GM to select factory for building small cars by the end of June
2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for high-res image gallery
General Motors has narrowed down its selection process for its new small car assembly plant to three locations. The Lake Orion, MI plant that until recently built the Pontiac G6 is one possibility as is Janesville, WI which had been building full-size SUVS. The third possibility is Spring Hill, TN, which until last year was the home of Saturn and currently builds the Chevy Traverse. Traverse production is being consolidated in Lansing, MI with the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.
GM is currently negotiating with federal and state officials to see who will give the best deal to get the new production. The automaker hopes to make a decision by the end of June. The other thing we still don't know is which car will be built. It could be the Spark or the slightly larger B-segment car that will replace the Aveo.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: Chevy Spark
Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark
[Source: General Motors]
Statement On The Plant Selection To Produce The New Small Car For GM
On May 29, GM announced that we will build a future small, fuel-efficient car in the United States utilizing an existing UAW-GM assembly plant that is currently on standby capacity status. The assembly plants in consideration are Orion (Michigan), Spring Hill (Tennessee) and Janesville (Wisconsin). Given the importance of this small car program, and in an effort to move quickly to identify the plant, GM leadership has begun discussions regarding selection criteria with Federal and State government officials from Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin. We hope to identify and announce the future production site of the small car within the next several weeks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 9:18AM (6/12/2009)
I really wish I liked the look of the Spark more, but there's something about that bulging, ungainly, bug-eyed front of the vehicle that really turns me off. It's like the front of a Fit, with a half dozen cubic feet of misguided design studio ego stuck on.
Reply
Shock Me 9:32AM (6/12/2009)
It is a bit heavy in the nose isn't it? Guess I got distracted by the stunning young woman standing next to it.
Damn you GM marketers! You got me again!
Maybe someone who has trouble finding parking can use it? Imagine how much weight they could save paring back the sheet metal from the front of this thing.
Reply
lne937s 11:44AM (6/12/2009)
I just look at the expanses of unnecessary grill and oversized headlights at the front of this car and think about all the flimsy but very expensive plastic pieces ready to break from typical park-by-touch driving here in NYC. Styling won out over sensibility.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/bumper-testing-small-cars/
Reply
dave 3:38PM (6/12/2009)
One look at this ugly car and it's obvious GM will be bankrupt again before long.
Reply
Matt 11:48AM (6/14/2009)
Get used to it, with Obama's socialist agenda. The days of eating to much fast food, smoking to many cigarretes, and driving what you want to is over. Big government is the future and you'll do what he tells you to do from now on. Oh yeah, if you work for G.M. and your losing your job try joining the military; you can work thier for the rest of your life.
Reply