Fairfax Kansas Assembly Plant Gets $20 Million Infusion from GM

KANSAS CITY, KN--June 13, 2011: General Motors will invest $20 million in machinery and equipment for its Fairfax Assembly plant to add future technologies and improvements to the Buick LaCrosse including eAssist, a light electrification technology that will boost highway fuel economy by 25 percent over the current model.  

"The LaCrosse has been critical to the resurgence of Buick, bringing many new customers to Buick showrooms," said GM Manufacturing Manager Jim Glynn. "This investment to improve an already strong car will help us continue winning converts to the brand."  

The Fairfax announcement is part of the $2 billion in U.S. investment that GM announced for 17 facilities in eight states on May 10.  Facilities in Bowling Green, Ky.; Arlington, Tex.; Toledo and Defiance, Ohio; Bedford, Ind., and Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Lansing and Warren, Mich., also received investments that will positively impact employment.  This builds on the $3.4 billion invested and 9,000 jobs created or retained in the United States since mid-2009.  

The Fairfax investment is primarily for manufacturing machinery, equipment and special tooling for the current facility. The plant, which opened in 1987, is home to the LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Malibu.  With more than 3,900 employees, the Fairfax plant is the largest employer in the Kansas City Metro area.  The plant operates on three shifts and in 2010 produced 320,000 Malibus and LaCrosses.   

"We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from the Kansas City community over the years," Glynn said. "This investment is possible because of the teamwork between GM, the UAW, the Kansas City, Kansas community and the great State of Kansas."  

Joe Ashton, UAW Vice President-GM Department, added:  "The UAW realizes the importance of investments that provide our members with the tools they need to compete.  Today's investment in the Fairfax plant not only upgrades the facility, it provides our members of UAW Local 31 with a chance to succeed in a very competitive segment of today's U.S. auto industry.  I am confident that our members will continue to build high-quality, affordable cars for our customers."