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LSJ: General Motors to invest $100 million into Delta Township plant

October 25, 2020

LANSING - General Motors said it will be investing $100 million into its Delta Township plant to produce the next generation of the GMC Acadia.

The investment is a part of a $2 billion investment in GM plants across the country. The plant builds the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.

The Acadia was born in Delta Township in 2006, said Doneen McDowell, manufacturing executive director at GM.

"We are excited to welcome the next generation of this amazing product," McDowell said Tuesday at a press conference announcing the investments. "This is an exciting day for plants and for the state of Michigan."

Delta Township's plant ended production of the GMC Acadia in 2016.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said the return of the Acadia is a tremendous opportunity for the city and for the more than 4,500 employees who work at the Delta Township and Grand River plants. "These are good-paying UAW jobs with the exciting responsibility of building some of the best vehicles this country has to offer," Schor said in a statement. "I am proud of the strong partnership between the City of Lansing and General Motors and appreciate their consistent presence in our community."

Jeffrey Kosloski, UAW Local 602 chairman, said the announcement is "much anticipated and well deserved news."

"The real stars here are the employees who put the parts on the cars," Kosloski said. "There's no better place to build a world class vehicle than at LDT assembly."

Delta Township plant Executive Director Satya Veerapaneni said he is looking forward to bringing the Acadia back to the assembly line.

"This $100 million investment shows a lot of confidence in the men and women (at the Delta Township plant)," Veerapaneni said.

Investments also include $32 million to the Flint plant, $17 million to Romulus, $3.5 million to Orion Assembly and $750,000 to Brownstown Township. Last week, GM called the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly "factory zero" and said it will be the launchpad of the company's strategy in electric vehicles.

Since 2009, GM has invested more than $600 million into Lansing Delta Township Assembly. It invested $36 million into the Delta Township plant in February 2019.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is proud to see continued investment in the state and plans to continue to work closely with GM and any other businesses that want to invest.

"This is good news for Michigan families and hardworking UAW workers, providing critical momentum to our economic recovery across the state," Whitmer said in a statement.

State Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township, said in a statement she was excited about the investment.

"What a great day this is for the employees, suppliers, investors, and of course the community of Delta Township," Witwer said in the statement. "I'm so proud to be a part of this win for our district, and as always, to be able to work alongside General Motors to ensure a continued partnership between them and the people of the 71st district. I look forward to continuing to work with them well into the future."

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said the investment is encouraging for both his district and Michigan.

"I am delighted that General Motors continues to make significant investments in its Delta Township plant and the dedicated men and women who work there," Walberg said in a statement. "I was at the plant earlier this year when the 3 millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line, and there is no doubt it is an impressive facility that employs some of the best workers in the country."

This article originally appeared in the October 25 edition of the Lansing State Journal.