GM Selects Orion Plant in Michigan to Build its New Small Car in 2011

General Motors today announced that it has chosen its assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan, to build its future small car with stampings provided by the nearby Pontiac Metal facility. The company said that its decision to build the car in the States will reinstate approximately 1,400 jobs in total, 1,200 of which at Orion Assembly and 200 at Pontiac Metal Center, Building # 14.

"Small cars represent one of the fastest-growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world," said Troy Clarke, president of General Motors North America. "GM will be the only automaker, foreign or domestic, to build small cars in the U.S."

With the addition of the yet to be revealed small car, the Orion assembly plant will churn out 160,000 small- and compact-sized vehicle annually. Production of the new small car (the forthcoming Chevy Spark is a possible candidate though it could be a different model altogether) will begin in 2011.

"This is great news for our members at UAW Local 5960, Oakland County, and the State of Michigan, and shows the world the UAW can compete in the most competitive segment of the automotive industry," said Cal Rapson, UAW Vice President and Director, UAW-GM Department."

As for the two other assembly plants that were also under consideration to build the future small car, GM said Spring Hill will be placed in standby capacity status in Nov. 2009 but could be reinstated if additional capacity is required while the Janesville that was placed on standby capacity in May 2009, will remain in that status until further notice.