General Motors is investing in the plant that builds its midsize pickups and vans.
The Detroit-based automaker said July 24 that it will put $157 million into its Wentzville Assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri – about 40 miles west of St. Louis – to upgrade the paint area and modernization work at the facility. GM builds the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups and Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans at Wentzville.
GM said in a statement that the investment includes new paint process equipment, including an estimated 28,000-square-foot expansion, along with major refurbishment of existing paint shop infrastructure.
GM said a modernized paint system supports long-term quality, safety, sustainability and competitiveness, while the broader
work reflects continued confidence in the plant, the workforce and Wentzville’s role in GM’s manufacturing footprint. GM's goal is to keep Wentzville modern and competitive over the long term.
"We believe in our team, and this investment shows it. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to keep investing in the talent, pride and excellence that defines GM’s manufacturing team,” Mike Trevorrow, GM senior vice president of global manufacturing, said in a statement.
Mike Booth, UAW vice president for General Motors, said the move is more than a paint shop upgrade.
"It is about continuing to invest in an important manufacturing facility and supporting the people who help keep this plant and this community strong every day – this investment protects American jobs and supports long-term job security,” Booth said in a statement.
GM leaders were expected to make the announcement at Wentzville Assembly on July 24 in an event that was to include the governor, local stakeholders and employees. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement the investment will support thousands of jobs and economic growth for the state.
How Colorado and Canyon impact bottom line
In the second quarter, GM sold 26,097 Chevrolet Colorado pickups, a 3% dip compared with the year-ago period. GMC Canyon sales rose 22% to 11,272 sold. Both pale in comparison to GM's full-size truck sales. GM sold 147,256 total Silverado pickups in the second quarter, a 7.7% decline compared with the year-ago period. For vans, the Chevrolet Express van sold 12,930 units, down 14.5% compared with the year-ago quarter. Sales of the GMC Savana plummeted 56% to 3,518 sold in the quarter.
Wentzville, a 4.25-million-square-foot facility, operates three shifts and its workforce is represented by UAW Local 2250. GM said it employs about 4,000 direct employees in Missouri, representing 8% of Missouri's transportation equipment manufacturing workforce. GM’s gross domestic product in the state is $2 billion.
Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer at USA TODAY Co. who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM investing $157 million to modernize Missouri truck plant
