GM to build $370 million plant for Volt engine in Flint

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Detroit News

FLINT -- General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner this morning announced the automaker will invest $370 million in a new manufacturing plant here that will produce a new 4-cylinder engine for the Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle.

In return, GM is receiving millions in tax incentives to build the Volt, which will help ensure Flint, a once-thriving company town that has lost thousands of jobs as the automaker has struggled, will play a key role in the GM's future.

"We are confident that Flint is exactly the right place to build our all-new powertrain plant," Wagoner said in release preceding an event at the Flint Engine South plant, which was expected to draw Gov. Jennifer Granholm and other state and local officials.

"Our competitive business climate, outstanding work force and aggressive strategy to diversify our economy put us in a strong position to win this project and be the state that helps GM produce the cars and trucks that will help end our nation's dependence on foreign oil," Granholm said in a prepared statement. . .


Read more: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/AUTO01/809250440

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Not big on tax incentives, but am very happy for Flint. Plus, good to see GM move away from SUVs. All in all, this is good news for a community in need of it.

Right, Michael?

[MichiganVote]

1. Good. And more good.

[tridim]

2. Good, now if we can get GM to stop denying global climate change.

[Psephos]

14. Good, now if we can get DUers to quit denigrating GM in the same breath...

...when they grudgingly admit GM isn't Totally Evil(TM).

Really, we know you wouldn't be caught dead in a union-made GM product. So quit making it tougher to sell UAW products to others without your "progressive" fashion sense.

[DainBramaged]

15. HEAR HEAR

Fucking anti-Union anti-American punks. I invite them to ANY UAW hall and to spew their shit to a UAW member, we'll see what kind of shit they have to back it up.

[AndyTiedye]

18. We Have a Union-Made FORD Product

It is the Ford Escape Hybrid. If you need an SUV that seats 5 or less, this is the one to get.
We got it when it first came out, 4 years ago. Gets around 30 mpg despite having the
aerodynamics of a brick. What could they have done with that power plant in a small,
aerodynamic car? Why didn't they? We were, and are, very happy with our Escape Hybrid
and would have bought another Ford if they had anything like that.

In the case of GM, several of you have spoken very favorably of the Saturns that GM made
during the 90's. These seem to be lighter and more fuel-efficient than any of their current
offerings. Why were they discontinued? Could they bring them back?

FWIW, I have owned a '67 Camaro and a '79 Chevy van.

[ohio2007]

28. and the smog has returned to the Chines ex Olympic venue

They build a new coal fired power plant every three weeks while they murder their own children with various other poisons.
but since they are a developing country, your OK with the greater of two evils I see
:rollseyes:

[Barrett808]

30. There is no more important issue than anthropogenic climate change

Deniers are anti-science and are jeopardizing the future of civilization. IMHO, they should be called out at every opportunity.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JonLP24]

3. good, i believe the unemployment rate is 12 points there

[annarbor]

4. So glad to hear that it's coming to Michigan...

Not to mention, Flint. Much needed boost to our economy. Good job Gov Granholm!

[aviationpm]

5. Because of projects like this...

I will start looking at purchasing GM cars once again. After having many mechanical issues and warranty hassles with new Cavalier in 2000, I bought a Hyundai and vowed never to look back. At 120,000 miles and no issues other than a leaky coolant hose at 115k miles ($50 repair), I have no reason to change other than on emotion. I want an innovative, quality, stylish car and I'd love for it to be American made.

[Sub Atomic]

11. Innovative, quality, stylish car. I'd love to have one of those, too.

I'm just not holding my breath for an American car maker to come through with anything near what I want.

[Auggie]

6. Great irony there

Create prosperity. Destroy prosperity. Re-create prosperity. But I approve.

[amandabeech]

7. My cousin lost his managerial job with a construction company near Flint.

He says that the place is dead.

I hope this means that he and some other folks who are trying to hang in there will find work.

GM has made some completely bone-headed moves, but I applaud putting this plant in one of the worst hit areas of Michigan, tax breaks or not.

I keep wondering when high oil prices and transportation bottlenecks will make global sourcing more trouble than it's worth in many cases. I wonder if those considerations led GM to look to the U.S.

[Nevernose]

10. There's actually a plus side to that

Not that there's a lot of good coming from Flint being in a major depression, but it should be easier to attract good workers in an economically depressed area, since the housing, etc. are probably cheaper.

I think GM is looking to the US for a far more immediate, pragmatic issue: public relations. If they build ALL of their stuff overseas, the attitude of many/most people will go from "Buy American!" to "Fuck 'em!" only slighly faster than they can declare bankruptcy.

The problem with American automakers (well, one of them, anyway) is that they're so goddamned shortsighted. SUVs are popular? Ramp up production! And don't bother trying to predict what people will want five or ten years from now -- research into new technologies is unprofitable anyway -- just keep listening to our focus-group echo-chamber...

[amandabeech]

24. I agree,

although the union contract probably has a seniority callback provision.

Obviously, GM knows who's on that list.

Shortsightedness is not just a US automaker problem, it is a generic US problem, IMHO. Just look at Wall Street. It's filled with quick buck artists, which is one reason why we're in such a mess. The whole place lives on quarterly earnings announcements and whether or not the earnings meet whatever target the analysts set.

The only difference is that the Wall Streeters who make the decisions generally look more spiffy than the folks who are going to work on the line.

I'm hoping that my cousin will get some position managing the construction of any new plant and the rehabbing of some of the housing.

I'm imagining that folks might move in from Saginaw and Bay City to the north and Pontiac and the rest of the real Detroit Metro area to the south.

[roamer65]

8. Hopefully the credit crisis doesn't affect the funding.

Flint needs this investment terribly.

[Pithlet]

9. I'm very happy for Flint, my hometown.

They sorely need this. I was very happy to hear this news.

[KillCapitalism]

12. This is awesome news.

Kudos to GM for not locating the plant in Mexico.

I know Flint has a terribly high unemployment rate, so I'm happy for them. Man, this is what more American companies need to do, create jobs HERE, lots of people are out of work & desperately want to work, but can't find anything.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. It's a start, a damn good start.

Flint deserves a chance to rebuild itself and reclaim some dignity. The whole Rustbelt deserves it, too.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. They call that diversifying the economy?

[OakCliffDem]

19. We need more of these

[lib2DaBone]

20. Bring our 5 MILLION jobs back from China... we don't need poison milk....

CONgress IDIOTS

[mainegreen]

21. I wish them luck

:thumbsup:

[WriteDown]

22. How freakin' awesome is this?

This should have DU members standing up and applauding. Way to go GM!

[NYC_SKP]

23. Seriously, why did they wait so long? Was it to hold out for tax breaks?

or just stupidity?

[WriteDown]

25. Technology n/t

[ohio2007]

26. and they don't have to pay taxes either

still corporate greed under any name

[specialed]

27. It's part of the 25B loan agreement.

Glad to see this! :)

[bamacrat]

29. It would make more sense money wise to convert a closed plant.

Dont waste 370 million on a new plant when there are vacant ones that have been closed because the jobs have been shipped over seas.