Lordstown Gets $50 Million Investment for Next-Gen Cruze

LORDSTOWN, OH--May 2, 2014: General Motors is investing $50 million for a new flexible Trim Shop and upgrades to the Press Room at the Lordstown Complex for the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan.

“This investment will enhance our customer responsiveness while providing our team with the tools and processes needed to be the best at building the next generation Cruze,” said Lordstown Plant Manager Bob Parcell.

Some construction work has begun at the complex. Chevrolet will announce timing of the next generation Cruze later.

Separately, UAW Locals 1112 and 1714 announced they are purchasing the 1 millionth Cruze, which was built at Lordstown on April 10. The milestone Cruze, a hot red LT model with the RS package, will be raffled to a Lordstown employee with all ticket proceeds donated to local charities.

“We want to thank our team members at Lordstown for their dedication and commitment to Cruze and we want to thank our million plus customers across North America and our Chevrolet dealers for their support and enthusiasm for this great car,” said UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson and UAW Local 1714 President Robert Morales in a joint statement.

The Chevrolet Cruze for North America was launched at Lordstown September 8, 2010. Since then, Cruze has become GM’s best-selling car and was the seventh best-selling car in the U.S. through March this year.

In 2013, Lordstown launched the all-new Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, which offers the best highway mileage of any gas only or diesel engine in America and was recently named by diesel enthusiasts as the Diesel Car of the Year for 2013.

Since 2009, GM has invested approximately $250 million at Lordstown. The complex has built more than 15 million vehicles since opening in April 1966.