GM workers rally outside the GM Lordstown plant on March 6, 2019 in Lordstown, Ohio. The sprawling facility was idled today after more than 50 years of producing cars and other vehicles.

General Motors said Wednesday it's investing $700 million and creating about 450 new manufacturing jobs in Ohio as it negotiates the sale of its Lorsdtown, Ohio, factory to electric truckmaker Workhorse Group.

"The U.S. economy and our core business are strong, so we can expand our commitment to U.S. manufacturing and Ohio and create job opportunities for our employees," said GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement Wednesday. "We also expect to bring more jobs to the U.S. over time in support of the expected provisions of the USMCA."

The company said the new jobs its creating will be at its Toledo, Parma and Moraine facilities in Ohio.

President Donald Trump preempted the automaker's announcement over Twitter about an hour beforehand, thanking Barra for selling the plant to Workhorse and reinvesting money in other facilities in Ohio. GM's later said it was in "discussions" with Workhorse to buy the plant, but it didn't confirm that a sale has been agreed to yet.

"GREAT NEWS FOR OHIO!" Trump tweeted Wednesday.

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Workhorse is a Loveland, Ohio-based automaker that specializes in manufacturing electric vehicles. If the sale goes through, it would be run by a newly formed affiliate that would be partially owned by Workhorse, executives said.

"This potential agreement creates a positive outcome for all parties involved and will help solidify the leadership of Workhorse's role in the EV community," Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes said in a statement. Company founder Steve Burns added that if Workhorse purchases the plant, the company will focus on building a commercial electric pickup truck.

Preparing the Lordstown plant for production could begin immediately once the sale is complete, GM said in a statement.

GM in March shuttered its Lordstown plant, which built more than 16 million new vehicles over 50 years, to refocus its production on more the profitable trucks and SUVs Americans prefer today. Barra is phasing out most sedans and compact cars to ramp up production of utility vehicles and invest more in autonomous driving and electric vehicles.