GM to add 250 jobs at Corvette plant in Kentucky

[onedef92]

GM to add 250 jobs at Corvette plant in Kentucky

Published: Wednesday, May 04, 2011, 11:15 AM
Updated: Wednesday, May 04, 2011, 11:37 AM

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - General Motors is investing $131 million in the Kentucky plant that assembles the Corvette, creating 250 new jobs.

Mark Reuss (ROYCE), GM's North America president, made the announcement Wednesday at the south-central Kentucky plant with Gov. Steve Beshear and local officials.

GM says the investment will support production of the next-generation Corvette. The Bowling Green plant will continue building the current Corvette for at least the next two model years.

Nearly 400 production workers now assemble Corvettes. Chevrolet spokesman David Caldwell says some of the 250 jobs created might be filled by a pool of laid-off workers.

The plant has been home to Corvette production since 1981. Caldwell says at the plant's peak in the 1980s, it employed 1,000 people.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

So we'll see the C7 in 2014 I'm guessing.

I guess the General is planning on selling a few more Vettes? Sales have dropped by half in the last couple of years, I wonder what they are going to do from a marketing standpoint to justify $100 million bucks and 250 new jobs.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Hmmmmm, I wonder how much of that is being provided by the state? He was there for the announcement, right?
good to know there's a future for America's (Canada too) favourite sports car!

[bradc6]

I did the factory tour last week and have never seen the line move that slow.

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Could they be setting up another vechicle to be based of the Vette thus needing more people?

That would be my guess too...

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Could they be setting up another vechicle to be based of the Vette thus needing more people?

I would guess that as well.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Could they be setting up another vechicle to be based of the Vette thus needing more people?

Even when they were building the XLR there, I don't think it added a ton to the workforce.

GM has has such bad luck with other Non-Corvette attempts at two seat roadsters - Fieros were about the only ones that had any audience. Allantes, Reattas, XLRs, Solstice and Skys - none stuck it out...

[Kerrmudgeon]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

Even when they were building the XLR there, I don't think it added a ton to the workforce.

GM has has such bad luck with other Non-Corvette attempts at two seat roadsters - Fieros were about the only ones that had any audience. Allantes, Reattas, XLRs, Solstice and Skys - none stuck it out...

It's too bad about that, the little Solstice coupe was a cool hotrod.

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

Even when they were building the XLR there, I don't think it added a ton to the workforce.

GM has has such bad luck with other Non-Corvette attempts at two seat roadsters - Fieros were about the only ones that had any audience. Allantes, Reattas, XLRs, Solstice and Skys - none stuck it out...

Which is why GM needs to build a Corvette sedan, a'la the Aston Rapide and the Porsche Panam... urg... I'm... going to be sick... can't type Pana... mera... without puking...

[onedef92]

Or a dope, re-skinned, Aston-Martin Lagonda

[themonk]

To dedicate 1 plant to 1 niche sports car is insane, they will be adding another vehicle there for sure.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

Which is why GM needs to build a Corvette sedan, a'la the Aston Rapide and the Porsche Panam... urg... I'm... going to be sick... can't type Pana... mera... without puking...

There's plans somewhere - I always thought this was kinda cool -

[SubZero]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Could they be setting up another vechicle to be based of the Vette thus needing more people?

I would think so too, but what?

[SubZero]

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us.../0504_bg_reuss

[ApexOversteer]

GM needs to give us a release date for the new Vette, so we can expect it to actually debut 18 months later...

[vetteman9368]

as much as I want to see the vette keep its own identity, sharing the architecture would no necessarily be a bad thing. THe current camaro and cts platform is an adaptation of a native 4 door platform, hence the bulk in the camaro (the CTS wears it much better). Of the current pony cars, only the mustang is on a dedicated platform and it is a lighter, more compact package, even with a physically huge DOHC V8 in it. It would make sense to for GM to build an variant of the vette platform for a 2+2 coupe. It would not even have to resemble the vette in any way, if it would accept the front and rear suspension cradles and the torque tube could easily be extended

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller

Even when they were building the XLR there, I don't think it added a ton to the workforce.

GM has has such bad luck with other Non-Corvette attempts at two seat roadsters - Fieros were about the only ones that had any audience. Allantes, Reattas, XLRs, Solstice and Skys - none stuck it out...

Yeah, there were like 10 guys who built the Caddy's. It doesn't take many people to build the 200 cars they sold in 8 years.

[ChasC5]

Good news ... 250 less on Unemployment.

[MattW]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

GM needs to give us a release date for the new Vette, so we can expect it to actually debut 18 months later...

The press release posted on corvettemuseum.blogspot.com says the new car is expected "Spring 2013, as a 2014 model year"

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by Wadoka

The press release posted on corvettemuseum.blogspot.com says the new car is expected "Spring 2013, as a 2014 model year"

Make your Bash reservations early.