Trump Says GM Selling Lordstown Plant To EV Maker Workhorse, Investing $700 Million In Ohio

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that General Motors will sell the Lordstown plant in Ohio that is currently running the risk of being closed.

Trump said that GM will sell the plant to Workhorse Group, a maker of electric trucks. “Just spoke to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, who informed me that, subject to a UAW agreement etc., GM will be selling their beautiful Lordstown Plant to Workhorse, where they plan to build Electric Trucks,” the President tweeted.

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While Donald Trump’s enthusiastic tone makes it sound like a done deal, he himself says it will require the approval of the United Auto Workers union. General Motors hasn’t made a comment yet on the President’s statements. Workhorse Group is a Cincinnati-based company that builds electric delivery and utility vehicles, including buses.

….in 3 separate locations, creating another 450 jobs. I have been working nicely with GM to get this done. Thank you to Mary B, your GREAT Governor, and Senator Rob Portman. With all the car companies coming back, and much more, THE USA IS BOOMING!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2019

In May 2017, Workhorse unveiled the W-15 plug-in hybrid pickup truck and said it would put it into production in the fourth quarter of 2018. The truck hasn’t entered production yet and there’s a chance it will be built at GM’s Lordstown plant if the deal goes through.

In addition to the announcement regarding the Lordstown facility, Donald Trump also said GM will invest $700 million in Ohio and create 450 jobs in three separate locations. He didn’t offer any further details. “I have been working nicely with GM to get this done. Thank you to Mary B [Barra], your GREAT Governor, and Senator Rob Portman. With all the car companies coming back, and much more, THE USA IS BOOMING!” the President wrote on Twitter.

This is a significant change of tone for Trump in relation to GM. The President has constantly criticized the carmaker since November 2018 for the decision to close five North American plants. He has been especially angry about the idling of Lordstown Assembly due to the state of Ohio’s key electoral importance.

Note: Workhorse W-15 plug-in hybrid pickup truck pictured