Image

GM to invest $1.2 billion in Indiana pickup plant

May 26, 2015

General Motors plans to invest $1.2 billion in its full-size pickup truck plant in Ft. Wayne, IN – money that will fund construction of a new pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility, and other general assembly functions.

Cathy Clegg, VP for GM North America manufacturing, said in a statement that the OEM’s investment is expected to begin in June will take several years to complete. Full-size truck production schedules will be unaffected by the construction, she stressed.

GM added that its Fort Wayne investments are part of a larger $5.4 billion investment plan for its U.S. facilities over the next three years.

Specific upgrades to GM’s Ft. Wayne plant resulting from the company’s $1.2 billion investment include:

  • New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pretreatment;
  • E-coat paint customized to each vehicle style, resulting in better coverage and curability;
  • GM-patented radiant tube ovens to improve paint finish while lowering energy use;
  • New equipment to accommodate more variations of the truck cab and box being placed on the chassis;
  • New “skillet conveyance systems” for instrument panel assembly intended to improve worker ergonomics and product quality.

GM noted it began building light-duty trucks at its Fort Wayne plant in 1986. Today, it is a three-shift operation with approximately 3,800 employees building light- and heavy-duty regular plus double cab full-size pickup models.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

What challenges are top of mind for fleet professionals in 2025? Get exclusive insights from the 2025 Fleet Trends Survey and discover where the industry is headed next.
The most successful fleets accomplish more than delivering freight. To accomplish this, fleets need a fuel that’s reliable, more economical and more sustainable. That fuel is ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Learn how eets can enhance truck utilization and minimize safety incidents using business intelligence and AI. Delve into innovative practices, technology integration and real...