GM investing $131 million in Corvette factory
#1
05-04-2011, 05:39 PM
GM investing $131 million in Corvette factory 
Corvette Muscle: GM Invests $131 Million in Bowling Green
Wed, May 4 2011
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs.
"This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products," said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. "Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world's best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.
"This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers," Reuss said.
The announcement came at an event held at the plant with employees and several special guests, including Gov. Steve Beshear. The governor last June signed a bill designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.
"Kentucky has a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with GM and this significant investment further demonstrates the strength of our partnership," Beshear said.
The plant in Bowling Green is scheduled to continue building the current generation Corvette for at least the next two model years, including the 2012 model year that begins this summer. During this period, the investment starts to take effect, preparing the facility for the next-generation Corvette.
Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Chevrolet Corvette – Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1. Corvette's current generation, the sixth in its 58-year history, has seen the car enter the realm of the world's highest-performing cars.
Nearly 400 production workers, represented by the UAW Local 2164, assemble these vehicles on a one-shift, 10-hour, Monday-Thursday production schedule. The plant employs many specialized operations, including unique hand-crafted techniques. Bowling Green has been home to Corvette production since 1981.
"We need to rebuild the great American middle class. There is no better way to achieve this worthy goal than providing meaningful jobs like the ones being created in Bowling Green," said UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. " Our members have earned this investment through their hard work focused on the Corvette customers' unique desire for high performance, quality, and style.
"I offer my congratulations to a great American Union Workforce, Local 2164, for a job well done."
The additional jobs will be filled in accordance with the United Auto Workers -GM National Agreement.
Approximately 50,000 tourists visit the Bowling Green plant annually to catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process, some even watching their new cars being completed before taking delivery from the neighboring National Corvette Museum.
Source [GM]
#2
05-04-2011, 06:18 PM
"This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers,"
#4
05-05-2011, 12:09 AM
Can they please just take one or two million of that and hire someone to design a higher quality interior for the car? Is that too much to ask???
#5
05-05-2011, 12:40 AM
A tailored, high quality interior, focused on sport and devoid of the shiny/cheap garb would be a real tipping point.
Last edited by HarveyMushman; 05-05-2011 at 12:42 AM.
#8
05-05-2011, 10:01 AM
Maybe GM will wake up and finally make the mid-engine Corvette that is made for driving fast rather than just going fast..
Article from Aug 2010
Mid-Engined Corvette Development Confirmed - autoevolution
Article from Aug 2010
We can see the effects on the financial crisis on the automotive market everyday. However, the global downturn has also had some negative consequences that are not so obvious. One of the is the indefinite term postponing or even death of certain special projects.
One of these is General Motors’ mid-engined Corvette. The project has been nothing but a rumor but it has now been confirmed by a... Saab engineer, as autocar reports.
It seems that the Swedish automaker (when it was still a GM brand) had been given the task to create a double-clutch gearbox for the extreme Corvette. The transmission used a wet clutch solution and could cope with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. This is almost the torque level offered by the beefiest incarnation of the current Corvette, the ZR-1.
The project, which was pretty close to completion, was put on the list of financial nonsense when the economy really started going downhill back in 2008.
However, the aforementioned source claims that GM is currently considering using a mid-engine layout for the next generation of the ‘Vette (the C8). In addition to that, the website reports that the car might also go the downsizing road, using a V6 as an entry-level engine, with the powerplant expected to use forced induction in order to deliver adequate power and torque figures.
We find the idea of a production mid-engine Corvette very appealing but we’re not so sure that GM will decide to bring a V6 under the car’s bonnet, wherever this will be placed.
One of these is General Motors’ mid-engined Corvette. The project has been nothing but a rumor but it has now been confirmed by a... Saab engineer, as autocar reports.
It seems that the Swedish automaker (when it was still a GM brand) had been given the task to create a double-clutch gearbox for the extreme Corvette. The transmission used a wet clutch solution and could cope with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. This is almost the torque level offered by the beefiest incarnation of the current Corvette, the ZR-1.
The project, which was pretty close to completion, was put on the list of financial nonsense when the economy really started going downhill back in 2008.
However, the aforementioned source claims that GM is currently considering using a mid-engine layout for the next generation of the ‘Vette (the C8). In addition to that, the website reports that the car might also go the downsizing road, using a V6 as an entry-level engine, with the powerplant expected to use forced induction in order to deliver adequate power and torque figures.
We find the idea of a production mid-engine Corvette very appealing but we’re not so sure that GM will decide to bring a V6 under the car’s bonnet, wherever this will be placed.
#10
05-05-2011, 08:47 PM
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Maybe GM will wake up and finally make the mid-engine Corvette that is made for driving fast rather than just going fast..
Article from Aug 2010
Mid-Engined Corvette Development Confirmed - autoevolution
Article from Aug 2010
Mid-Engined Corvette Development Confirmed - autoevolution
