GM to invest $246 milion in electric motor and electric drive facilities in the U.S.

General Motors (GM) wants to become the first major U.S. automaker to take charge of the design and the manufacture of its electric motors, a core technology for hybrids and electric vehicles. The US brand will invest $246 million to expand its in-house electric vehicle development capabilities.

This investment will allow GM to lower its costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors. The first GM-designed and built electric motors should debut in 2013 in next-generation, rear-wheel-drive Two-mode Hybrid technology.

For Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations “electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now” and he adds that “by designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight – two significant challenges facing batteries today.”

Along the years GM has been building this in-house capability, with the expansion of the electric motor research and development, design and validation capabilities in its’ facilities in Michigan, Indiana and California.

This is also part of a national strategy, supported by the U.S government, that whishes to grow domestic expertise in electric vehicle technologies. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy selected GM to receive a $105-million grant for the construction of U.S. manufacturing capabilities to produce electric motors and related electric drive components.