US-based carmaker General Motors (GM) plans to invest $1bn to expand its Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico for electric vehicles (EV), components in 2023, and a high-tech paint shop slated to begin operations by June 2021.
The company plans to assemble EV batteries and other electrical components at the facility in Mexico’s Coahuila state. However, it has yet to disclose production capacity and schedules.
GM’s Ramos Arizpe facility currently manufactures the Chevrolet internal combustion models with a workforce of 5,600; it will shift to EV versions of the same lineup in the next two years.
Global automakers and associated industries are gradually transitioning to making carbon-free vehicles and components. Ford plans to ramp up EV-battery operations by 2025. Porsche too has hinted at setting up a similar facility in Germany. Volkswagen is already planning its third Li-On manufacturing unit in China.
Indonesia’s cab-hailing start-up Gojek has also taken the zero-emission pledge to have all-electric cars and motorcycles on its platform by 2030.