GM will manufacture electric motors at its plant in St. Catharines, Ontario

GM says investment at its St. Catharines plant will protect 500 jobs. Above, a worker at the manufacturer's plant in Oshawa. (File photo)

General Motors (GM) has announced plans to assemble motors for electric vehicles at its propulsion plant in St. Catharines, Ontario, expecting to produce more than 400,000 units per year there.

According to the automaker, this decision, subject to the conclusion of support agreements with the federal and provincial governments, is expected to support approximately 500 jobs at the facility.

The plant currently produces V-6 and V-8 engines, as well as transmissions.

This is a time of historic transformation for our industry and with this significant investment, St. Catharines will play a vital role in our electric future, GM Canada CEO Marissa West said in a statement.

Unifor union president Lana Payne said in a statement that this historic investment means autoworkers will continue to be the region's economic mainstay for generations to come. come.

The union, which previously noted that about a third of autoworker jobs are at risk in the transition to building electric vehicles, said in a statement that it continues to advocate for better industrial policies to secure jobs and investment.

Engines assembled in Ontario will be for different models of electric vehicles s from GM, the company says.