General Motors may be riding high on growing EV sales, but while some models are doing well others are not with the company admitting the Silverado and Sierra EVs are so far limping along in the market with Chevy selling 2,383 Silverados while GMC sold a measly 1,249 Sierra EVs. Those numbers are not good and the moribund sales are forcing the company to change key aspects of its plan. A key pivot is the role of the Orion Assembly plant with the facility now slated to produce gasoline-powered models instead of EVs.
Changing plans reflect changing times
The pivot comes after GM revealed in 2024 that the Orion Assembly plant in Orion, Michigan would move away from gasoline vehicle production to EV assembly with the plant getting a retooling to prepare it for EV truck production. However, things quickly went off the rails with GM pushing the start date to late 2025 saying it needed to “better manage capital investment while aligning with evolving EV demand.”
However, this latest move signals that GM is throwing in the towel and will instead use Orion to produce gasoline-powered SUVs and pickups like the Silverado, Sierra, Yukon, and Suburban starting in early 2027. The plant has played a key role in GM’s history since 1983 and has produced a small army of GM models over the years including the Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Bolt, Buick Verano as well as the Oldsmobile Aurora, and Buick Riviera.
The move also marks a new chapter for the plant itself with the new production plans bringing the first-ever pickup and SUV models to the assembly line after a long run of car models. As for the Silverado and Sierra EVs, they will be relegated to GM’s Factory Zero plant in Hamtramck with the company making separate plans to boost production of EVs at that facility.
Chevy Blazer gets a reprieve, Barra promises more choices for buyers
The announcement was also accompanied by news that the aging and slow-selling Chevrolet Blazer will not only live on but will also be produced at the Spring Hill assembly plant. The facility already produces the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq EVs but the Blazer will most likely replace the dated Cadillac XT5 and XT6 when they eventually end production.
GM didn’t reveal any new information about its plans for dealing with tariffs or slowing EV sales but GM CEO Mary Barra said “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the US and to support American jobs.” She also said the company is committed to giving customers more choice. This could translate to an expanded lineup of gasoline models including hybrids with the latter allowing GM to re-enter a market it largely abandoned when it made the unwise choice of leaving the hybrid market entirely in favor of its all-in bet on EVs. Rivals like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Lexus were more than happy to take advantage of GM’s decision to leave and have built up a strong pool of loyal hybrid buyers as GM watched from the sidelines.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.