GM to Add Third Shift, 750 Jobs at Flint Assembly

DETROIT, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors today announced plans to add a third shift at Flint Assembly, generating 750 jobs for the plant that makes the award-winning Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups.

The shift is expected to start in the third quarter with employees starting to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter.

"Adding a third shift is a response to customer demand for heavy-duty pickups, which most people use to tow, haul and plow," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. "Equally importantly, it brings jobs and a needed economic boost to the Flint area."

Flint Assembly currently employs nearly 2,100 hourly and salaried employees and operates two production shifts. In 2010 the plant produced 115,000 trucks, the majority of them regular and crew-cab versions of the heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra. Last year, the plant added production of regular and crew-cab version of the light-duty Silverado.

"I'm very proud of the Flint Assembly team and what we have accomplished in the past year to launch the light- and heavy-duty pickups," said Flint Assembly Plant Manager Amy Farmer. "The support of the UAW, its members and leaders was instrumental in making the heavy-duty truck the critical favorite when compared to trucks offered by our competitors."

GM's new heavy-duty trucks have demonstrated since their release last summer that they can out-tow, out-haul and out-perform the competition. In fact, the Silverado HD recently was named the 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year.

"I want to thank the Local 598 members for their hard work in building the best pickups on the road," said UAW Local 598 Chairman Dana Rouse. "Adding the third shift allows us to call back some former Flint Assembly workers and provide employment for others who have been laid off."

The first wave of employees is expected to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter with additional waves arriving until the plant starts the third shift in the third quarter. Initial openings will be filled by recalled laid off Flint Assembly employees currently working at other facilities, primarily in Lansing. Remaining openings will be filled by laid-off employees in the area, including those from Orion, Willow Run and Warren in accordance with the UAW GM National Agreement. No new employees are expected to be hired.

Since opening in 1947, Flint Assembly has built more than 13 million vehicles, including such celebrated models as the Chevrolet Corvette, Bel Air, Monte Carlo and Suburban.

Flint Assembly is one of five manufacturing-related sites operated by GM in the Flint area. Other GM sites include Flint Engine Operations, Flint Metal Center, Flint Tool & Die and the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center. GM's Customer Care and Aftersales is headquartered in Grand Blanc and operates warehouse and distribution centers in Flint. In total, GM employs more than 6,000 employees in the Flint area.

About General Motors – General Motors Company (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 209,000 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 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:  Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM 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, Italy, Russia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan.  GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.  General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation.  More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

SOURCE General Motors