Returning automotive jobs to the United States is the theme of the announcement by General Motors this morning that it is investing $1 billion in its American-based manufacturing.

The company says about 7,000 jobs will be created or retained by the investment, many resulting from 'insourcing' decisions that moved jobs from other countries.

They include:

* 450 new jobs when it moves axel production for its next-generation full-size pickups from Mexico to Michigan.

* 1,500 new and retained jobs are tied to multiple new vehicle, advanced technology and component projects that will be announced throughout 2017.

* 5,000 jobs expected in coming years, including in finance and advanced technology, following previous insourcing of 6,000 IT jobs and consolidation of engineering operations to the core center in Warren.

GM also is confirming that one of its suppliers has committed to make components for full size pick-up trucks in Michigan, moving 100 jobs from Mexico to the U.S. - and that it's encouraging other suppliers to do the same.

"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," said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement.

"The U.S. is our home market and we are committed to growth that is good for our employees, dealers, and suppliers and supports our continued effort to drive shareholder value."

The investments follow $2.9 billion announced in 2016 and more than $21 billion GM has invested in its U.S. operations since 2009, according to the company.

It also follows the movement of thousands of jobs from other countries to the U.S., the company says: "GM reduced more than 15,000 positions outside the U.S., bringing most of those jobs to America. During that period, the company moved from 90 percent of its IT work being outsourced to an insourced U.S.-based model."

The announcement comes two weeks after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to scrap a $1.6 billion assembly plant in Mexico and move jobs to its Flat Rock facility.

On the same day, a Tweet by President-elect Donald Trump noted GM was building the Chevrolet Cruze in Mexico and importing it to U.S. dealerships without paying a border tax. "Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!" Trump said in his Tweet.

Meanwhile, the statement from GM this morning indicates the Lansing area may be the beneficiary of some of the new jobs and investment.

GM is "executing a strategy to create supplier parks adjacent to its U.S. manufacturing sites," the company said, "... and will continue to expand this effort."

It noted that already has been accomplished at GM's Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas, Spring Hill Assembly Plant in Tennessee, Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Indiana, and Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio.

Those facilities are operated by NorthPoint Development of Kansas City, the company that put four Lansing-area sites under contract in November. They are being sold by RACER Trust, which is selling off former GM properties shed during its bankruptcy.

NorthPoint "plans to build a mix of manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facilities, primarily for companies in the automotive sector," according to a news release announcing the intended purchase.

According to GM, supplier parks locating near assembly plants "result in significant savings from reduced transportation costs, higher quality communications and continuous improvement activities as suppliers are located closer to the final assembly location."