Schmitt-Backed Policies Lead to Major Auto Investment in Missouri

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) issued the following statement after General Motors (GM) announced a new $157 million investment in the Wentzville, Missouri, plant. The announcement comes after Schmitt co-sponsored the Connected Vehicle Security Act , which helps expand automotive production in the United States and protects American national security by banning the importation, manufacture, and sale of Chinese vehicles and car parts in the U.S. Senator Schmitt praised GM’s announcement as a major win for America’s automotive industry as Republicans work to bring supply chains back to the U.S. and create more jobs for American workers. “I’ve worked closely with American automakers like GM to increase manufacturing in Missouri and across the United States through policies like our Connected Vehicle Security Act, and repealing job-killing government regulations. Today’s announcement is proof that when we invest in American production, American workers win. This expansion will boost manufacturing in Missouri, strengthen our domestic supply chain. For decades, our supply chains have drifted overseas and taken good-paying American jobs with them. It’s time to reverse that decline. America is the birthplace of the modern automobile—and American cars belong on American assembly lines. I’m proud to work alongside GM to encourage more investment in Missouri communities and help revive this great American industry,” said Senator Schmitt. Background: The Connected Vehicles Security Act passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee this week. Schmitt championed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act which zeroed out Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) penalties, potentially saving GM $6.5 billion in CAFE penalties. The Senator joined President Trump in the Oval Office to announce this win for American automakers. In 2025, President Trump signed resolutions that Senator Schmitt supported to overturn EPA waivers that let California regulators impose stricter standards than the rest of the nation ending a costly two-track system for automakers like GM. ###