GM narrows new small car plant search down to three locations
2010 Chevrolet Spark - Click above for high-res image gallery
Orion, Michigan... Spring Hill, Tennessee... Janesville, Wisconsin... Come on down! You're the
In a brief press release issued today, GM confirmed that it has short-listed these three existing UAW-GM facilities as the contenders to build the as-yet-unnamed fuel miser first announced on May 29. Could it be a version of the 2010 Chevrolet Spark shown above? Or the so-called "Viva" hatchback that was recently spotted testing at the Nürburgring?
The automaker says it has begun holding discussions with federal and state government representatives, and it hopes to announce the winner within the next few weeks. Official press release after the jump.
Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark
[Source: General Motors]
PRESS RELEASE:
Statement On The Plant Selection To Produce The New Small Car For GM
On May 29, GM announced that we will build a future small, fuel-efficient car in the United States utilizing an existing UAW-GM assembly plant that is currently on standby capacity status. The assembly plants in consideration are Orion (Michigan), Spring Hill (Tennessee) and Janesville (Wisconsin). Given the importance of this small car program, and in an effort to move quickly to identify the plant, GM leadership has begun discussions regarding selection criteria with Federal and State government officials from Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin. We hope to identify and announce the future production site of the small car within the next several weeks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Snowdog 4:15PM (6/10/2009)
That hurts my eyes.
GM is putting this up against the new Ford Fiesta? Ouch for GM.
Compare:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-fiesta-in-nyc/1469910/
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Motor_Yakuza 4:19PM (6/10/2009)
Nope, this will compete with that euro Ford Ka, the Chevy Aveo competes with the Fiesta.
Rich 8:56PM (6/10/2009)
Motor_Yakuza: thanks for clarification. That makes it easier to swallow. Not by much. Comparing the Ka to this heap makes Ford look like paragons of design virtue.
And they're not.
Cougs 4:25PM (6/10/2009)
It will be interesting to see how they intend to make this vehicle at any sort of profit margin...or maybe they will do like the Federal Government and just move certain costs "off-budget" to make it look like they are making a profit. Of course, if they were a publicly traded company (rather than state-run) that would be call fraud. I wonder why we let the Fed get away with it....
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Chris 4:26PM (6/10/2009)
Already Congress (read Government) is interfering in the production of cars. I would not doubt we will see further infringement leading to another collapse.
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elpepe 4:37PM (6/10/2009)
I think they screwed up the headlights when they went from concept to production... they look bigger or something... the concept looked great.
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jamie 4:42PM (6/10/2009)
I know GM is trying to keep jobs at Janesville, Spring Hill and Orion; but if were CEO I am afraid that I would give the nod to Lordstown.
Why a ringer not even in the running?
Because GM can only expect to deliver about 100,000 subcompacts a year. Whereas Lordstown is only producing 200-240,000 compacts annually, it would make sense to combine the two products on the same line if at all possible. Lordstown would have no problem ramping up to 300-360,000 annually which would make it far more viable than it is today.
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BrianFL 11:00AM (6/11/2009)
Well it won't be springhill, TN. Senator Bob Corker ruined that for them last December.
akatsuki 5:07PM (6/10/2009)
They must be trying to sink the company if they think for one second that thing will sell. What a dog.
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Rich 9:04PM (6/10/2009)
It sells. In India.
Judy Zik 5:04PM (6/10/2009)
Janesville? One of the largest buildings and oldest factories in the US. Not likely to be a cheap or efficient choice for producing one model.
This is just politics plane and simple. Pit three state governments against each other in a bidding war and see who comes up with the most cash.
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rockstars 5:48PM (6/10/2009)
Janesville, from what I understand, is the only plant that GM fully owns. Also, the workforce in Janesville was a leader for the UAW in terms of agreements and concessions. Easy Interstate access and on a rail line, too. I live in Janesville and would love for GM to come back to town.
And for the record, the Janesville plant was NEVER classified as closed. It was classified as idled.
SmokinM3 5:59PM (6/10/2009)
This is the same car!
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Rich 9:04PM (6/10/2009)
The same as what?
Reminds me of the old joke: "What's the difference between a dog?"
nexus 6:11PM (6/10/2009)
Which 3 is the youngest plant? I say they go with the least oldest plant.
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Rich 9:05PM (6/10/2009)
Or the most youngest if they can find a youngester one.
nexus 11:07PM (6/10/2009)
youngest
(adj) : most recently begun or formed
-
"youngester" is not in the dictionary. :(
Blackbird 6:56PM (6/10/2009)
Come on GM, build the car in Michigan, keep Orion open!!
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Level 7:34PM (6/10/2009)
So let me get this straight. GM is right now selling cars on par with Toyota. GM pretty much sells more cars then any other. How is a small car with a tiny profit margin going to save GM again?? not to mention getting rid of so many other models and brands...God help them but all of it doesn't make any sense...I keep hearing if GM only made cars people wanted to buy but then you go and look at the data and they have been the company to beat with the amount of cars they sell so if you put 2 and 2 together it don't make no sense. Now thanks to Obama they lost any and all chances of eliminating the UAW and such added expenses that the competition doesn't have.
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Evan 8:44PM (6/10/2009)
Are truck-loving meat-eating Americans really going to buy that car? I know the U.S. government wants GM to produce smaller cars, but they can't create consumer demand where there is none. With Ford and Chrysler-Fiat also bring new small cars to market, there could be a glut of small cars without a proven market.
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