General Motors invited Leftlane to visit the Lordstown, Ohio, plant where the Chevrolet Cruze will be produced beginning in mid-2010. During our visit, we learned that GM plans to spend more than $350 million to retool the factory for a total exceeding $500 million to bring the Cruze into North American showrooms
GM is entirely revamping its Lordstown plant, which currently produces the Chevrolet Cobalt and similar Pontiac G5, for the 2011 Cruze. According to a Youngstown, Ohio, newspaper, the state is giving GM more than $80 million in incentives to keep building cars at the Lordstown plant.
There was no shortage of pomp and circumstance at the ceremony, with elected officials from local, state and federal governments addressing the gathered crowd. Rick Wagoner — GM CEO — and Ed Peper — head of Chevrolet were also on hand for the event.
Lordstown Mayor Michael Chaffee even had a little fun with Wagoner, handing him basketball jersey from the local Red Devils high school, which included free lifetime admission to the high school’s games. Wagoner attended and played basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
