The Indiana plant is where the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 & GMC Sierra 1500 are built.
General Motors revealed details about its first quarter results. It was happy to discuss the huge increase in demand for its 2019 Chevy silverado, and GMC Sierra 1500 crew-cab models. These two new full-size pickup trucks were the first to be introduced by General Motors. They combined saw a 20 percent increase in sales compared with Q1 2018.
This is why GM’s decision to increase production of its two pickup trucks this week was not surprising. The automotive conglomerate will spend $24 million to improve Fort Wayne Assembly, where the production of the 2019 Chevy silverado and GMC Sierra 1000 will be increased. A special focus will be placed on the crew cab models.
Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO, stated that the company has already assembled Chevy and GMC crew cab pickups in a “record quantity” and that this investment will enable GM to increase production to meet high demand. Two trucks were introduced to the market in 2018’s second half. Customer deliveries of double-cab models made in Fort Wayne began in Q1 2019. Although the availability of regular cab and double-cab body styles was limited during this quarter, all cab styles are in full production depuis March.
GM states that the plant’s upgrades will be completed this summer. This will bring Fort Wayne’s total investments to $1.2 billion since 2015. GM notes that they have invested $23 billion in U.S. Manufacturing since 2009, or more than one-quarter the amount of all automakers’ dollars.
GM announced plans towards the end of April to add a second and more than 400 hourly jobs at its Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. This was to prepare for the mid-engined Corvette C8, which is (finally).