General Motors Will Create 1,000 New Jobs in North Carolina As Part of New OnStar Facility
17 December 1999
General Motors Will Create 1,000 New Jobs in North Carolina As Part of New OnStar Facility
New Call Center for OnStar, GM's Leading Edge Automotive
Safety/Security Technology, as Well as New Parts Distribution Center,
Recognize North Carolina's Growing Role as a Technology and Business Center
RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 16 -- Gov. Jim Hunt and General Motors
Corporation today announced the creation of 1,000 new jobs in North Carolina
to staff a call center operation for OnStar, the leading in-vehicle safety,
security, and information service.
The new facility in Charlotte will serve OnStar subscribers in the United
States and Canada and will begin operation in the spring of 2000. Initial
employment is expected to be about 200 advisors, and the OnStar Center will be
fully staffed by the end of the year.
OnStar uses Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology and
wireless communication to link the driver and the vehicle to the OnStar
Center, where Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer
real-time, personalized help.
"GM knows North Carolina, and its decision to expand here is a great
example of the strong business reputation for which our state is known,"
Gov. Hunt said. "GM is seeking a quality workforce, and our citizens are
eager for high-tech jobs with a future. It's a perfect match."
"We are pleased to announce that our first OnStar Center outside Michigan
will be located in North Carolina," said Chet Huber, general manager, OnStar.
"Our research revealed that this area offers the skilled workforce and
positive operating environment required to deliver the quality of service our
subscribers demand."
OnStar's customer base will experience rapid growth from the current level
of 100,000 subscribers to nearly one million by the end of next year. GM
recently announced that OnStar service is standard on selected cars and trucks
for the 2000 model year.
OnStar safety and security services include automatic notification of
airbag deployment, emergency services, stolen vehicle tracking, remote door
unlock, remote vehicle diagnostics, and roadside assistance. Convenience
services offer everything from finding ATM locations and route assistance to
arranging hotel and restaurant reservations.
OnStar's commitment to North Carolina is the latest in a string of recent
moves increasing GM's presence in the state. In August, GM opened a new
352,000-square-foot parts distribution center at 10815 Quality Drive in
Charlotte employing about 145 hourly and 22 salaried employees. The center's
lean warehousing methods allow GM to stock, track, and ship more than 70,000
different types of parts quickly and efficiently. Each day the center fills
orders for 22,500 lines or part numbers for delivery to 640 dealerships across
the Southeastern United States.
"GM Service Parts Operations is very pleased to be part of the Charlotte
community," said Raymond Kenny, manager of the SPO Charlotte parts
distribution center. "Our decision to locate our PDC in Charlotte was the
result of a comprehensive logistics study. The review indicated Charlotte's
strategic location was ideal to service GM dealerships in the Southeastern
United States. In addition, this new PDC is part of our efforts to be common,
lean and fast to market. We also believe the Charlotte area is an excellent
place for our employees to live and work, and we're proud to be members of the
community."
Previously, GM's most notable commitment to North Carolina was the
decision by Saturn Corporation in 1998 to locate the headquarters of its
Saturn Retail Enterprises subsidiary in Charlotte. Saturn Retail Enterprises,
which is scheduled to become a separate and independent company in the near
future, operates or helps to operate 44 Saturn retail facilities in 13 states.
David Collins, vice president and general counsel of Saturn Retail
Enterprises, said, "We appreciate the cooperative spirit that North Carolina's
political leadership has demonstrated. Saturn Retail Enterprises early on
recognized North Carolina's commitment to a healthy business climate and the
quality of life advantages the state offers for a company's employees.
Charlotte is proving to be an ideal location for our growing company to put
down its roots. It doesn't surprise us at all that our friends from OnStar
and GM Service Parts Operations have also come to recognize North Carolina's
attractions."
News Media Contacts:
For OnStar For GM SPO PDC -
Todd Carstensen Kathy Bommarito
(248) 588-2844 (810) 606-3104
tcarstensen@onstar.com kathy.bommarito@gm.com