GM Fort Wayne Assembly Builds 5.5 Millionth Vehicle in 25th Year

Customer witnesses step-by-step assembly, then drives truck home

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Mar 31, 2011, 07:19 ET

FORT WAYNE, Ind., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After 5,499,999 trucks coming off the line at General Motors' Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in a quarter century, the plant made a big deal of the next one – and Mike McPherson was on hand for every step of the process.

McPherson, owner of Mt. Carmel Stabilization in Mt. Carmel, Ill, watched step by step on Thursday as his white Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab became truck No. 5.5 million.

McPherson; Jim Wilderman, owner of Patriot GM Superstore in Princeton, Ind.., and Marsha Bosecker, the store's Internet sales manager, arrived at the plant about 8 a.m., just as the truck began its journey through General Assembly. At each stop along the way, United Auto Workers team members explained their operation and offered the guests some hands-on assembly experience.

About 2:45 p.m., the Silverado had been driven off the final line, through a celebratory banner, and passed all quality inspections. Commemorative photographs were taken and McPherson drove home.

Fort Wayne builds the full-size Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. The first vehicle was built at the plant on Dec. 8, 1986.

About General Motors – General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

SOURCE General Motors