GM Oshawa to build new Buick Regal
Posted By NICOLE RIVA , EXAMINER CITY EDITOR
Posted 2 months ago
Employees at the General Motors plant in Oshawa received a welcome dose of good news yesterday when GM announced that production of the new Buick Regal will begin at the plant in 2011.
"We haven't had good news in the auto industry in quite some time," said Canadian Auto Workers Local 222 president Chris Buckley.
The Buick Regal is based on the 2009 European Car of the Year Opel Insignia and is part of the renaissance for the Buick brand, said GM spokeswoman Adria MacKenzie, which started with the crossover Enclave and the Lacrosse.
The sport sedan features a sleek design with an interactive drive, MacKenzie said.
"It's a complete overhaul and it's been receiving positive reviews," she said.
Along with positive reviews, sales have been strong in China and Europe where the Insignia is sold. European sales are expected to top 150,000 in 2009, MacKenzie said.
This announcement is part of the agreement GM made to workers and the federal and provincial governments last year, she said.
Buckley said this is proof of the commitment GM made to workers at CAW Local 22 to have more vehicles at the plant.
MacKenzie wasn't sure what the announcement would mean for employment numbers, but Buckley took it as a step in the right direction.
The new vehicle will not only give a sense of security for GM workers, but allows the possibility for the recall of some of the nearly 1,200 workers currently laid off, Buckley said.
When production on the Regal starts, Buckley estimated 600 people could be recalled.
Oshawa Mayor John Gray called the Regal announcement welcome news for a motor city hit hard by the economic slowdown.
"As GM continues to tool up the plant obviously there will be a ramp up in activity associated with that so it's all good news," Gray said. "There are a number of people who have been off on layoff who now have some hope of going back to work ... it really cements the fact that we produce good vehicles in Oshawa."
This announcement comes on the heels of what Buckley described as one of the worst times in the history of the auto industry.
"(This shows) GM is on the rebound, and indicated last week that it will soon be able to repay the loans," he said. "Hopefully people will feel more comfortable about GM and go out and purchase our vehicles.
"GM has a great lineup heading into the future."
The best move for GM, Buckley said, is to continue to invest in the Canadian plants and in Oshawa.
Four of GM's top five vehicles are built in Canada, the Camaro, Impala, Equinox and the Terrain (the latter two are built at GM's CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ont.), Buckley said, and if the Oshawa truck plant wasn't closed a year ago, Canada would have built all five, including the Silverado.
"We have proven that if given the investment we'll build products better than everybody in the industry," he said.
GM's Oshawa plant currently employs about 3,400 people, Buckley said, building the Impala and the Camaro. The Regal will be built on the plant's flexible production line, where the Camaro is also built. Production of the Camaro began earlier this year at GM Oshawa.
The Impala is built on the steady production line and has been the mainstay of GM Oshawa car production for many years.
NOTE:Production on the new Chevrolet Camaro is being well received, GM spokeswoman Adria MacKenzie said, with straight Saturday overtime being worked to keep up with demand.
-- with files from Don Peat, Sun Media
nriva@peterboroughexaminer.com
