General Motors announced plans today to design and manufacture electric motors, the first of which are to debut in 2013 in a next-generation, rear-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle. The company said the motors would be manufactured in the United States but did not disclose the specific location.
 
"In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now," GM Vice President Tom Stephens said. "By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight - two significant challenges facing batteries today."
 
The $246 million to be invested includes a $105 million grant awarded last year by the Department of Energy.