U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown joined other elected officials, executives from General Motors (GM) and United Auto Workers (UAW) leadership to announce that GM will make its first propulsion plant transformation to an electric vehicle (EV) supply chain in Ohio.

GM has invested $760 million in its Toledo plant which will transform it into a facility that manufactures battery electric truck drive units. 

The investment will be bolstered by the recently-passed CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

"GM's investment in American production and Ohio workers is part of the work we are doing to put in place a new pro-American, pro-union industrial policy," said Senator Brown.

GM expects to retain over 1,500 employees that are currently working at the facility.

"We've had many concerns about where our members will fit in the electric vehicle future. Senator Brown heard our concerns, facilitated conversations with the Biden Administration, which helped get us to this announcement. Now we need to build on this momentum for autoworkers around Ohio," said UAW Local 14 President, Tony Totty.

Currently, Toledo Propulsion Systems employees manufacture and assemble GM's six-speed, eight-speed and ten-speed rear-wheel drive and nine-speed front-wheel drive transmissions used in a variety of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

Renovation work is expected to begin in early fall.