GM to Build Chevy Electric Vehicle at Orion Township, Michigan, Assembly Plant

GM to Build Chevy Electric Vehicle at Orion Township, Michigan, Assembly Plant

Among the factors influencing the decision to produce the new EV domestically, GM noted the Orion plant currently builds the Bolt EV, and the new Chevrolet EV will be based on an advanced version of the same vehicle architecture.

Chevrolet Bolt EV and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles are assembled at the General Motors assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan. (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for Chevrolet)

General Motors said it has decided to produce a new Chevrolet electric vehicle at its Orion Township, Michigan, assembly plant, shifting gears from its previous plans to build the EV outside the United States.

Among the factors influencing the decision to produce the new EV domestically, GM noted the Orion plant currently builds the Bolt EV, and the new Chevrolet EV will be based off an advanced version of the same vehicle architecture. The automaker also cited the rules-of-origin provisions in the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

GM noted its $300 million investment in the Orion plant will bring 400 new jobs to the facility.

In November, GM said production will be “unallocated” at five North American facilities that produce slow-selling internal combustion vehicles. In its most recent announcement, GM said it has job opportunities at its Orion plant and other U.S. manufacturing plants “for virtually all U.S. hourly employees impacted by the recent announcement of unallocated plants.”

“For the 2,800 impacted U.S. hourly employees at GM’s unallocated plants, GM has confirmed it has 2,700 openings across its U.S. manufacturing plants,” the automaker said in a March 22 news release. “To date, 1,100 employees have been placed at other GM plants, with several hundred more in the process of being placed in new jobs. In addition, 1,200 of these employees are retirement eligible.”

Other GM manufacturing plants adding jobs include Flint, Michigan; Spring Hill, Tennessee; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Arlington, Texas; and Toledo, Ohio, according to the automaker.

The Orion assembly plant currently builds the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Chevrolet Sonic and the Cruise AV test vehicles. The plant employs approximately 880 hourly and 130 salaried employees.

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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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