GM invests $300M to build new Chevy EV in Michigan

The announcement marks a reversal of GM's earlier decision to build the mystery model outside the US.

General Motors has announced plans to invest $300 million at its Orion Township, Michigan, assembly plant to build a new Chevrolet-badged electric vehicle.

The decision is an apparent reversal of the company's initial intention to build the mystery model outside the US. The automaker has come under increasing pressure to offset thousands of job losses in five US factories that will be idled this year.

GM did not directly address political pressure in its latest disclosure, instead focusing on the "rules of origin" provisions in the revised NAFTA trade pact. The company also points out that the new model will be built upon an adaptation of the platform architecture that underpins the Chevy Bolt, which is already built at Orion.

"This new Chevrolet electric vehicle is another positive step toward our commitment to an all-electric future," said GM chief Mary Barra. "GM will continue to invest in our U.S. operations where we see opportunities for growth."