And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

[William Maley]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

May 25, 2011

Related: GM Increases Production Of The Volt

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

“Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city. We are confident in the flexibility of the plant, the excellence of our workers and the great cars assembled here," GM North America President Mark Reuss said at the plant Wednesday.

The 2,500 jobs will first be offered to 1,350 laid-off UAW workers before opening up the positions to the public. GM said the Impala will still be built at the Oshawa, Ontario, plant.

Press Release is Below

GM Adding Two Shifts, 2,500 Jobs to Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

New Chevrolet Malibu and next-generation Impala join electric Volt and Opel Ampera

2011-05-25

DETROIT – General Motors is adding two shifts and about 2,500 hourly and salaried jobs at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the new Chevrolet Malibu mid-size sedan and the next-generation Impala large sedan alongside the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera electric cars.

GM on Wednesday announced the additional shifts and a $69 million investment in tooling and equipment to support the next-generation Impala. In April 2010, GM announced a $121 million investment to support Malibu production.

“Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city,” GM North America President Mark Reuss said at the plant Wednesday. “We are confident in the flexibility of the plant, the excellence of our workers and the great cars assembled here.”

This announcement is part of GM’s plan announced May 10 to create or retain about 4,000 jobs and invest $2 billion in 17 manufacturing facilities in eight states. Announcements positively impacting employment in Bowling Green, Ky., home of the Chevrolet Corvette; and powertrain plants in Toledo, Ohio, as well as Flint and Bay City, Mich., were made recently.

These moves are on top of 9,000 jobs saved or added and $3.4 billion invested in U.S. operations since mid-2009.

“Given the competitive nature of the auto industry in the United States, the bar for success is placed very high,” said Joe Ashton, UAW vice president-GM Department. “The members of UAW Local 22 soar over the bar every day by demonstrating their flexibility, hard work, and their intense focus on the customer.

The jobs will be filled by laid-off UAW members with the possibility of new hires to follow.

GM announced last week that after a four-week shutdown, the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will exclusively build Volt and Ampera electric cars with extended-range capability for the rest of the year. Exports of Volt and Ampera to Canada, Europe and China are included in the total 16,000 electric vehicles being built for the full 2011 calendar year. The Volt/Ampera production goal for 2012 is up to 60,000 with three-quarters of those to be sold in the United States.

The new Malibu – Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan – will be built in Detroit and Fairfax, Kan., as well as China and Korea and will be sold in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Detroit-Hamtramck currently has 1,121 hourly and salaried employees.

“This workforce understands that meeting our diverse and sophisticated customers’ need for high-quality and reliable transportation is our most important task,” Ashton said.

[Justin Bimmer]

Where is GM going to build the XTS? If they are going to tool this plant for LWB Epsilon II then wouldn't it make sense to build the XTS at Det-Ham as well?

[Paolino]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

[Drew Dowdell]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

2011 is the last year for the current Malibu.

2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?)

2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon.

[Drew Dowdell]

Where is GM going to build the XTS? If they are going to tool this plant for LWB Epsilon II then wouldn't it make sense to build the XTS at Det-Ham as well?

Fairfax with the Lacrosse most likely

[Paolino]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

2011 is the last year for the current Malibu.

2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?)

2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon.

I thought it was getting the 302hp V6 for 2012, and isn't new until 2014? Aren't they talking model years and not actual years?

[Robert Hall]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

2011 is the last year for the current Malibu.

2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?)

2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon.

Odd...then why do all these pics and articles about the new Malibu say 2013...I thought it was going on sale in CY 2012 as a 2013 MY model (for NA at least). I thought the 2012 Malibu was going to still be the current model.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Z-06]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

2011 is the last year for the current Malibu.

2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?)

2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon.

I thought it was getting the 302hp V6 for 2012, and isn't new until 2014? Aren't they talking model years and not actual years?

Model years.

[Drew Dowdell]

And The Impala Makes Three Vehicles For The Detroit-Hamtramck Plant

Today, General Motors announced a $69 million investment, 2,500 new jobs, and two new shifts for the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build the new 2013 Chevrolet Impala alongside the Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera, and 2012 Malibu. The news comes after a week when GM announced a increase in Volt production to 60,000 in 2012.

Is that backwards? Do they mean the new 2013 Malibu and 2012 Impala?

2011 is the last year for the current Malibu.

2012 is the last year for the current Impala (it's getting the 300hp V6 for 2012 remember?)

2012 is the first model year of the new Malibu going into production very very soon.

I thought it was getting the 302hp V6 for 2012, and isn't new until 2014? Aren't they talking model years and not actual years?

We're all talking model years not calendar years here..... 'cept you.

[Drew Dowdell]

When you're right you're right Pauli. Malibu goes on sale in early 2012 as a 2013 model.

It's probably that non-standard release schedule that is making things confusing.

[Paolino]

We're all talking model years not calendar years here..... 'cept you.

DON'T YOU APOSTROPHIZE IN MY FACE?!

When you're right you're right Pauli. Malibu goes on sale in early 2012 as a 2013 model.

It's probably that non-standard release schedule that is making things confusing.

Okay then.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Paolino

[Robert Hall]

When you're right you're right Pauli. Malibu goes on sale in early 2012 as a 2013 model.

It's probably that non-standard release schedule that is making things confusing.

That's what I thought...part of what has made it so confusing is that GM showed a 2013 model at a car show early in 2011.

[ocnblu]

They're pretty sure the Volt and Ampera won't warrant enough production to work the plant to capacity then. Cool. Next, and SOON, I need to see some Impy spy shots. I really hope it's not a slightly larger Malibu clone. That would suck a juicy one.

[Chris_Doane]

Where is GM going to build the XTS? If they are going to tool this plant for LWB Epsilon II then wouldn't it make sense to build the XTS at Det-Ham as well?

Oshawa, Q1 2012.

Next, and SOON, I need to see some Impy spy shots. I really hope it's not a slightly larger Malibu clone. That would suck a juicy one.

I wouldn't look for those for at least a year.

[daves87rs]

Cool...is all I can say.....

[riviera74]

So the current Impala is still out of Oshawa while the MY2013 Impala will be built in Hamtramck. Two things: I suppose that is OK given that the MY13 will be a LWB Epsilon II. Second: What will they put in the Impala's place at Oshawa? A RWD sedan to go along with the Camaro?

[Drew Dowdell]

So the current Impala is still out of Oshawa while the MY2013 Impala will be built in Hamtramck. Two things: I suppose that is OK given that the MY13 will be a LWB Epsilon II. Second: What will they put in the Impala's place at Oshawa? A RWD sedan to go along with the Camaro?

Cadillac XTS according to Chris, but I don't think that will fill Oshawa to capacity, so something else must also be going up there.

[Chicagoland]

Maybe Chevy will keep the W body past MY '12 and call it "Impala Classic"?

I can't see them investing in the tooling to put the 6 speed into the Impala for only one year [?]