SUV production solidifies future for Oklahoma City plant

June 18, 2002 Oklahoma City AP reports that the outgoing manager of a General Motors plant drove a white GMC Envoy XL off the assembly line here Monday as the company announced completion of a $750 million project to convert the factory from production of passenger cars to mid-size SUVs.

"The investment secured the future of our employees for years to come," said Russ Youngs, who is retiring as assembly plant manager. "It assured everyone that GM will remain a significant presence in this community."

The Oklahoma City plant had manufactured the Chevrolet Malibu before production of that model ended in May 2001.

The plant will now turn out 3,000 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT vehicles per week as GM tries to increase its share of the emerging SUV market.

General Motors vice president Guy Briggs said the company has received positive feedback on both vehicles.

"The demand has been very strong," Briggs said of customer sentiment toward the two SUVs. "This is really a great day for our company and Oklahoma City."

Youngs, who will retire at the end of June, said that if customer tastes should shift away from SUVs, the plant has the ability to make other types of vehicles.

"This plant has an awful lot of upside potential," he said. "We have the flexibility and the capability of building a wide variety of mid-sized trucks."

Incoming assembly plant manager Tyree Minner said the plant will also work on development of other types of vehicles.

"Later on in the year we'll start building some more prototypes of vehicles," Minner said. "That way we'll secure our future and increase our product portfolio."