GM to boost spending on EVs, add two new battery plants

General Motors Co will boost global spending on electric and autonomous vehicles to $35bn (about R481bn) through to 2025, a 30% jump over its most recent forecast as it pursues EV leadership, people briefed on the matter told Reuters.

As part of that spending, the No 1 US automaker will build two additional US battery plants and move ahead some of its EV investments, said the sources, who asked not to be identified. In November, GM upped its spending plans from $20bn (roughly R275,500,400,000), a figure announced in March before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the auto industry.

The Detroit company declined to comment.

The expected announcement of increased spending by GM comes less than a month after rival Ford Motor Co upped its EV spending by more than a third to over $30bn (roughly R413,250,600,000) by 2030.

The combined $65 bn (roughly R895,376,300,000) in commitments by the largest US automakers, as well as increased spending by EV leader Tesla Inc and startups including Lucid and Rivian, reflect the EV arms race that has left some automakers like Lordstown Motors Corp scrambling to raise more funds.

GM chief executive Mary Barra is scheduled to meet US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other key Democrats on Wednesday to discuss EVs and vehicle emissions, the sources said.

Barra will also meet US Representative Richard Neal, head of the tax policy Ways and Means Committee, Frank Pallone, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, and two key Michigan Democrats, representatives Dan Kildee and Debbie Dingell, the sources said.

Wooing Washington

Working with Washington is critical as President Joe Biden has proposed $174bn (roughly R2,395,943,460,000) to boost EVs and charging as part of his infrastructure plan, including $100bn in new EV rebates. GM's ability to benefit from the current $7,500 (roughly R103,182) federal EV tax credit has expired.

GM has sparred with Democrats over vehicle emissions rules, but last week said it supported overall emissions reductions in California's 2019 deal with other major automakers. It has also sought more flexibility to hit carbon reduction target between now and 2026.

The Associated Press reported on Monday that GM planned to announce two new US battery plants, citing comments by president Mark Reuss. GM confirmed the executive's comments, but sources said the company has not decided where in the US to build the plants, which are each expected to cost more than $2bn (roughly R27,515,200,000).

In January, GM said it was setting a goal to sell all its new cars, SUVs and light pickup trucks with zero tailpipe emissions by 2035, a dramatic shift away from petrol and diesel engines.

GM and its South Korean joint-venture partner, LG Energy Solution, are already building a battery plant in northeastern Ohio and have announced a second, $2.3bn (roughly R31,670,517,000) battery plant will be located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

GM confirmed in November it would speed up the rollout of new EVs, with plans to offer 30 models globally by 2025, up from a prior target of 20 by 2023. Barra said the automaker wants to exceed annual sales of one million EVs in the US and China by 2025.

On May 26, a Senate committee advanced legislation that would boost tax credits to as much as $12,500 (roughly R172,021,38) for EVs assembled by union workers in the US. The current maximum tax credit is $7,500 (roughly R103,212,83).

The bill also includes a 30% tax credit for manufacturers to retool or build new facilities to produce advanced energy technologies including batteries. That would represent a big boost to GM's battery factory plans.