GM Approves New Saturn to be Produced at Wilmington Plant

08/08/96

Reuters reported that GM's new business plan, announced on Tuesday, included plans for a larger Saturn. The new mid-sized car, dubbed the Saturn Innovate, will join three other models: the SC coupe, SL sedan and SW wagon. Saturn has been a hit with American buyers since it first introduced cars in 1990.

Saturn president Don Hudler said, "The new product has been developed in response to numerous Saturn owner requests for a larger vehicle. The design has been reviewed with hundreds of Saturn owners and very well received." Hudler continued, "Although some existing European component designs will he leveraged, the new Saturn is a totally unique Saturn design with Saturn cues. This project was guided by the same engineers who have guided Saturn for the past decade."

In a joint statement with the UAW, GM announced that the Innovate will be built by workers at the corporation's Wilmington, Del., plant. The decision to build the car in Wilmington reverses a decision GM made earlier to close the plant, which employs about 2,600 hourly workers.

Richard Shoemaker, vice president of UAW International and director of the UAW's GM Department said, "We are pleased with GM's decision to place the new generation of Saturn in the Wilmington plant. This is good news for the 2,600 members in Local 435 and the Wilmington community, since this product allocation reverses GM's decision to cease operations at the plant and means good paying union jobs and job security for UAW members well into the 21st century."

A globally-developed 2.2-liter, dual overhead cam engine, produced at the GM Powertrain Group's Tonawanda, NY, engine plant will power the new Saturn, along with engine, blocks and heads produced at GM's Massena, NY, facilities. "The announcement of this important new product for the Tonawanda and Massena plants is significant as it will enhance the job security of UAW members at Local 774 and Local 465," Shoemaker stated.

GM and the UAW are currently engaged in what are expected to be contentious talks for a new three-year contract.

GM was not specific about production schedules for the Innovate. The Wilmington plant has been used to build the slow-selling Chevrolet Corsica and Beretta small cars, which will end on Friday. After a model changeover, GM will begin to produce the new Chevrolet Malibu at Wilmington in the first quarter of 1997 to supplement Malibu production at GM's Oklahoma City plant. Sometime after that, the Innovate will be the only car produced at Wilmington, said GM spokesman Gerry Holmes.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel