Electrification
Electrification
Straddling two cities – Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan – is Factory ZERO, GM’s first fully dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant. Formerly known as Detroit-Hamtramck, the plant was built in 1985 and has manufactured more than 3 million vehicles over the years. Today, it’s been transformed into one of the most modern automotive plants in the country. The name Factory ZERO reflects the significant role the facility plays in advancing our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Some of the first vehicles built at the plant will be the GMC HUMMER EV pickup1 and SUV, the Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup truck, and the Cruise Origin, a purpose-built electric, self-driving, shared vehicle.
“Factory ZERO will serve as GM’s flagship assembly plant in our journey to an all-electric future.”
Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations
Factory ZERO has some of the most advanced technology and tooling, designed with sustainable manufacturing in mind. The plant will help contribute to GM’s commitment to source 100 percent of its U.S. facilities with renewable energy by 2030. In fact, all DTE-supplied GM facilities in southeast Michigan, including Factory ZERO, will be powered by renewable energy by 2023. The factory also features a 30-kilowatt solar carport and 516-kilowatt solar array from DTE.
During the plant’s physical transition, concrete waste was repurposed to create temporary roadways. Factory ZERO is also a certified wildlife habitat site featuring pollinator grasslands and formal native-plant gardens that are home to species such as monarchs, foxes and turkeys.
Today, the internet of things is transforming manufacturing plants like Factory ZERO, enabling connected devices to deliver important benefits to quality and safety. Countless systems and equipment rely on connectivity, such as robotics, sensors and the Automated Guided Vehicles that deliver materials across the factory floor.
In November 2020, we announced that Factory ZERO will become the first U.S. automotive plant to install Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband technology. Key benefits of 5G in a manufacturing plant include reliability, speed and sheer scale. 5G’s massive bandwidth offers the possibility to manage thousands of devices across Factory ZERO’s footprint, with ample capacity to support emerging technologies.
The plant’s updates include:
Factory ZERO has a storied history and our newly transformed hometown plant will help us continue to revolutionize transportation. We’re proud of every person who has worked to make this vision come true. This is just the beginning.
For jobs in manufacturing the future, visit careers.gm.com.
1Initial availabilities are as follows: GMC HUMMER EV (Fall 2021), and GMC HUMMER EV SUV (Early 2023). Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup availability to be announced at a later date.