General Motors has announced it is investing $36 million at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant in Michigan “for future crossover production.”
The automaker didn’t offer additional details or timing related to the plant’s future products, citing “competitive reasons.” The Lansing Delta Township facility currently makes the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave crossovers, which have been redesigned for the 2018 model year. GM said no jobs are expected to be created following the new investment.
Since 2009, GM has invested more than $600 million into the Lansing Delta Township plant, including $520 million for tooling and equipment for the redesigned Traverse and Enclave. The midsize crossovers entered production in 2017.
“We are proud of the hard work and commitment of the entire Lansing team and the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave are important products in our growing crossover portfolio,” said GM CEO Mary Barra during a visit to the plant. “This investment will allow us to prepare the plant for future crossover production,” she added.
Judging by the relatively modest size of the investment, we can assume GM plans to build a crossover related to the Traverse and Enclave. Last month, Buick announced its dealers that a new model would be introduced this year. What model that is and whether it will be built at Lansing Delta Township it remains to be seen.
Lansing Delta Township is GM’s newest assembly plant in the United States, having opened in 2006. Since then, the facility has built more than 2 million crossovers. Currently, the plant operates two shifts of vehicle production and employs approximately 2,600 people. Along with a nearby stamping plant that runs on three shifts, GM employs 2,900 people in Lansing.