GM has announced that it will investing another $336 million in upgrades to its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in order to prepare for production of the Chevy Volt. The latest investment will bring the total invested in the plant to $700 million.
Production for Chevy’s highly anticipated series hybrid car is expected to begin in 2010 for their 2011 model year Chevy Volt debut.
GM says that it will realize cost savings producing the Volt by utilizing equipment taken from various existing GM facilities. GM says that Volt prototype vehicles will roll off an already existing assembly line next spring.
Although production of the Volt will occur at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, there will be involvement from a total of eight different facilities in Michigan. The vital lithium-ion battery packs will be assembled at the plant in Brownstown Township, and the 4-cylinder engine itself (which will act as a generator), will be produced at the Flint Engine South plant.
Cal Rapson, vice president and director of the United Auto Workers union said, “This investment is great news for the work force as it helps pave the way for the future and the electrification of the automobile.”
GM announced at the Los Angeles International Auto Show that the Volt will first go on sale in California and other limited markets before going on sale nationally.
