Detroit-Hamtramck produces 2 car lines. GM's H cars (the newly moved Bonneville, & LeSabre) which will be discontinued during the 2006 model year, and GM's C-bodies (DeVille, Park Avenue), which is currently scheduled to be replaced or reskinned that same year (the Seville is scheduled to end production in January). The plant has the potential to produce over 200,000 cars per year.

All evidence so far has pointed to Detroit Hamtramck as the sole possibility of GM north america's joint plant with GM Holden. But now another possibility has been brought to my attention.

When the new Colorado & Canyon go into production, it will be made at Shreveport LA. The S10, Blazer, Jimmy & Sonoma will wind down production at Linden N.J. This plant as of last winter was scheduled to close down along with another in Lansing, both by mid 2005-2006.

Now, let's "assume" GM plans to begin producing it's new RWD cars by summer 2006 & GM's large FWD cars are scheduled to end production during the 2006 model year: Does this leave enough time to convert D-H?

The other possibility brought to my attention is what I want to throw out here.

1. D-H is among the most productive & high quality plants in North America. Linden NJ & Baltimore plants were/are targeted to be closed, depending on labor & product plans.

2. It's already been proposed that the Solstice be made at one of them (I honestly don't know which).

3. If Solstice and all it's variants are going to be made at one plant, is it possible that the "performance chassis" based car will be made at the other, or even perhaps the same plant, while (assuming there is sufficient time to redo the plant) GM's RWD full sized car are done at D-H, being that FWD versions of the same cars are being made there now?

Another wild card is GM's upcomming minu-SUVs (Lambda? chassis), and where they will be made.

So by early 2005, GM will have Linden free (after the 1 year overlap of GM's small pickups), and by summer 2005, Baltimore will be open (Astro & Safari have been extended till the end of 2005 model year). Detroit-Hamtramck on the other hand, may not be open till as late as spring-summer 2006. Oklahoma will also be free once Astro & Safari retire, but the rumor is it will remain a truck or SUV plant.

With the 1st RWD cars rumored to begin the 1st half of 2006, it begins to seem likely D-H, if it is going to play a role, another plant will play one also.

Wherever Solstice is made, other cars based on that chassis will be also (no, I'm not hinting Camaro), including sports cars for GM's Euro-brands.

 

Is St. Thresea (sp?) being used for anything?

 

I've often wondered what they'd do with the Baltimore plant. They can't keep making Astro's forever.

....but the astro's are RWD - so the plant should be able to handle RWD programs...

 

What about Lansing South? The GA is going to Orion and the Alero is going bye-bye.
Or Lansing North? The GA is going to Orion and the current Malibu (to be called the Chevy Classic, or something like that) will probably continue there for a year or so, and then be axed.

So wouldn't that leave those two plants open by the 2006-2007 model year timeframe?

 

Ste. Therese is not in any future GM product plans.

 

One of my friends dad works at the plant in Kansas City. The plant just got done retooling for the new malibu and malibu maxx. I think this is either the fairfax or claycomo plant. I keep getting the plants mixed up but one of those pants is where the Ford F-150 is made...

 

Lansing "M" currently produces Malibu & Grand Ams, while Lansing "C" currently makes Grand Ams & Aleros. It seems rumor (not anything I've dug up) has a future crossover (HHR being one perhaps?) being made at Lansing.

GM has plenty of products comming out over the next couple of years that have been on the boards for quite some time. The large RWD program is for the most part a late edition, so it's doubtful it was in any of GM's factory plans (apparantly the GM/NA-Holden group got started less than a year ago).

If this correct, then it stands to reason that last minute arrangements were made (ie: moving Bonneville to D-H) and perhaps looking to redo a plant GM initially planned to scrap or use to make the FWD replacements for it's large cars.

Keep in mind, I'm in the speculating mode here.

 

current Malibu to be called the Chevy Classic??? huh when ?? just wondering??? Chevy classic??? hmmm...and the Malibu is the new one?? and the old malibu stays on as the chevy classic..

 

Yep, it was announced months ago. The Classic will be sold to fleets only, while the Malibu does battle in the retail marketplace. That way (so the thinking goes) the stigma and low resale values associated with the fleet market won't tarnish the new-gen Malibu.

 

ohhh okay..lol..didnt know thanks!

 

It is now a Home Depot.


Baltimore's plans as I know them are uncertain through 05. Far as I know the Astro and Safari are very similar to the Blazer, S-10. That being said wouln't they have similar tooling and such. This would allow both Linden N.J and Baltimore to be converted to the new RWD platform in similar manners. I also thought I would note...Alllison builds its RWD GM Transmissions in B-more, but those are for trucks..