General Motors: History, Innovation, and Tradition
Learn about General Motors’ rich history and notable innovations, from its founding in 1908 to its leadership in electric and autonomous vehicle technology.
- The U.S. Department of Energy is considering revoking the restructuring subsidies the Biden administration gave last year to GM and Chrysler’s parent company Stellantis for EV production.
- GM said its decision to introduce the next-generation gasoline-powered CT5 to the Lansing-Grand River Council was unrelated to the potential loss of federal funding.
The next-generation gasoline-powered Cadillac CT5 midsize sedan will be built at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan, General Motors confirmed to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on October 15.
The change comes after the company invested $1.25 billion in a Michigan factory to continue producing internal combustion engine vehicles, and also confirmed it was reversing previously stated plans to spend $1.4 billion renovating its electric vehicle assembly plant.
The Cadillac CT4 four-door sedan will also be discontinued after the 2026 model year, but it won’t be coming back. CT4 will continue until June 2026, and the current CT5 will continue until the end of 2026.
Cadillac notified dealers, employees and other stakeholders of the change on October 14 through a letter sent by global vice president John Ross.
“As Cadillac evolves, we will continue to make necessary adjustments to our portfolio to meet customer demand,” Ross’ letter said. “We are excited to confirm that the CT5 legacy continues with the next generation of ICE vehicles, which will be proudly manufactured at GM’s Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant using parts sourced from the United States and around the world.”
Additional details regarding next-generation vehicles and features will be shared at a later date, the letter said.
Cadillac spokesman Joseph Singer said the decision to build gas-powered cars in Lansing had nothing to do with the potential loss of government funding for electric vehicle production.
The Biden administration last year pledged more than $1 billion in grants to help 11 auto plants retool or restart for electric vehicle production, including more than $650 million for two plants in Michigan.
However, Reuters reported on October 7 that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering revoking the restructuring subsidies that the Biden administration gave last year to GM and Chrysler’s parent company Stellantis. These projects are among a list of $12 billion in grants that could be canceled as part of the ongoing partial government shutdown.
GM said in a statement: “At this time, we have not received any new information regarding previously approved Department of Energy grants. Our decision to bring the next-generation CT5 to the Lansing-Grand River Council is unrelated to that process.” “Although gas-powered vehicles are not eligible for previously approved manufacturing transformation grants, we look forward to working with DOE on next steps to support American innovation, jobs, and manufacturing.”
On the same day GM told stakeholders about the changes at its Lansing plant, the Detroit automaker said in a government filing that it would incur a $1.6 billion loss in the third quarter from unused EV production equipment and supplier termination fees.
Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Detroit Free Press. Contact me at jcharniga@freepress.com.
