Corvette Plant to Start Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky/Opel GT Production
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Corvette Plant to Start Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky/Opel GT Production
Bowling Green GM jobs expand
Assembly moving from Del. by 2012ASSOCIATED PRESS
As many as 2,000 new jobs could be created at the General Motors plant in Bowling Green as part of a decision by the automaker to end production of certain vehicles at a Delaware plant.
By 2012, the company plans to move production of the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel roadsters to Bowling Green from Wilmington, Del., a union official at the Kentucky plant said, citing the tentative agreement between GM and the United Auto Workers.
The Bowling Green plant now assembles about 35,000 Corvettes annually. Since 2003, it also has assembled about 4,000 Cadillac XLRs.
"We've been trying to get additional products at the plant," said Eldon Renaud, head of the Bowling Green plant's UAW local. "I'm just excited."
A GM spokesman declined to comment.
The Bowling Green plant now employs 960 people and runs one shift in production of the Corvette and Cadillac XLR. The move will mean an expansion to three shifts, said Renaud.
Wilmington's Boxwood Road facility is one of two GM plants not slated for production of new vehicles, according to a summary of the agreement provided to The Associated Press. The other is the Orion Township plant in Michigan, which will make the Pontiac G6 until 2013.
Assembly moving from Del. by 2012ASSOCIATED PRESS
As many as 2,000 new jobs could be created at the General Motors plant in Bowling Green as part of a decision by the automaker to end production of certain vehicles at a Delaware plant.
By 2012, the company plans to move production of the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel roadsters to Bowling Green from Wilmington, Del., a union official at the Kentucky plant said, citing the tentative agreement between GM and the United Auto Workers.
The Bowling Green plant now assembles about 35,000 Corvettes annually. Since 2003, it also has assembled about 4,000 Cadillac XLRs.
"We've been trying to get additional products at the plant," said Eldon Renaud, head of the Bowling Green plant's UAW local. "I'm just excited."
A GM spokesman declined to comment.
The Bowling Green plant now employs 960 people and runs one shift in production of the Corvette and Cadillac XLR. The move will mean an expansion to three shifts, said Renaud.
Wilmington's Boxwood Road facility is one of two GM plants not slated for production of new vehicles, according to a summary of the agreement provided to The Associated Press. The other is the Orion Township plant in Michigan, which will make the Pontiac G6 until 2013.
A bit of local news that didn't make it nationally
I wonder if this means a plant expansion in Bowling Green, or is the XLR dead after 2011, to make room for the Kappas?
What going to happen in Wilimgton in 2012?
Last edited by 30thZ286speed; Sep 30, 2007 at 05:31 PM.
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From: Roseville, MI, USA
A world class plant producing a world class product (Solstice.) Sounds good to me.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....and wow. 2,000 new jobs for Kentucy? All because the UAW scarified wages and benefits in exchange for new great paying jobs for Americans.
Who would have thunk a Union could be so beneficial???
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....and wow. 2,000 new jobs for Kentucy? All because the UAW scarified wages and benefits in exchange for new great paying jobs for Americans.
Who would have thunk a Union could be so beneficial???
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A world class plant producing a world class product (Solstice.) Sounds good to me.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....and wow. 2,000 new jobs for Kentucy? All because the UAW scarified wages and benefits in exchange for new great paying jobs for Americans.
Who would have thunk a Union could be so beneficial???
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....and wow. 2,000 new jobs for Kentucy? All because the UAW scarified wages and benefits in exchange for new great paying jobs for Americans.
Who would have thunk a Union could be so beneficial???
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From: Roseville, MI, USA
Wilmington will be fine. Absolutely fine. They end production in what, 2013? 2011 there's another new national contract.
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So, we're the sacrificial lambs here, ? What about the people here now worrying about their future? We build a class auto- the product doesn't need to go to BG .
We really appreciate our union looking out for us- yeh,right.
We've been down this road before,starting in 1992 and then again after the disaster known as the Saturn L.
Don't be telling us we'll be fine. You have no idea.
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From: Hebron, KY
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That's a good question. IMO it's boils down to insecurity but that is a huge generalization. I frequent the Vette boards and in the past there have been a few posts in which the Solstice comes up. Some will give the car props but most choose to slam the cars styling, impracticality, build quality. The Sky is more warmly received but then you have the detractors say it looks to muck like the C6 etc... Owning both I can say each has it's own pros and cons but more importantly each serves a different purpose/ niche.
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Agreed. I think a few Corvette enthusiasts would rather have seen the Vette stay closer to it's roots. Drop a V8 in Kappa and I'm sure many would prefer it over the base Corvette. Thus the dilema.
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Honestly I don't think if GM dropped V8's into the Kappa's that they would gain many sales from the Corvette crowd. Nowadays the core or majority of Vette buyers are looking for more than a true sports car a la luxo cruiser. I plan to step up to a C6 here in the very near future and will be getting the 3LT package and NAV. Even the Z06 can be had now with heated seats etc... Those that still want the more traditional sports car buy either 1LT (base model) Vettes or they pick up perhaps a Viper or a Lotus. Lotus is much more a true sports car.