According to the United Auto Workers union, General Motors will be moving the production of its Cadillac SRX crossover vehicle from Mexico to Spring Hill in Tennessee. Along with the move, GM will also be investing around $191 million in a plant near Nashville, retaining around 415 unionized jobs.
Currently, the Spring Hill plant is in charge of producing the Chevrolet Equinox crossover. GM announced last year that it would be investing $350 million in the plant as it will be adding new vehicles to the assembly load. One of these is the Cadillac SRX, which used to be churned out by the GM plant in Ramos Arizpe in Mexico.
"GM's investment today is a huge testament to its confidence in Spring Hill's workers, and is a great example of the economic opportunities we've been able to create here in Tennessee as a result of the collective-bargaining process," said Cindy Estrada, UAW Vice President.
Said investment will be used to create or retain around 1,800 jobs for the state. Many of those that used to work in the Spring Hill plant but had to move away or pursue other jobs in other GM facilities have started receiving notices to return.
Governor Bill Haslam shares Estrada's sentiments; congratulating GM on the investment it is making that will impact not only Spring Hill but the rest of middle Tennessee. He adds that the company's decision to bolster production in the Spring Hill plant speaks volumes about the Tennessee's growing automotive manufacturing industry and business-friendly environment.
Operations were suspended in 2009 at the Spring Hill plant as GM went through a government-sponsored bankruptcy. Production started again in 2011, albeit at a reduced capacity.
The plant started out in 1990 as the main assembly plant and headquarters for GM's Saturn. The brand was discontinued back in 2007 but the plant went on to produce the GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Equinox, and Chevrolet Traverse before the bankruptcy pulled the plug on its operations.
Aside from the Cadillac SRX, Spring Hill will also be responsible for producing Ecotec engines. The three- and four-cylinder engines that will be manufactured in Tennessee will be used by 27 models part of five of GM's brands for the 2017 model year and will come in 11 variations. Some of these will be turbocharged engines, rated with between 75 and 165 horsepower.
No word yet on what will replace the Cadillac SRX in the Ramos Arizpe plant but it will continue manufacturing Chevrolet's Sonic and Captiva.
