According to media reports, General Motors and its auto parts supplier Piston Automotive plan to construct a hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing facility on the site of the former Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan.
Piston, a contract manufacturer owned by former Detroit Pistons guard Vinnie Johnson, is leasing a 292,550-square-foot facility in Detroit.
David Massaron, GM's Chief Economic Development and Real Estate Officer, stated that GM has reached an agreement with Piston this week. Piston will invest in and operate the hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing plant, although the financial details and terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The factory is in its early stages and will become GM's first standalone hydrogen fuel cell production facility. It is expected to initially provide about 50 assembly jobs, along with other support positions.
Massaron noted that the plant is still in planning and will take several years before it begins production, adding, "Building these facilities takes time. Everything is still in preparation."
He also expressed excitement about bringing new technology to his hometown, emphasizing that this investment is not just for GM's future but also for the city itself, which he finds very encouraging and prideful.
Piston declined to comment on the report, and GM did not disclose where the hydrogen fuel cells would be sent or their specific applications. However, it's anticipated that these fuel cells may first be used in non-automotive sectors before being deployed in trucks.
Currently, GM views hydrogen fuel cell technology as a potential new revenue source and has made several investments in hydrogen energy in Michigan and elsewhere. This year, a joint venture between GM and Honda started producing hydrogen fuel cell systems at a plant about 20 miles south of Detroit in Brownstown, which spans 70,000 square feet. Unlike the planned Piston facility, the Brownstown plant also manufactures other components alongside hydrogen fuel cells.
Detroit's Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department indicated that the operator is applying for a special land use permit to build an auto parts manufacturing facility with "medium impact" within a "general commercial" zoning area.
