General Motors will invest $245 million into its Orion Assembly plant and hire 300 new employees, according to the Detroit Free Press.
This move seems to be sparked by the launch of a confidential new vehicle. It may be a few years before the new model is announced. Cathy Clegg, vice president of GM North America manufacturing and labor relations, said that the investment would be focused on the body shop, where programed robots will put together the main components of the car. However, the announcement of the new model that will be produced will open up 300 new jobs. In addition, Orion is set to start producing the new electric vehicle, The Bolt. Since 2010, GM has invested $962 million into the Orion plant in Michigan since it has worked together with UAW to reopen, according to Zacks.com.
Aside from the good news, there is also some bad news for the Orion Assembly plant. GM will lay off 100 employees at Orion beginning in July and going through the end of 2015, the Detroit News Reports. These layoffs are due to slow car sale rates, and the company plans to cut down on workers to trim production. Combine shrinking gas prices and the popularity of SUVs and crossovers in America and it does not spell success for two of GM's compact sedans. Compared to last year's figures, Sonic sales have plummeted 28.5 percent, while the Verano has seen its sales dip 16 percent over that frame, according to The Detroit Free Press.
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