General Motors Co. in Detroit is planning to invest $45 million at its Bedford, Ind., aluminum die casting foundry to expand the facility’s production capacity of EV drive unit castings.
The investment will support demand for the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV full-size pickups. The capacity expansion work at the facility will begin immediately.
In December 2021, the automaker announced a more than $51 million investment at Bedford to install new, state-of-the-art equipment. That equipment supports drive unit castings production for the Chevrolet Silverado EV and various other casting applications.
Last year, the 1 million-square-foot site began producing electric drive unit castings that have been used in the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup.
“Our Bedford operation is one of the leading aluminum die casting facilities in the world and this additional investment is really an investment in the Bedford team and their commitment to excellence,” says Phil Kienle, vice president of North America manufacturing and labor relations at GM. “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.”
Since 2011, GM has invested more than $456 million in Bedford Casting Operations.
“UAW commends the announcement of this investment which recognizes the contribution of UAW Local 440 members,” says Ray Curry, president of the UAW. “Their skill, training and craftsmanship contribute to the success of this facility, and this investment highlights the role they will play in GM’s future EV growth.”
GM’s Bedford plant opened in 1942 and is a leader in aluminum die casting capabilities, according to the automaker. The site’s nearly 680 hourly and salaried workers manage die casting processes that produce cylinder blocks, transmission cases, structural components, and drive unit housings used in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC ,and Cadillac vehicles. Most team members are represented by UAW Local 440 and IBEW Local 16.
