GM launches Traverse at Tennessee plant

RP news wires, Noria Corporation

After a 12-month retooling and an investment topping $600 million, General Motors' manufacturing plant  in Spring Hill, Tenn., recently kicked off the start of regular production of the all-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, GM's newest crossover vehicle to be introduced in the market.

GM announced the investment and named the new product for Spring Hill Manufacturing in October 2007. Since then, major construction and rebuild of the plant production areas have been under way in preparation for today's milestone.

"The all-new Chevy Traverse is the right product for the market today and we've got the right manufacturing team building it here in Spring Hill," said Troy Clarke, GM executive vice president and president of GM North America, who was present for the production celebration with employees. "The Chevy Traverse is fast becoming one of our most important volume products as buyers increasingly turn to more fuel efficient crossovers with today's rising cost of fuel. Traverse is a leader in its segment in highway fuel economy thanks to its new 3.6-liter V-6 engine with direct injection technology."

GM's Clarke was joined by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and local government officials in acknowledging the significance of the facility in the state and the Spring Hill community.

The $600 million investment in the facility included a 500,000 square foot addition to the plant paint shop for a state-of-the art e-coat phosphate primer system. It also encompassed a complete clearing and rebuilding of the facility's 1.2 million square foot general assembly area.

The GM Spring Hill Manufacturing facility is located in Spring Hill, a growing community located 40 miles south of Nashville. The plant lies within the borders of Maury County. Approximately 3,481 workers are employed at the site. Hourly employees are represented by UAW Local 1853. More than 3.752 million vehicles have been produced at the facility since it opened in 1990.

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