General Motors Slashes Over 1,700 Jobs in Electric Vehicle and Battery Manufacturing General Motors is cutting more than 1,700 manufacturing jobs, a direct reaction to shifting dynamics in the electric vehicle market. The company stated it is realigning its EV capacity in response to slower than expected near-term adoption of electric vehicles and an evolving regulatory environment. Despite these workforce reductions, GM asserts it remains committed to its US manufacturing footprint, believing its investments and flexible operations will build resilience. The layoffs are concentrated at facilities critical to GMs electric future. A Michigan plant responsible for building GMs electric vehicles and an Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Ohio are the primary locations affected. In a separate move, the company is also temporarily laying off 700 workers at an Ultium Cells plant located in Tennessee. A significant factor in this decision is likely the changed regulatory landscape, specifically the expiration of the 7,500 federal tax rebate for EV purchases. This incentive, which helped spur consumer demand, ended earlier this year under new legislation that rolled back support for various environmentally-focused programs and industries. This news follows a recent announcement from GM that it would wind down much of its hydrogen fuel cell research and development. That strategic pivot was intended to allow the company to concentrate more resources on battery technology, charging infrastructure, and electric vehicles. The decision to now implement layoffs within those very same areas of focus signals the intense pressure and difficult recalculations automakers are facing as the initial euphoria around EVs meets market realities.
