General Motors Investing $24 Million to Expand Pickup Production

Due to high sales, automaker will be increasing Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 production at Indiana facility. 

General Motors has seen a high demand for the newly redesigned Chevrolet Silverado as well as the GMC Sierra. And they are going to give the people what they want. GM recently announced that they will be investing $24 million dollars in their Ford Wayne, IN pickup truck assembly plant.

“The team here at Fort Wayne has done an outstanding job helping us satisfy customers throughout this launch. Our product ramp-up was very smooth and the quality has been exceptional,” said CEO Mary Barra said in a statement according to The Detroit News. “Crew cab sales have been very strong, and we are expanding customer choice with new models, more cab choices and innovative new powertrains.”

The Ford Wayne production facility is home to about 4,230 hourly workers. This new influx of capital is definitely good news to those employed at the plant. It is also good news for the automaker as they ready for renegotiating their contract with the United Auto Workers (UAW) the the fall.

“General Motors investment will ensure job security and continued growth in manufacturing and the economy for UAW members in Indiana, their families, and their community,” United Auto Workers Vice President and director of the GM department Terry Dittes said in a statement.

A large portion of the $24 million will be put towards streamlining pickup production. To that end, the plant will get updates to conveyors, which is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

The redesigned Silverado has garnered attention and accolades for its 2020 redesign. The changes to its Durabed and its excellent towing capacity have especially been favorites of ours. We also recently wrote a review of the GMC Sierra and its off-road capabilities were stellar, as was it’s impressive tailgate, and 6.2-liter V8.

This is good news for solid popularity of the Silverado and Sierra in the pickup segment. As the pickup wars have raged on, we are pleased to see Chevy and GMC making a solid showing among consumers.

Photos: General Motors; Chevrolet Forums 

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.