GM to invest $1.5 billion on North American expansion in 2013

[jzchev28]

General Motors plans to invest about $1.5 billion to expand its operations in North America in 2013, Mark Reuss said today at an industry conference.

Reuss, president of GM North America, said more details will come soon regarding where the money will be spent and how many jobs it may create. He spoke after a dinner at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit.

GM and most forecasters expect U.S. consumers to buy 15 million to 15.5 million new vehicles in the U.S. this year. That will require more production.

Reuss also said he can envision a day when “we have an affordable electric car that offers 300 miles of range with all the comfort and utility of a conventional vehicle.”

GM revealed the all-new Cadillac ELR, which is based on the same plug-in electric powertrain as the Chevrolet Volt, on Tuesday. The ELR can travel 35 miles on electricity before a gasoline engine kicks in.

“I believe, and we at GM believe, that the public will accept and embrace electric vehicles,” Reuss said.

Reuss said GM will continue investing $8 billion in annual product development and focusing on maximizing profits by not producing more cars and trucks than it can sell.

“For the most part, people are buying our vehicles because they’re great vehicles, not because there’s a gift basket full of cash on the hood,” he said.
Continued at link: http://www.freep.com/article/2013011...101/130116108/

[jzchev28]

Sounds encouraging!

[MyImpalaSS]

Some of that money will be going to tool a plant for Omega. Don't know which plant though. Damn it!!!!!!!!!!

[MCGARRETT]

Some of that money will be going to tool a plant for Omega. Don't know which plant though. Damn it!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't it be LGR? Thats where all Cadillacs are made now.

[dslay04]

I think LGR is a sound bet

[BlackGTP]

Awesome! Nice to hear GM and Ford are putting jobs back in the USA.

Now, hopefully the "economy" reads the forecasts and actually buys the cars.

[megeebee]

Wouldn't it be LGR? Thats where all Cadillacs are made now.

Except Escalade.......and XTS.........and SRX....

Seriously, I have said this all along. LGR makes the most sense for the Omega car(s).

GM spent a bundle on the plant last year in preparation for the Alpha platform cars, of which there will be several. Building Omega at the plant would center all NA,RWD car production except Corvette in one plant. This would help guard agains market fluxuations. Omega could be built partially on the line and partially off. If it doesn't burn up sales charts, and it likely won't since it's up against such entrenched competition, the people can be reassigned to building the other Cadillacs, Camaros, and presumably Buicks. I think it's the only way to keep costs reigned in and profit even possible on such a low volume product.

That, and Omega is almost surely going to have a lot in common with Alpha vehicles mechanically.

Now, hopefully the "economy" reads the forecasts and actually buys the cars.

Well even in this poop economy, auto sales have been strong.

[MCGARRETT]

Wouldn't it be LGR? Thats where all RWDCadillacs are made now.

Thats what I meant.

[georgewerr]

They could make it with the Vette, there is room there and there alike in that they are more hands on during the build.

[jzchev28]

They could make it with the Vette, there is room there and there alike in that they are more hands on during the build.

I doubt they'll set up another platform in Bowling Green.