General Motors (GM) has announced plans to spend a hefty sum to upgrade GM plants in the midwest.

Five GM plants in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana will receive a total of $1.3 billion in improvements. The improvements, mostly made over the next two years, will allow the GM factories to produce engines and transmissions with higher fuel efficiency and premium pickup trucks, the Associated Press notes.

The nation’s leading carmaker intends to spend $600 million at the GM plant in Flint, Mich., $493 million at the GM factory in Romulus, Mich., $30 million at the GM plant in Toledo, Ohio, and $29.2 million at the General Motors factory in Beford, Ind.

About 1,000 jobs will be created or maintained at the GM plants with the investments.

Earlier this month, GM announced that Mary Barra will succeed outgoing CEO and Chairman Dan Akerson as the first-ever CEO of a major automaker next year.

This month, the U.S. government sold its remaining stake in General Motors, sending GM stock surging.

GM stock dipped slightly in Tuesday morning trading.