Lansing - Eleven years and a half-billion dollars in investments later, General Motors Corp. opened its new Lansing Grand River Assembly plant Wednesday.
The $559 million, 1.9-million-square-foot plant builds the new Cadillac CTS and will eventually build other GM luxury vehicles.
Bob Anderson, plant manager, said the plant currently has 750 employees, but at full staff will employ 1,500.
“We know that our competition is formidable, but this plant is ready and these people are ready to take on that competition,” he said.
The plant, located on 82.5 acres, was built on the site of 19 demolished buildings among the original Oldsmobile assembly plant complex.
Construction on the plant began in 1999, making it the newest GM plant in the United States since 1986.
Lansing Mayor David Hollister, who was given the first car produced in the plant as a gift from the city, said Mid-Michigan has a lot to offer the automaker.
“Lansing and Michigan are proud to win in the international contest to win GM,” he said.
The plant had been courted by various cities before Lansing won it.
Richard Wagoner, president and chief executive officer of GM, said this plant is the leader among all previously-built plants.
“We can make each facility the best it can be by taking the knowledge from all our other plants around the world,” he told the audience. “(And) in this community your experience building dates back more than 100 years.”
Gov. John Engler said 31,000 jobs were dependent on whether the plant was built.
And the plant already has brought in other businesses that supply services and parts to the auto manufacturer, Engler said.
“It is really putting American-made work in the spotlight,” he said. “And it is really important for the image of Michigan.”
Larry Krueger, an engineer for the plant, said teamwork is the motto for the employees.
He said everyone pitches in and helps and there is a sense of accomplishment for employees.
Richard Ludwig, also an engineer, said it is the start of a new beginning. Ludwig said he has been in plants all over the world but this one is different.
“There is an old (saying), that is ‘What is good for GM is good for the country,’” he said. “And that is starting to come true again.”
