Though the news comes just days before General Motors is expected to announce the closure of up to 14 plants, the Detroit automaker says that it will reopen one of its idled assembly plants to begin production of the upcoming Chevrolet Spark for domestic and export markets.
GM has not announced which plant will be reopened, though rumors point towards Janesville, Wisconsin, which built GMT900 SUVs until late last year, or Moraine, Ohio, which built variants of the GMT360 (TrailBlazer) platform until late last year. GM could also reopen one of the plants whose closure announcement is expected on Monday.
GM is expected to close the Wilmington, Delaware, plant that currently builds the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, as well as the Shreveport, Louisiana, plant that builds the Hummer H3 and Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon. Either of those plants are likely candidates for retooling. GM says it will build up to 160,000 cars in the plant annually.
Though GM hasn’t specifically said the unnamed small car will be the Spark, it is the only new sub-Chevrolet Cruze car destined for the North American market. A media release issued by the automaker this morning says that the small car will help boost GM’s U.S. lineup to more than 70 percent domestic-built products.
“Small cars represent one of the fastest growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world,” said Fritz Henderson, GM President and CEO, in the statement. “We believe this car will be a winner with our current and future customers in the U.S.”
05/29, 11:30 AM
posted by:
Borat
Close 14 plants, open closed ones. I assume there is no cost involved in all of it. Perhaps it is not cost but politics. The already closed one, but slated to be open is more “democratic” then another 14 (closer to dearer administration supporter then others).
05/29, 11:41 AM
posted by:
saabaru1
Borat- You raise a good point with that ^ comment. It is unfortunate, but if I were the politician, its the same thing I would have to push for. Politicians (at least in the “ideal”), run for office to assist their local constituents. That might mean fighting for grants, fair laws, and jobs. Unfortunately, we are only competing against other cities and states in this aspect.
05/29, 2:04 PM
posted by:
MercMark
Close a plant and the local politicians will give up all kinds of tax abatements and such to get you to reopen.
Hell, the cities will probably foot the bill to retool it too.
05/29, 2:07 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
perhaps some politicians are worried the plant closures may highlight an imbalance between the mexican, US and canadian plants, so a US plant is resurrected as a counterweight…
05/29, 2:15 PM
posted by:
Borat
Lefty, spoke like a true blue blood republican!
05/29, 3:05 PM
posted by:
rockstars
One point to note is that GM is currently auctioning off the Janesville plant’s robotics. That is a pretty good indicator that they are clearing out the area for a new line. Also, the Janesville plant ended production of the GMT900 series in December and the Isuzu Medium line production ended near the end of April. This plant was JUST idled. My vote is for Janesville, but maybe I’m just biased. Another point to note is that the local union in Janesville has been very progressive in working with GM. In fact, UAW Local 95 set the example for locals in other communities. I’ve got my fingers crossed!
05/29, 3:18 PM
posted by:
MercMark
Borat I agree, Lefty speaks the truth!
05/29, 6:07 PM
posted by:
aggie531
take that Chevy grill off the cruze and spark and you have a good looking car. the only other thing you need to do is change that corny nameplate and its even better, cruze sounds like it was made up by a 7-year-old