GMC Hummer EV Pickup Will Be Built in Dedicated 'Factory Zero'

GM's flagship Hummer off-roader gets a new factory to go with its new green electric powertrain.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

October 21, 2020

3 Min Read
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2022 GMC Hummer EVGeneral Motors Co.

General Motors is converting its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center to be a dedicated electric vehicle plant branded “Factory Zero.” The $2.2 billion renovation represents the single largest investment in a plant in GM history and will produce 2,200 jobs, according to GM.

The company will produce the new 1,000-horsepower 2022 Hummer 4x4 EV in the plant along with the Cruise Origin, a purpose-built electric, self-driving, shared vehicle, along with other GM EVs. GMC Hummer EV production is slated to begin in late 2021.

The $112,595 Hummer EV Edition 1 boasts amazing new technology such as CrabWalk four-wheel steering, air suspension with Extract Mode six-inch lift, and the ability to charge its 800-volt, 24-module, double-stacked Ultium battery pack at 350 kilowatts to add 100 miles of driving range in just ten minutes.

In addition to the Hummer’s Factory Zero plant, GM is also revamping the Spring Hill, Tenn. plant that was originally the home of GM’s Saturn brand to also build EVs. That factory currently builds the conventionally powered Cadillac XT6 and XT5 crossover SUVs, which will remain at the plant when it adds production of the new Cadillac Lyriq crossover EV.

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2022 GMC Hummer EV

GM is investing $2 billion to build EVs such as the Lyriq at Spring Hill. The price tag includes major expansions to Spring Hill’s paint and body shops and the general assembly will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling.

Related:We're on the Road to Somewhere: GM Maps its Electric Vehicle Future

“We are committed to investing in the U.S., our employees, and our communities,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “These investments underscore the success of our vehicles today, and our vision of an all-electric future.”

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GM has committed to invest more than $4.5 billion at three U.S. manufacturing sites to prepare those facilities for EV-related vehicle production since last year.

GM boasts that Factory Zero is being rebuilt with a focus on sustainability. An example is concrete waste that was repurposed to create temporary roadways during the project. The site now recycles stormwater to reduce discharge costs and offset the cost of potable water. Treated stormwater will be used in cooling towers and the fire suppression system.

The company also created a 16.5-acre wildlife habitat for Monarch butterflies, foxes, and turkeys that has been recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council.

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Factory Zero will be powered entirely by renewable energy by 2023, the company pledged, as GM targets sourcing 100 percent of its U.S. facilities with renewable energy by 2030, and all global facilities by 2040.

The factory also features a 30-kilowatt solar carport and 516-kilowatt ground-mount photovoltaic solar array from DTE Energy.

“This manufacturing plant will be the epitome of GM’s vision by sustainably manufacturing electric and shared autonomous vehicles that can help reduce crashes, emissions, and congestion,” said Dane Parker, GM chief sustainability officer.

 

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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