Spring Hill - Not dead yet

[Flybrian]

FOR RELEASE: 2006-12-11

GM Investing $225 Million in Tennessee Plant in Preparation For Future Vehicle Production

SPRING HILL, Tenn. – General Motors today announced it plans to invest approximately $225 million in its Spring Hill manufacturing complex to renovate the plant’s paint shop in preparation for future vehicle production. The investment is contingent on GM securing incentives from the state of Tennessee.

Based on the strong performance of the Spring Hill team, General Motors’ pending investment affirms the company’s commitment to its Tennessee operations.

“GM’s planned $225 million investment in Spring Hill is proof that this facility remains an important part of GM’s North American manufacturing plans,” said Tim Lee, GM vice president for Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “This project is instrumental to GM’s efforts to strengthen its core manufacturing capabilities in the United States and also demonstrates the value GM places on working together with our UAW partners to improve our manufacturing operations.”

GM’s Spring Hill manufacturing complex built its first vehicle on July 30, 1990. Since then, the complex has built and shipped more than 3.4 million vehicles. It currently builds the Saturn ION passenger car and Saturn VUE compact SUV. Production of the ION and VUE will be discontinued in late March 2007.

With the investment, the plant will be idled for several months for renovations, beginning in April 2007. The company is finalizing the timing of when the hourly workforce will be called back to work and when production will resume at Spring Hill.

The Spring Hill assembly plant employs approximately 3,500 UAW-represented team members and 230 salaried team members. UAW Local 1853 represents hourly employees throughout the complex.

[Drew Dowdell]

I wonder what they'll build there.

[sciguy_0504]

New Astra?

[Intrepidation]

Is this the plant that builds Saturns? I forget.

[Drew Dowdell]

Spring Hill - Not dead yet

I think I'll go for a walk.

[loki]

226455[/snapback]

lol

i don't want to go on the cart

i feel happy!  i feel happy!

Edited December 11, 2006 by loki

[AxelTheRed]

“GM’s planned $225 million investment in Spring Hill is proof that this facility remains an important part of GM’s North American manufacturing plans,”

They said something similar about Flint when they opened Powertrain South a few years back. The Spring Hill workers probably don't appreciate those kinds of comments quite as much as the workers up here do, though.

[Dsuupr]

Small rear wheel drive vehicle would fit perfectly into that plant.

[Northstar]

Spring Hill is huge; it could do a variety of things. I'm guessing they will be '09 and onward MY vehicles. So maybe TEs and SRWD, or possibly more Lambda or Zeta.

[CSpec]

I bet the Chevy Lambda SUV will be built there, along with TE and maybe Zeta.

[PurdueGuy]

Would be sweet to have the Astra built there, but I wouldn't expect the Astra to be built in the US until the next full redesign, which IIRC is still a couple years away? Maybe they'll move it forward, or start it here sooner than Europe?

How long does retooling usually take, and would the $225M include the tooling costs for whatever vehcile(s)?

[Hudson]

I bet the Chevy Lambda SUV will be built there, along with TE and maybe Zeta.

226645[/snapback]

Yes and no.

I'm betting you're right about Chevrolet Lambda SUV, but the other product will be Lambda-based as well. You may be surprised at what it is.

[ZL-1]

I'm betting you're right about Chevrolet Lambda SUV, but the other product will be Lambda-based as well. You may be surprised at what it is.

226704[/snapback]

A.... errr..... minivan? Edited December 12, 2006 by ZL-1

[daves87rs]

Astra? They could build all the different types there...

[Dragon]

I would have figured on the Astra being built at L-Town with its Delta brothers

[I hope GMRULES again]

I knew Spring Hill had to get something. I'm glad for them, I was at the first Saturn Homecoming in 94.

[Hudson]

A.... errr..... minivan?

226705[/snapback]

Not a minivan.

As a clue...what's your least favorite Honda product? The one you (this thread) likes to pick on the most?

