General Motors will invest $20 million in machinery and equipment for its Fairfax Assembly plant to add future technologies and improvements to the Buick LaCrosse including eAssist, a light electrification technology that will boost highway fuel economy by 25 percent over the current model.
“The LaCrosse has been critical to the resurgence of Buick, bringing many new customers to Buick showrooms,” said GM Manufacturing Manager Jim Glynn. “This investment to improve an already strong car will help us continue winning converts to the brand.”
The Fairfax announcement is part of the $2 billion in U.S. investment that GM announced for 17 facilities in eight states on May 10. Facilities in Bowling Green, Ky.; Arlington, Tex.; Toledo and Defiance, Ohio; Bedford, Ind., and Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Lansing and Warren, Mich., also received investments that will positively impact employment. This builds on the $3.4 billion invested and 9,000 jobs created or retained in the United States since mid-2009.
The Fairfax investment is primarily for manufacturing machinery, equipment and special tooling for the current facility. The plant, which opened in 1987, is home to the LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Malibu. With more than 3,900 employees, the Fairfax plant is the largest employer in the Kansas City Metro area. The plant operates on three shifts and in 2010 produced 320,000 Malibus and LaCrosses.
“We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from the Kansas City community over the years,” Glynn said. “This investment is possible because of the teamwork between GM, the UAW, the Kansas City, Kansas community and the great State of Kansas.”
Joe Ashton, UAW Vice President-GM Department, added: “The UAW realizes the importance of investments that provide our members with the tools they need to compete. Today’s investment in the Fairfax plant not only upgrades the facility, it provides our members of UAW Local 31 with a chance to succeed in a very competitive segment of today’s U.S. auto industry. I am confident that our members will continue to build high-quality, affordable cars for our customers.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
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