According to Fortune, General Motors is taking concrete steps to rebuild domestic supply chains through multiple strategic partnerships. The automaker has teamed with MP Materials to create a mine-to-magnet rare earth supply chain and invested in Lithium Americas’ Nevada lithium project. GM is also collaborating with Global Foundries to produce semiconductors domestically. These efforts support everything from vehicles to renewable energy and AI data centers. Since 2020, GM has invested over $60 billion and employs nearly 90,000 U.S. workers. The company is pushing for actual industrial scale rather than just announcements.
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The scaling problem nobody talks about
Here’s the thing: everyone loves announcing new supply chain projects, but actually scaling them is where the real work begins. And honestly, we’ve seen this movie before – big announcements followed by disappointing execution. The article points out that financing comes in waves, permitting is sequential, and infrastructure like power and water often lags behind construction. Basically, we’re great at the ribbon-cutting ceremony but not so great at the day-to-day grind of making things actually work at scale.
GM’s four-part plan for real capacity
So what’s GM’s approach? They’re focusing on four key areas that actually make sense. First, they’re pushing for “bankable volume” – meaning real purchase agreements tied to actual products, not just press releases. Second, they want to streamline processes because, let’s be honest, does anyone think our current permitting system is working well? Third, they’re building the entire supply chain loop, from mining to manufacturing to assembly. And fourth, they’re actually thinking about workforce development before the factories are built. That last one seems obvious, but how many companies actually do it?
Why this matters right now
The pandemic really exposed how fragile our global supply chains are. Remember when we couldn’t get semiconductors and car prices went through the roof? That wasn’t just bad luck – it was a structural problem. Now with AI data centers, renewable energy, and electric vehicles all demanding these same materials, the stakes are even higher. The nation that figures this out isn’t just going to have cheaper cars – they’ll have economic security and technological leadership for decades. But can we actually execute? That’s the billion-dollar question.
The real challenge isn’t technical
Look, the technology exists. We know how to mine rare earths, process lithium, and make semiconductors. The challenge is coordination – getting businesses, government, utilities, and educators all moving in the same direction. GM’s partnerships across mining, manufacturing, and even defense show they’re thinking systematically. But one company can’t solve this alone. We need policies that actually support scaling, not just starting. We need workforce programs that match real job needs. And we need to stop treating every project as a one-off and start building ecosystems. Otherwise, we’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
