GM invests $20 million at Arlington for new SUVs

General Motors is investing an additional $20 million (Rs 138 crore) at Arlington assembly to upgrade plant conveyors in preparation for the launch of GM’s all-new full-size SUVs. GM has invested more than $1.4 billion (Rs 9,700 crore) in Arlington assembly since 2015 to build a new paint shop and for body shop and general assembly area upgrades. The new upgrades at Arlington are scheduled to be completed next year.

“We’ve been building trucks in Texas for more than 20 years, and our additional investment in Arlington Assembly is proof of our commitment and confidence in our Arlington team,” said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of global manufacturing. “We are counting on the Arlington team to continue focusing on building the highest quality products possible for our customers while preparations continue for the launch of the next generation of our full-size SUVs.”

Cadillac Escalade vehicles roll off the assembly line Tuesday, June 25, 2019 as General Motors announces it is investing an additional $20 million at Arlington Assembly to upgrade plant conveyors in preparation for the launch of GM’s all-new full-size SUVs. (Photo by Mike Stone for General Motors)

Arlington Assembly is the sole producer of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and the Cadillac Escalade. Opened in 1954, Arlington employs 4,500. The plant converted from car to truck production in 1997. Arlington Assembly operates on three shifts of production. Through a series of purchase agreements for wind power, Arlington Assembly runs entirely on wind energy, earning the plant a spot on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Top 100 List of the largest green power users.

GM has a long history of a stronghold in the full-size SUV market since creating the segment in 1935. GM claims that last year, its dealers in the United States delivered more than 282,000 full-size SUVs — almost four vehicles for each one delivered by the company’s closest competitor. GM’s full-size SUVs are exported to many markets around the globe. Since 2009, GM has reportedly invested more than $23 billion (Rs 159,370 crore) in its U.S. manufacturing base — more than one-quarter of every dollar spent by any automaker.

General Motors executive vice president global manufacturing Gerald Johnson announces GM is investing an additional $20 million at Arlington Assembly to upgrade plant conveyors in preparation for the launch of its all-new full-size SUVs, Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at GM Arlington Assembly in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Mike Stone for General Motors)

GM has invested more than $4.2 billion (Rs 29,103 crore) in three U.S. assembly plants – Arlington, Flint, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana – to prepare for the launches of its next-generation pickups and SUVs and to increase capacity, further improve build quality and drive operating efficiencies.

GM’s new trucks and SUVs are also driving new investments at plants in Moraine, Ohio to expand diesel engine production, Toledo, Ohio to expand 10-speed transmission production and more.

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