The 2010 Chevrolet Silverado has best-in-class fuel economy at 15 miles per gallon in the city.
General Motors Company plans to spend $21 million to revamp its Flint Assembly Plant to build light duty truck models.
GM spokesperson Kevin Nadrowski said the investment on the Flint assembly line would prepare the plant for the production of the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab model pickup trucks, starting next July 2010 to meet increased market demand.
“The light-duty Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra crew cab are currently produced in Silao, Mexico. Flint Assembly is taking on a small portion of the light-duty Chevy Silverado due to increased demand. Silao, Mexico, will continue to produce both the Silverado and Sierra with no impact to their current production volume,” he said.
Flint Assembly also now produces the heavy-duty regular cab Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
The investment in the Flint Assembly plant will include renovating the existing heavy-duty assembly line and new machinery, equipment and tooling to support the light-duty crew cab production in the plant, GM officials said.
Construction at Flint Assembly is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The plant currently employs 1,767 hourly and salaried workers on two shifts.
“This investment in light-duty crew cab capability enhances Flint Assembly’s manufacturing flexibility and future competitiveness,” said Larry Zahner, GM manufacturing manager. “The plant will now be able to produce both heavy-duty and light-duty trucks for General Motors on the same assembly line.”
GM also is moving forward with an advertising campaign that emphasizes that GM vehicles such as the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have best-in-class fuel economy at 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mph on the highway. No other pickup achieves better fuel economy.