GM Defense Begins Build-Out Of North Carolina Facility For Production Of Infantry Squad Vehicle

Rhea-AI Summary

GM Defense LLC, a General Motors subsidiary, has started renovations on a facility in Concord, North Carolina, to produce the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) under a $214.3 million contract awarded in June 2020. This 75,000-square-foot facility will manufacture 649 vehicles, with full production expected to begin in April 2021. The ISV, based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, is designed for rapid ground mobility and can be airlifted by military helicopters. GM Defense aims to innovate military mobility while ensuring efficient production using proven commercial parts.

Positive

• Commencement of renovations for a facility dedicated to producing the Infantry Squad Vehicle, enhancing GM's defense capabilities.
• Secured a $214.3 million contract for the ISV, indicating strong demand and financial support.
• The facility aims to manufacture 649 ISVs initially, with potential for 2,065 vehicles over eight years, ensuring sustained revenue.
• Utilization of 90% commercial-off-the-shelf parts, which may reduce production costs and enhance reliability.

Negative

• None.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, today announced that it has started renovations of an existing GM building to support the production of the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad. The facility, located in Concord, North Carolina, will produce ISVs for the U.S. Army as part of a $214.3 million contract awarded to GM Defense in June 2020. GM Defense celebrated the delivery of its first ISVs to the U.S. Army in October of the same year, just 120 days from contract award.

Construction at the 75,000-square-foot facility is expected to continue into early spring, and the production line will begin delivering vehicles in April. As GM Defense ramps to full-rate production, the facility will help to manufacture 649 ISVs and will support the production of up to 2,065 vehicles with additional authorization over eight years. The ISV program is the first major award for GM Defense since the subsidiary was re-established by its parent company in 2017.

"We have tremendous momentum behind our ISV win, featuring a first-of-its-kind tactical wheeled vehicle that gives our Soldiers speed, durability and performance to enhance mission success," said Tim Herrick, interim president of GM Defense. "GM Defense is responsible for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the ISV. This facility will enable us to meet our customer's timeline for delivery while continuing our journey to bring commercial technologies and transformative mobility solutions to the defense market."

The ISV is based off the award-winning 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture and leverages 90 percent proven commercial-off-the-shelf parts, including Chevrolet Performance race components. The 5,000-pound ISV was uniquely engineered to fulfill military requirements and designed to provide rapid ground mobility. This expeditionary vehicle is light enough to be sling loaded from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air transportability. The ISV's innovative Rollover Protection System (ROPS) will provide agile transportability on any battleground.

The GM Defense production facility is located near North Carolina-based Hendrick Motorsports, which brings its extensive experience developing race cars in high-load, high-risk environments, to support defense applications. Hendrick Motorsports is responsible for providing the chrome-moly steel exoskeleton of the vehicle frame, including the ISV ROPS system.

GM Defense also has a teaming agreement with Ricardo Defense, which will lead the Integrated Product Support for the ISV, including technical manual development, new equipment training, provisioning, total package fielding and field service support.

GM Defense is driving the future of military mobility by leveraging the best-in-class capabilities of General Motors for unmatched innovation, proven performance and breakthrough life-cycle economics.  The ISV will bring world class manufacturing efficiencies, ease of maintenance and a well-established global supply chain to the U.S. Army.

Stay tuned for future updates on www.GMDefenseLLC.com.

GM Defense LLC delivers integrated vehicles, power & propulsion, and mobility & autonomy solutions to global defense, security, and government markets. The exceptional reliability of GM Defense's technologies results from decades of proven performance and billions of dollars spent in independent research and development by its parent, General Motors, a world leader in global design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gm-defense-begins-build-out-of-north-carolina-facility-for-production-of-infantry-squad-vehicle-301194927.html

SOURCE General Motors Co.

FAQ

What is the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) produced by GM Defense?

The ISV is a light, all-terrain troop carrier designed to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad, based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.

When is GM Defense expected to start delivering ISVs?

Production of the Infantry Squad Vehicle is expected to begin in April 2021.

What is the value of the contract awarded to GM Defense for the ISV?

GM Defense was awarded a $214.3 million contract to produce the Infantry Squad Vehicle.

Where is the production facility for the ISV located?

The production facility is located in Concord, North Carolina.

How many ISVs does the contract with the U.S. Army entail?

The contract includes the production of 649 Infantry Squad Vehicles, with authorization for up to 2,065 vehicles over eight years.