General Motors announced back in May that it would be pouring $5.4 billion into upgrading its manufacturing plants and other facilities. Now, after incrementally revealing where most of that money would go, the automaker has announced the last piece of that multi-billion-dollar pie. The final allocation of $877 million will be invested into the Flint Assembly Plant, primarily for a new body shop.
Flint Assembly is the oldest GM plant in North America. The facility opened in 1947 in the post-war boom, and has built over 13 million vehicles to date. Along with the Fort Wayne plant in Indiana and another in Silao, Mexico, the truck plant in Flint, MI, handles production of the company's fullsize pickups: the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. In addition to the Flint investment, the Fort Wayne plant is receiving an even larger $1.2-billion cash injection as part of the allocation program.
The new body shop will be located closer to the Flint Metal Center that supplies the sheetmetal used to fabricate the trucks. Part of the investment is also being allocated towards upgrading the general assembly area, with new tooling and equipment as well. The plant is already in the process of upgrading its paint shop, set to open next year. Since 2011, GM reports that it has invested $1.8 billion in the Flint plant, with work on the new body shop set to commence next year for completion in 2018.
Flint Assembly is the oldest GM plant in North America. The facility opened in 1947 in the post-war boom, and has built over 13 million vehicles to date. Along with the Fort Wayne plant in Indiana and another in Silao, Mexico, the truck plant in Flint, MI, handles production of the company's fullsize pickups: the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. In addition to the Flint investment, the Fort Wayne plant is receiving an even larger $1.2-billion cash injection as part of the allocation program.
The new body shop will be located closer to the Flint Metal Center that supplies the sheetmetal used to fabricate the trucks. Part of the investment is also being allocated towards upgrading the general assembly area, with new tooling and equipment as well. The plant is already in the process of upgrading its paint shop, set to open next year. Since 2011, GM reports that it has invested $1.8 billion in the Flint plant, with work on the new body shop set to commence next year for completion in 2018.
GM Invests $877 Million for Flint Assembly Upgrades
New body facility links assembly plant with Flint Metal Center
2015-08-04
FLINT, Mich. – General Motors' oldest assembly plant in North America, a popular destination for pickup truck customers who want to watch their vehicles being built, will undergo transformation in the coming years.
GM officials today announced plans to invest $877 million to build a new body shop for the assembly plant, locating it closer to the Flint Metal Center, which supplies sheet metal and other parts used in the Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickups produced in the assembly plant.
The investment will also cover improvements to the general assembly area inside Flint Assembly, as well as retooling and the installation of new equipment at the plant.
"This investment will allow us to use a more innovative approach to deliver material between two critical facilities, reducing handling and the time it takes to ship parts," said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations vice president.
Since 2011, GM has announced investments topping $1.8 billion for Flint Assembly. This includes $600 million for plant upgrades and a new standalone paint shop that is under construction and slated to open in 2016. Work on the 883,000-square-foot body shop is expected to begin in the first half of 2016, with completion slated for 2018.
"In the last several years, GM's investments in the city of Flint have topped $2.5 billion, creating hundreds of construction jobs and an economic boost for the community," said Flint Mayor Dayne Walling. "This investment not only strengthens the ties between GM and the city, it demonstrates that Flint continues to play an important role in the resurgence of manufacturing in Michigan and the rest of the United States."
Opened in 1947 as part of a post-World War II building boom by GM's Flint Assembly has produced more than 13 million vehicles. The plant's "View Builds," as they are called, allow customers to see their heavy-duty Silverados or heavy-duty Sierra trucks being assembled and roll off the line after a series of quality checks by members of UAW Local 598.
"While the plant has received numerous awards for initial quality and long-term durability and reliability, our latest investments in the plant will raise the bar in vehicle quality and customer satisfaction," Clegg said.
For starters, when the new paint shop opens in 2016, trucks will be painted using a wet-coat process that results in a smoother, more durable finish. The new body shop will be constructed north of the Flint Metal Center, reducing transportation time and handling between facilities.
"This announcement is due to the hard work and dedication of our UAW members in Flint," said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who leads the UAW GM Department. "This proves once again that when we work together in a collaborative approach, UAW members continue to come up with innovative ways to grow the business, which provides jobs and improves the quality of the products we produce. This is both good for the Company and good for our members."
Today's announcement completes the $5.4 billion in investments GM and the UAW announced at the end of April. Since June 2009, GM has announced U.S. facility investments of approximately $17.8 billion, including $12.4 billion since the end of the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement. These investments have created approximately 6,250 new jobs and secured 20,700 other positions.
New body facility links assembly plant with Flint Metal Center
2015-08-04
FLINT, Mich. – General Motors' oldest assembly plant in North America, a popular destination for pickup truck customers who want to watch their vehicles being built, will undergo transformation in the coming years.
GM officials today announced plans to invest $877 million to build a new body shop for the assembly plant, locating it closer to the Flint Metal Center, which supplies sheet metal and other parts used in the Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickups produced in the assembly plant.
The investment will also cover improvements to the general assembly area inside Flint Assembly, as well as retooling and the installation of new equipment at the plant.
"This investment will allow us to use a more innovative approach to deliver material between two critical facilities, reducing handling and the time it takes to ship parts," said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations vice president.
Since 2011, GM has announced investments topping $1.8 billion for Flint Assembly. This includes $600 million for plant upgrades and a new standalone paint shop that is under construction and slated to open in 2016. Work on the 883,000-square-foot body shop is expected to begin in the first half of 2016, with completion slated for 2018.
"In the last several years, GM's investments in the city of Flint have topped $2.5 billion, creating hundreds of construction jobs and an economic boost for the community," said Flint Mayor Dayne Walling. "This investment not only strengthens the ties between GM and the city, it demonstrates that Flint continues to play an important role in the resurgence of manufacturing in Michigan and the rest of the United States."
Opened in 1947 as part of a post-World War II building boom by GM's Flint Assembly has produced more than 13 million vehicles. The plant's "View Builds," as they are called, allow customers to see their heavy-duty Silverados or heavy-duty Sierra trucks being assembled and roll off the line after a series of quality checks by members of UAW Local 598.
"While the plant has received numerous awards for initial quality and long-term durability and reliability, our latest investments in the plant will raise the bar in vehicle quality and customer satisfaction," Clegg said.
For starters, when the new paint shop opens in 2016, trucks will be painted using a wet-coat process that results in a smoother, more durable finish. The new body shop will be constructed north of the Flint Metal Center, reducing transportation time and handling between facilities.
"This announcement is due to the hard work and dedication of our UAW members in Flint," said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who leads the UAW GM Department. "This proves once again that when we work together in a collaborative approach, UAW members continue to come up with innovative ways to grow the business, which provides jobs and improves the quality of the products we produce. This is both good for the Company and good for our members."
Today's announcement completes the $5.4 billion in investments GM and the UAW announced at the end of April. Since June 2009, GM has announced U.S. facility investments of approximately $17.8 billion, including $12.4 billion since the end of the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement. These investments have created approximately 6,250 new jobs and secured 20,700 other positions.
Featured Gallery GM Flint Truck Assembly Plant: Investment Announcement
View 12 Photos
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue