Read more: Economy, Local, State, General Motors, Flint, Regular Cab Light Duty
FLINT -- General Motors has announced a $ 21.5 million investment in Mid-Michigan Monday morning.
Its part of a plan to re-develop the Flint Truck and Bus Assembly Plant, and officials say it brings more job security.
“It’s great news for Flint, its great news for Genesee County and its great news for the state," said Rouse.
UAW local 598 shop chairman Dana Rouse is talking about the addition of the regular cab light-duty pickup.
Starting this summer, the Flint Truck Assembly Plant will build the vehicle and become more competitive in the truck market.
"Anytime you mix more models in we can react to the market demand, things get bad again and our heavy-duties, which are kind off gas guzzlers, we can switch over a run more light-duty than heavy duty," said
Rouse. The plant currently produces the heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks.
Rouse say's he’s confident in the work force to take on the light-cab production.
"If we didn't have the truck producers over there that we have…then we couldn't get it done," said Rouse.
Adding the light-duty cab brings a total of 20,000 units built this year, a far comparison to last year.
The GM Plant will be home to almost the entire truck production.
"It'll be absolutely excellent to get into a traffic jam out here on Van Slyke Road, there's nothing we would love more than to do that,” Rouse said.
With a long history of truck building, the Flint Truck Assembly Plant will be able to accommodate the demand of mid-sized trucks on the road.
"Americans wants their trucks, they want their trucks they want their SUV’S and that’s just the way it's going to be," said Rouse.
There’s no word yet on if this could bring new jobs to Mid-Michigan. For now any additional work on the 1500 series truck will go to the GM Plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Manufacturing of the light-duty pickup truck begins July 19th.
