Cadillac last week announced that the first ATS had rolled off the line at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan.
The GM subsidiary has heralded the luxury compact's birth as an entry into "the most significant global luxury segment", as well as a jobs-creating boost to the company and the fruition of a "massive" design collaboration.
The Lansing plant underwent a $190-million refurbishment to become ready to produce the ATS.
The plant also instituted a second shift consisting of 600 jobs, though not all of these represent new-hires. The plant already produces the CTS Sedan, Wagon and Coupe, as well as the V-Series performance model of each. It now has a total of more than 1,600 employees.
"The new Cadillac ATS represents an investment in Lansing and our workforce," Tony Francavilla, the Lansing regional plant manager, said in a statement. "A successful launch needs a great process and a great product, but at the heart of it all are the people, and the care they put into each and every vehicle."
The ATS arrives in US dealers in August and begins shipping to export markets later in the year.
"This is a car with a big mission, and it's been comprehensively prepared for that mission," said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. "The new-from-the-ground-up ATS creates a new entryway into the Cadillac brand for luxury car drivers, and a compelling new challenger to the status quo among the top luxury sport sedans."
The ATS was reviewed positively against the BMW 335i and the Infiniti G37 by Total Car Score last week.
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