Manoli Katakis 
General Motors announced a record $7 billion USD investment that’s said to create 4,000 new jobs, retain another 1,000, and the creation of an all-new battery assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan. Being the largest investment announcement in GM history, however, there’s much more to the story. For instance, the Chevrolet Bolt EV plant in Orion Township has been earmarked to build the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV electric pickup trucks, there are planned upgrades to the Lansing Delta Assembly plant for next-generation Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave SUVs, and the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant – where the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 family is built alongside the Chevrolet Camaro will get “plant upgrades.”
Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant Details
“Plant upgrades,” is a wildly vague morsel in an announcement that’s otherwise full of details. So, what does it actually mean? Considering that this record announcement largely centered around electric vehicles, there’s reason to believe that LGR will be a part of that strategy, and GM isn’t ready to show its hand as to what sort of future products that might be just yet. Although if you’ve been following this as close as we have, you may recall that a Cadillac electric vehicle is reportedly set to begin production at the facility as soon as 2024. Sources indicate that this is still the case.
The Future Of The Chevrolet Camaro
Regarding this $7 billion announcement, it’s unlikely that Lansing Grand River is seeing a dime towards any major sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro investment. While rumors have swirled about LT2 and LT5 engines making it to the pony car as type of “send-off”, we haven’t heard anything from our end that confirms this. According to our intel, what we are expecting is that the final Camaro “send off” edition will consist of commemorative badging, placards, and will come exclusively in yellow. This 2024 model year Camaro package will be offered on multiple trim levels, including the SS and ZL1.
The seventh-generation Camaro, or rather what was going to be the seventh-generation Camaro, was canceled during GM’s major 2018 restructuring. This shake-up also claimed various engine programs, such as the 6.6L LT3 that would have went in the stillborn sixth-generation Camaro Z/28 (likely pictured up top), and entire vehicle programs, such as the body-on-frame GMC midsize SUV based on the Canyon pickup.
Reports claim that the Camaro will eventually be replaced by an electric sedan sometime after 2024, while various temperature checks of whether or not the market will accept “eMuscle” will continue to be monitored.
Cramped interior and poor visibility helped kill the Camaro.
My issue with eMuscle is China gets a bigger cut.
For many, MANY of us, the true muscle car guys & girls, eMuscle is not a thing, and never will be. A huge part of what makes muscle cars truly stir the soul, is the sound and feel and look of a high-performance internal combustion engine. Sorry, but the whirring hum of an electric motor is not exciting. At all. Does not matter how fast it may accelerate a car, or how much torque it makes. Give me a cammed-up, fuel burning, nasty-sounding hot rod all day. Walk through any car club gathering, or muscle car show, and notice how many hoods are raised so people can see the muscular power plant.
I hear you. Respect. Hopefully eMuscle builders know sound is part of the experience. It’ll likely be gearbox noise. Search “The New Sound Of Formula E” on YouTube. An F16 sounds more like a hair dryer than a V8 but it puts smile on my face. Twin screw superchargers and timing gears are pleasing to some ears. It’ll be different, but it can be good.