[Flybrian]

Not a minivan.

As a clue...what's your least favorite Honda product? The one you (this thread) likes to pick on the most?

226776[/snapback]

Element? A youth-oriented versatile Saturn small box thing?

[Satty]

Ridgeline?

[PurdueGuy]

Element? A youth-oriented versatile Saturn small box thing?

226781[/snapback]

keep in mind that spring hill no longer equal Saturn. Not sure they're going to be jumping to give Saturn yet another new product after all they've gotten recently... I could be wrong.

[bdubsee]

Not a minivan.

As a clue...what's your least favorite Honda product? The one you (this thread) likes to pick on the most?

226776[/snapback]

Sounds like the next gen of the stillborn Buick Pragmatic (Rendezvous trucklet) a potential Ridgeline competitor.

Edited December 12, 2006 by bdubsee

[turbo200]

i can think of no other product besides the Ridgeline that is more reviled by many on this board.....

[Hudson]

Sounds like I provided a good clue.

[Satty]

Lambda pickup? Something smaller like Epsilon? I'd really like to see an even smaller trucklet, maybe Delta based, standard AWD maybe along the lines of the Plymouth Backpack.

I doubt that will happen, but a Ridgeline/Baja like pickup could be nice.

[Northstar]

I thought the idea of a Lambda truck was axed? Unless it is back on. I don't really see a need for it, the T355s need redesigns first.

[Flybrian]

If this is a Lambda pickup, I'm curious as to what division it would fall under.

I also don't see the need for a Ridgeline-sized car-based pickup (if this what it may be).

[Robert Hall]

i can think of no other product besides the Ridgeline that is more reviled by many on this board.....

226818[/snapback]

Hmm...maybe GM can build a Ridgeline competitor from the Acadia/Outlook/Enclave platform...call it the Chevrolet Cheyenne..

[BigPontiac]

Actually Jill Lajdziak alluded to a Ridgeline type vehicle not too long ago as a possibility.

Take the Outlook, then add the midgate/bed features/cover option from the Avalanche, then use the tailgate engineering from the defunct Envoy XUV...and you've got a Ridgeline competitor with more versatility!

[91z4me]

Hmm...maybe GM can build a Ridgeline competitor from the Acadia/Outlook/Enclave platform...call it the Chevrolet Cheyenne..

226838[/snapback]

I think it would be Theta based rather than Lambda. A Lambda based truck would be close in size to the GMT900s. GM doesn't need 2 vehicles for 1 market. That being said the GMT355s aren't setting the sales charts on fire, why not try out a Theta based crossover/trucklet with better on road manners and better space utility?

[haypops]

Is the theta being used for the antera/new vue/daewoo chevies etc. a new theta or the same theta that has been used for equinox/VUE/Torrent? If is new, then the optimizations necessary/desirable for the truklet could have been already designed in by GM enginners in Korea. I hope they can use the atlas engine family.

[Chicagoland]

Spring Hill is too new, too modern, to close, and would be a "PR Nightmare". It will have to be converted to flex assembly to compete.

Just becasue the "new Uplander/Terazza" is dead doesn't mean GM can't build something else there.

[ZL-1]

Not a minivan.

As a clue...what's your least favorite Honda product? The one you (this thread) likes to pick on the most?

226776[/snapback]

Honda Ridgeline?

Would the new vehicle be a pickup based on a car platform? If so, to replace or complement a NG Colorado?

[thegriffon]

Let's put it this way, most of the time the Ridgeline outsells the Avalanche. It's only natural that GM would want a piece of that, after all, they have been considering it for a long time. It was part of the original Theta program, and an early part of Lambda too.

[cavalier36]

Im glad this plant will remain open.. they could build pretty much anything there. could be a new GTO but that will likely be built in oshwa alongside the camaro.. they could probably run Cobalts, and HHR's there right now.. could be the rumored Hummer H4.. maybe a Cadillac/Buick Epsilion sedan.. we might have an idea next month after the NAIAS..

