General Motors (GM) plans to close its Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant south of Detroit, Michigan, when the facility’s lease expires in summer 2027. The automaker confirmed that the closure is unrelated to its electric vehicle strategy and that employees and production activities will be transferred to other GM facilities.
The 480,000-square-foot plant has produced battery packs for the Cadillac Celestiq electric vehicle and battery packs and electric drive units for the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid sports car. Automotive News first reported the closure, which GM subsequently confirmed.
GM to Transfer Battery Production and Employees
The Brownstown facility opened in 2009 and previously supported battery production for the Chevrolet Volt. It also housed part of GM’s hydrogen fuel-cell collaboration with Honda, a partnership that has since ended.
GM said its decision to close the facility stems from the expiration of its property lease rather than changes to its vehicle electrification plans. The company confirmed that affected employees would be offered opportunities at other GM locations, although it did not initially identify the receiving facilities.
According to subsequent reporting, the facility once employed approximately 300 workers but currently has fewer than a dozen following reductions in production. The plant is expected to cease operations when its lease ends next summer.
GM Continues EV Production Despite Policy Changes
The closure comes as GM adjusts its electric vehicle operations following changes to federal incentives. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in 2025, repealed several incentives supporting electric vehicle production and sales.
GM has since reduced its public emphasis on electrification while continuing to manufacture electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the limited-production Chevrolet Bolt. The company also remains involved in developing new battery technologies for automotive and energy storage applications.
According to TechCrunch, GM maintains that the Brownstown closure should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from its electric vehicle plans.
GM Invests $900 Million in Battery Development
Alongside its manufacturing adjustments, GM is investing approximately $900 million in battery research and development facilities in Warren, Michigan. The investment covers the Ancker-Johnson Battery Cell Development Center and the adjacent Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center.
According to GM’s official announcement, the facilities are intended to accelerate battery development and reduce the time required to commercialize new technologies. The company is developing lithium-manganese-rich batteries for future electric vehicles, with commercial production targeted for 2028.
GM is also researching sodium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage, including applications supporting data centers and electricity grids. In a separate company update, GM said the technology could provide an alternative for applications requiring affordable, long-duration energy storage.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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