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GM Details Big Investment, New Jobs

ARLINGTON,TX – (WWJ) General Motors says it's going to build a $200 million dollar stamping facility near its Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas.

"Today's announcement is further evidence that the U.S. auto industry is back," said UAW vice president Joe Ashton. "An important goal for the UAW is to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States and we are pleased that General Motors has decided to make this investment in Arlington."

The new stamping plant will mean 180 new jobs. Both the UAW and GM say that the contract they reached last year opened the way to new investment in the United States.

When it opens next year, GM says the new stamping plant will save the company about $40 million a year in logistics costs. The facility will stamp components for the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Suburban, which are built at Arlington Assembly.

That Assembly plant is in the midst of a $331 million dollar investment.

"Our investment in GM's Arlington plant is one more example of GM strengthening the economy and creating jobs throughout the many U.S. communities where GM does business," said GM Manufacturing Manager Larry Zahner.

Since General Motors emerged from bankruptcy in 2009, the company has invested more than $6.9 billion to upgrade or expand operations in 12 states. GM says it's created or retained 17,600 jobs, many of them here in Michigan.

While this is GM's first investment announcement of 2012, UAW Vice President Joe Ashton hinted tht it won't be the last.

"We look forward to more good news in 2012 as our workers continue to build the world's best vehicles."

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