[Drew Dowdell]

Let's put it this way, most of the time the Ridgeline outsells the Avalanche. It's only natural that GM would want a piece of that, after all, they have been considering it for a long time. It was part of the original Theta program, and an early part of Lambda too.

226901[/snapback]

There'd need to be something else there too. I can't see them devoting all of spring hill to a ridgeline competitor and a chevy lambda unless the chevy lambda would completely replace the trailblazer....

oh... wait....

[daves87rs]

I would have figured on the Astra being built at L-Town with its Delta brothers

226747[/snapback]

No, not enough room...

Unless they add another shift....

[daves87rs]

Yes and no.

I'm betting you're right about Chevrolet Lambda SUV, but the other product will be Lambda-based as well. You may be surprised at what it is.

226704[/snapback]

I have feeling I think I know....

And it should show up at one of these auto shows quite soon.....

GM has a few Hush-hush items floating around...

Rumor that there was a few LARGE trucks leaving Detroit on their way to the Hill'....

I smell a concept comimg....

[daves87rs]

Actually Jill Lajdziak alluded to a Ridgeline type vehicle not too long ago as a possibility.

Take the Outlook, then add the midgate/bed features/cover option from the Avalanche, then use the tailgate engineering from the defunct Envoy XUV...and you've got a Ridgeline competitor with more versatility!

226842[/snapback]

I thinking you may be right...or very close...

[Croc]

I guess Saturn would get the trucklet if to compete with Honda, but I'd really rather see this go to GMC.

[haypops]

I guess Saturn would get the trucklet if to compete with Honda, but I'd really rather see this go to GMC.

226999[/snapback]

Perhaps Hummer? How many Hummer dealers are there. Really all they have that sells is a Colorado based SUV. I would think GM wants to build that brand too.

[Gnitro]

Well it be something that fits in between the old car/truck style (El Camino), and the current style (Ridgeline)? Meaning maybe something similar to the Holden Crewman?

Edited December 13, 2006 by Gnitro

[turbo200]

if it went to hummer would it have enough off road capabilities to live up to that brand's image? or is GM ready to pussy out on that brand like jeep did?

i'm sure it is going to be a saturn, and possibly a GMC too. The question is what size and would it compete directly against the ridgeline? A new Avalanche based on this platform might serve that customer base's needs better than a GMT 900 based Avalance. MIGHT....

[Imaj]

They'll build the Vue.

[PurdueGuy]

They'll build the Vue.

227100[/snapback]

Would be nice if that stayed at Spring Hill, but has $$ already been invested in preparing the plant in mexico for the new Vue? Or is it still soon enough to change that?

[Mr.Krinkle]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/28/news/compa...=cnn_topstories

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...showtopic=12260

?

[Hudson]

They'll build the Vue.

227100[/snapback]

As has been stated before, the Vue is going to Ramos Arizpe.

[turbo200]

A body on frame pickup is more in line with the character of Hummer than a car based Lambda pickup. I still contend this is the Saturn pickup that GM expects to get around 50k sales out of, and will also sell it as a GMC, since that's the truck brand, maybe as a replacement for Canyon.

[I hope GMRULES again]

Well I hope then that its something all new that GM will surprise us with at one of the upcoming car shows and that it will go into production in the fall. They'll need more than a Ridgeline clone to get that plant to capacity.

[PurdueGuy]

They'll need more than a Ridgeline clone to get that plant to capacity.

227187[/snapback]

Yup, probably even if they have it for 2 or 3 brands. IIRC, the factory was still way under capacity when it was building both the Ion and Vue.

[Camino LS6]

I don't like the sound of this. Why compete with a failing product like Ridgeline?

I want my Holden-based El CaminoSS, not some funky-looking truckish crossover thing.

A Holden Crewman with a midgate would be a good thing though.