General Motors Co. will invest $1.5 billion to build next-generation midsize pickup trucks and upgrade its Missouri truck plant, the automaker announced Dec. 13.

GM will use $1 billion to upgrade its plant in Wentzville, Mo., to prepare for the new truck production. This includes upgrades to the plant's paint shop, body shop and general assembly areas. New machines, conveyors, controls and tooling will be added, GM said.

The investment is expected to retain approximately 4,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs at the plant, the automaker said.

The remaining $500 million of the investment will be used to purchase supplier tooling and machinery, a GM spokesperson told S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Through this investment, General Motors is making a firm commitment to the State of Missouri, the City of Wentzville and the GM Wentzville team," GM President Mark Reuss said in the news release. "This is part of our comprehensive strategy to invest in growth areas and strengthen our U.S. manufacturing base. GM sells more pickups than any other automaker and we have aggressive plans to build on our strengths."

The Wentzville plant builds the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.

In November 2018, GM announced that it would cut car production and reduce its workforce as part of a restructuring plan as consumer preferences shifted to larger vehicles.