GM Adds 800 Jobs at Texas Truck Plant

GM (IW 1000/13) will hire about 800 people in order to add a third shift to its Arlington, Texas plant as it forecasts solid demand for large sport utility vehicles, the automaker said on June 22.

"Based on economic uncertainty and gas price volatility, we took a prudent approach by relying extensively on overtime over the past few years," said Larry Zahner, manufacturing manager for GM North America.

"We see this segment stabilizing enough to add a third shift, reducing the cost and personal demand of overtime and providing us flexibility for possible increased demand as we introduce new trucks."

The plant -- which produces the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade -- built nearly 270,000 vehicles last year with 2,500 hourly and salaried employees.

The third shift is expected to begin early next year, when production will be limited by the installation of new tooling and equipment.

GM has invested more than $7.1 billion in its U.S. operations since it emerged from a government-backed bankruptcy in 2009.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012