GM to Boost Truck Output in Indiana Amid New Tariffs

General Motors (GM) plans to increase production of light-duty trucks at its Fort Wayne, Indiana assembly plant following the implementation of 25% tariffs on auto imports by President Donald Trump. 

“From a Mexico perspective, we do build trucks in Mexico and in Canada and in the United States. And so we have the capacity in the United States to shift some of that,” said Mary Barra, CEO, GM, during the company’s January earnings call, hinting at a potential increase in US truck production.

The Fort Wayne plant, which manufactures the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, will see a boost in production levels. These models are also produced at GM facilities in Canada and Mexico. According to a recent Barclays report, roughly half of GM’s large pickup truck production currently takes place outside the United States.

The new tariffs, aimed at encouraging US companies to reshore manufacturing, are likely to increase vehicle prices by thousands of dollars in the short term. While GM may utilize existing domestic capacity to shift production, the company cautions that building new factories would take years, as reported by Reuters.

To meet rising demand, GM is expected to extend overtime shifts at the Fort Wayne facility. Plant Director Dennys Pimenta confirmed in a webcast to employees that overtime would be added to manage the increased workload. The company also plans to hire several hundred temporary workers as part of what it called “operational adjustments” to support the production ramp-up.

The adjustments to production schedules at the Fort Wayne plant will begin Apr. 22–25, following the Easter holiday, as GM transitions to higher output. Meanwhile, GM’s plants in Oshawa, Canada, and Silao, Mexico, which also produce these truck models, will maintain regular production schedules.