Next-Gen Impala Means 2,500 New Jobs for Detroit

GM will fill the positions with laid-off UAW members.

May 25, 2011

2 min read

General Motors today said it is adding two shifts and approximately 2,500 jobs at its historic Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant to build the new Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan.

The hourly and salaried workers also will build the next-generation Impala large sedan, alongside the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera electric cars, according to the automaker.

GM said it will fill the new positions with laid-off UAW members, "with the possibility of new hires to follow."

General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant employee John Scott on the line prior to GM's announcement that it will add two shifts and approximately 2,500 jobs at the plant. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)"Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city," said GM North America President Mark Reuss earlier today at the plant. "We are confident in the flexibility of the plant, the excellence of our workers and the great cars assembled here." GM noted it will spend $69 million on tooling and equipment to support the next-gen Impala at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility. After a four-week shutdown at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, GM last week announced that the facility will build Volt and Ampera electric cars with extended-range capability for the rest of the year. The plant has 1,121 hourly and salaried employees. In April 2010, GM said it will spend $121 million to support Malibu production. The new Malibu -- which GM calls Chevrolet's first global midsize sedan -- will be built in Detroit and Fairfax, Kan., as well as China and Korea, and will be sold in more than 100 countries on six continents. The announcement is part of GM's plan unveiled May 10 to create or retain about 4,000 jobs and invest $2 billion in 17 manufacturing facilities in eight states. See Also:

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About the Author

Josh Cable

Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.