GM Lansing Grand River Plant Gets $88 Million Investment

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May 31, 2011, 01:56 ET

LANSING, Mich., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors will invest $88 million for a future product at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant, home of the award-winning family of Cadillac CTS models.

The investment will be used for equipment and tooling for a new model.

"Employees at Lansing Grand River have earned this investment through the high quality of their work and the flexible manufacturing that has been a hallmark of this plant since it opened in 2001," said Manufacturing Manager Gerald Johnson. "We look forward to this plant continuing the world-class manufacturing performance for which it is known."

The $88 million is part of $2 billion in U.S. manufacturing investment that GM announced on May 10. The money and an estimated 4,000 new and retained jobs are spread across 17 facilities in eight states.

“It is important that General Motors continue to show commitment to our members by providing them with the tools and technology they need to be successful,” said Joe Ashton, UAW vice president-GM Department.

“The UAW workforce in Lansing enjoys the reputation for being one of the most productive in the world,” he said. “This investment will enable the members of UAW Local 652 to continue the legacy of building high-quality automobiles for our customers and making a positive contribution to the bottom line of GM.”

Lansing Grand River Assembly currently has 971 hourly and salaried employees.

The plant builds three Cadillac CTS models – sedan, coupe and wagon, as well as high-performance V-Series models of each. While Lansing Grand River is the J.D. Power and Associates Bronze Plant Award winner for initial quality, the CTS models have amassed a list of awards including:

MotorWeek 2011 Drivers' Choice Award: Best Coupe (CTS Coupe)
Edmunds Inside Line Most Wanted Awards for 2011 (CTS-V Wagon)
Car and Driver 10Best List for 2011 (CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon)
AUTOMOBILE Magazine 2011 All-Star (CTS-V Wagon)
MSN Autos Editors Choice Award for 2010 (CTS-V Wagon)
AutoWeek Best of the Best Car for 2011 (CTS-V Coupe)
Popular Mechanics Auto Excellence Award: Top 10 Cars of 2011 (CTS Coupe)
Motor Authority Best Performance/Luxury Car to Buy for 2011 (CTS-V Coupe and Wagon).
Esquire Car of the Year Awards for 2010: Best Domestic Car (CTS-V Coupe)

Cadillac has gained more market share so far this year than any other brand in the U.S. luxury segment. U.S. sales were up 32 percent through April and the brand's market share is up almost 2 percentage points through the first four months of the year.

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.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

SOURCE General Motors