General Motors to invest $1 billion in US

NEW YORK (AA) - General Motors (GM) will invest $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations, the country's biggest automaker announced Tuesday.

The investment will cover "new vehicle, advanced technology and component projects" that will affect a total of 1,500 new and retained jobs, according to a GM statement.

The company also said it will move production of its full-size pickup trucks from Mexico to the U.S. state of Michigan to create 450 jobs.

"As the U.S. manufacturing base increases its competitiveness, we are able to further increase our investment, resulting in more jobs for America and better results for our owners,” GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in the statement.

GM noted that it invested $2.9 billion in 2016, and more than $21 billion since 2009, in its U.S. operations.

The decision comes after some other major automotive companies recently announced increasing their investments in the U.S. amid President-elect Donald Trump planning to impose 35 percent border tax on imports from Mexico, and 45 percent tariff on China.

South Korean giants Hyundai and its affiliate Kia also said earlier Tuesday that they plan to invest a combined $3.1 billion in the U.S. over the next five years.

International automotive giant Fiat Chrysler announced last Monday that it would invest $1 billion in its U.S. plants, and Ford announced earlier its plans to cancel a $1.6 billion investment in a new Mexico plant and instead invest $700 million in Michigan to create 700 jobs.