehicles to mass market – home and public charging stations, a strong, capable grid, “clean” energy access, utility company and municipality collaboration, electric motor suppliers, recyclers, and many other emerging sectors.
These new businesses are creating jobs – green jobs. They’re doing it by developing technologies, establishing manufacturing capabilities, and strengthening America's long-term competitiveness. And, these new businesses are just waiting to be tapped.
With all this great news for our company and our industry, we definitely have an exciting 2010 ahead of us. Like I said; great way to start the New Year.
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