Pontiac, Michigan – General Motors plans to invest $5.4 billion in U.S plant improvements during the next three years, including $783.5 million for three Michigan facilities.
“These investments are evidence of a company on the move, strategically investing in the people, tools, and equipment to produce cars, trucks, and crossovers that are built to win in the marketplace,” says GM North America President Alan Batey at the Pontiac Metal Center, where $124 million will be invested.
Two other Michigan investments detailed are $520 million for tooling and equipment for future new vehicle programs at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, retaining 1,900 jobs; and $139.5 million for a new body shop and stamping facility upgrades at Pre-Production Operations in Warren.
“The common thread among our investments is the focus on product improvements that benefit customers,” says Cathy Clegg, vice president of GM North America Manufacturing. “Together with our UAW partners, we’re working hard to exceed consumers’ ever-increasing quality expectations.”
All major body panel dies will be pre-tested in Pontiac under regular production conditions, enabling stamping plants to produce quality parts in shorter time; pre-production vehicles in Warren will surface issues long before regular production begins; and new products in Lansing will be among the best the company has built, she says.
The $5.4-billion new investment translates to GM investing in U.S. operations about $5 million a day or $150 million every month for the next three years.
GM will detail the remaining $4.6 billion and identify plants involved over the next several months.
Since June 2009, GM has announced U.S. facility investment of approximately $16.8 billion. About $11.4 billion of that has come since the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement. In total, these investments have created 3,650 new jobs and secured the positions of approximately 20,700 others.
“By working together, the UAW and GM are making a difference in communities across the United States,” says UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who leads the union’s GM Department. “These investments represent the power of our collaboration to create jobs and improve competitiveness, quality and our manufacturing base in this country.”
Source: General Motors Co.