ION Production to Move to Lordstown
SaturnFans.com · June 19, 2005

The Plain Dealer reported this weekend that General Motors plans to move production of the Saturn ION from Spring Hill, Tennessee to Lordstown, Ohio. The plan, which has been rumored for months, has not been officially announced or confirmed by GM. The Lordstown Assembly Plant currently builds the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac Pursuit (which is only sold in Canada) compact cars. All three models are based on a version of GM's global Delta architecture.

While the Cobalt and Pursuit are virtually clones of one another, the all-new 2007 ION is expected to look distinct and will be different from both models. The 'ION' name is expected to be the only element carried-over to the new model. Gone will be the current car's dent-resistant polymer panels, unique quad-coupe doors, and controversial center-mounted instrument cluster. Styling will borrow heavily from the Opel Astra. Sources tell SaturnFans.com that one GM executive, when commenting on a question posed at the North American International Auto Show in January about a possible ION-Astra connection, reportedly pointed up at the Astra hatchback diesel hybrid on display and said that styling of the new ION "will be even more expressive."

 

Any clue on what will happen to Spring Hill?

Randy

 

I doubt Spring Hill will get shut down. It is a newer plant, built in the late 1980's. Hopefully GM will give them a great product to build that will keep the plant humming day and night. I believe they have had three unsceduled shutdowns so far this year.

 

The UAW workers that work at Spring Hill signed a new agreement last year that allowed General Motors to move production of Saturn vehicles to other locations so the plant could produce vehicles for other automotive brands.

Last I heard, something significant might be coming Spring Hills way, but i'm not ready to get into that juuuuuust yet.

 

Yes, the rumor is that next gen Vue is moving out as well. That will leave SHP with about 250-300k volume to fill.

 

It certainly makes sense to consolodate Delta production at Lordstown if they had the capacity to handle it.

Especially since the whole "Saturn is a seperate company" thing is pretty much over with since they advertise Saturn as a GM brand and have for some time.

 

I think the next-gen Vue will be moved into the same plant as the Equinox and etc. The Springhill plant has a portion designated for Eco-tech engine production I believe as well so who knows.

A new Camaro produced in Springhill would be nice though.

 

So now, not only GM-CAW's Oshawa plant will have a vacancy after 2007's model year and but now GM-UAW's Spring Hill as well, huh?

These union negotiations are going to be pretty intresting this year.

 

Talks for an all new agreement will start in early '07.

But, you're right Guy. I've yet to think of it this way. Yikes.

 

Yep, but GM is pushing the UAW for concessions now and negotiations with the CAW is also coming up, also...... NOW!

GM moved Gary Cowger out of NA president into full time labor negotiations. I get 1+1=2 here.

*Maybe* when the dust settles, we'll know a bit more about a certain car, huh?

 

That isn't what I'm hearing. CAMI willbe maxed out with the Equinox, Torrent, and Suzuki variant...

 

 

Why do we need a Suzuki???? Does GM own them too and I'm not aware of it?

 

If you weren't aware of it then yes they own like 30% of Suzuki.

 

If your right then maybe the next-gen VUE and a larger hybrid SUV thats been rumored might be built in Springhill.