LORDSTOWN, Ohio - Local and state leaders are reacting to the news that GM's Lordstown plant may reopen under new ownership.
WTOL 11 reports President Trump announced that General Motors and the Workhorse Group were close to a deal to purchase the plant and re-purpose it to produce electric trucks. The President also tweeted that GM will be making a $700 million investment into three locations in Ohio. GM later confirmed the investment, saying Toledo Transmission will see an expansion into production of new ten-speed automatic transmission.
After the announcement, Ohio Senator Rob Portman said he' d spoken with GM CEO Mary Barra and is looking forward to the future these investments will bring.
“I just spoke with GM CEO Mary Barra who told me GM would invest an additional $700 million in Ohio at its Toledo, Parma and Moraine plants, which would create 450 new jobs. She also told me that GM, subject to the approval of the UAW, is in negotiations to sell the Lordstown plant to the Workhorse Group to make commercial electric trucks. I also spoke with Dave Green, UAW Local 1112 president, about the news. My message to GM all along has been either to bring a new GM vehicle to the plant or to find a partner that will use this world-class facility so people can get back to work. I look forward to hearing more from Workhorse about its plans to bring jobs to Lordstown, and I’m hopeful that this news will benefit the workers there. I want to thank President Trump for his help in finding a positive solution for Lordstown. I will continue to work with GM, the UAW, and other key stakeholders on this matter in the coming weeks and months," Portman said in a statement.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiwicz also praised the news in a statement.
“This morning I received news from General Motors officials in Detroit that the company would be creating more than 450 manufacturing jobs in three Ohio cities, including Toledo, where our Powertrain Plant will expand production of its all-new 10-speed automatic transmission for trucks and SUVs,” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said.
“This means more good, high-paying jobs for Toledo. We are excited General Motors has decided to invest further in Toledo and I want to thank GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra for this expansion, which will help our community continue to flourish. The Powertrain Plant opened in 1957 and has received more than $1 billion in investment since 2011. It consistently receives awards and recognitions for productivity and environmental excellence, and has a long-standing reputation of quality. This investment will continue that tradition.”
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