GM To Invest $1.3 Billion In 5 Plants

FLINT (WWJ) - General Motors says it's investing $1.3 billion in five plants.

"About 1.2 billion of that is right here in Michigan," said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.  "We should be so proud of that investment in our state."

GM says the investment will add or retain a thousand jobs.

Snyder was joined by GM and UAW officials for the noon time announcement at Flint Assembly, which will get $600 million for a new paint shop.

"GM is committed to a strong American manufacturing base and creating jobs in dozens of communities throughout the country. Today's announced plant upgrades continue the momentum of a resurgent auto industry," said GM Executive Vice President and North America President Mark Reuss.

Reuss, who will soon move into the top product planning role at GM, started his career in Flint.

"It's emotional, it really is," he said.  "A lotta great people here.  They are earning the business back.  I just couldn't be prouder."

The other large investment went to Romulus Powertrain, paving the way for a new 10 speed transmission, and preparing for production of a new V-6 engine.

"Today's announcement is a win for American workers," said UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. "The UAW is proud to be a part of this successful collaboration with GM that has helped rebuild the nation's economy, created good paying, union jobs in communities across the country, and brought manufacturing that was moved overseas back to the U.S. This is further proof that collective bargaining works."

GM says its investment includes:

•$600 million in Flint Assembly for facility upgrades, including a new paint shop

•$493.4 million in Romulus Powertrain Operations, which includes $343.4 million for equipment to produce an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission and $150 million to increase capacity of a previously announced new V6 engine

•$121 million in Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly for a logistics optimization center

•$30.6 million in Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity for an existing 6-speed transmission and tooling for a new variant

•$29.2 million in Bedford Castings, which includes $22.6 million to produce components for the 10-speed transmission and $6.6 million to produce components for an existing 6-speed transmission.

General Motors chose Flint to make the announcement because of the significance of the new paint shop at the plant that makes some of the company's most important products, pickup trucks.

UAW Local 598 Barry Campbell said this an investment they have been needing for years.

"We have done everything it takes to show General Motors that we will continue to work hard, work collectively with them and make them profitable."

As the investment announcement was being made in Flint, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson was speaking to the National Press Club in Washington, touting the company's turnaround.

Since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009, General Motors has invested more than $10 billion in its U.S. operations.

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