The announcement was made by GM North America president Mark Reuss, who said that the decision to build the Impala there as well would create an additional 2,500 hourly and salaried jobs and will impose the creation of two additional shifts. Most of the new people will be laid-off UAW members, but GM said new hires are likely because of the big number of employees needed.
To support the new Impala plans for the assembly plant, GM will invest $69 million in tooling and equipment. The replacement of the now ten-year old model is expected to begin rolling off the assembly lines sometime in 2013.
“Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city,” Reuss said. “We are confident in the flexibility of the plant, the excellence of our workers and the great cars assembled here.”
For some time now, GM has engaged in a spending frenzy like no other, investing millions after millions and announcing new products just like in the pre-bankruptcy good old days. Since immediately after it entered Chapter 11, GM spent $3.4 billion on upgrades on various operations it possesses, helping to create (or re-create) in the process some 9,000 jobs.
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