GM to Hire Volt Workers in Early 2010

General Motors will begin hiring new staff at the production plant in Brownstown Township in early 2010 as the former bankrupt automaker will debut the Chevrolet Volt in November 2010. GM will invest around $43 million in the plant, CEO Fritz Henderson revealed this week, which will be responsible for the production of the company's flagship hybrid.

“The GM Brownstown Battery Assembly plant will use flexible manufacturing layouts as well as equipment, which will enable the plant to quickly respond to volume or product changes in the market,” said Gary Cowger, GM group vice president, manufacturing and labor relations. “We’ll use a number of tools to ensure quality in every phase of the battery assembly process.”

The plant will employ 100 hourly and salaried employees, GM announced earlier this week. Detroit Free Press writes that General Motors will bring specialized battery machines at the plant but will also make use of existing equipment from other facilities. Production at the plant is projected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2010.

"It's fair to say the enthusiasm for the Volt has taken another quantum leap," GM CEO Fritz Henderson said. "The importance of this plant to GM can't be overstated."

Several media reports indicated that Chevy's Volt will officially go on sale in November 2010 and will be powered by lithium-ion batteries produced at the Michigan plant. The Voltec electric propulsion system consists of 150 parts, with General Motors designing all but eight components of the assembly. The Volt can travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone with a single battery charge.