GM to accelerate the production of full-size trucks at the Oshawa Assembly plant
by CM Staff
Oshawa's plant launch is 6 to 12 months faster than they would normally plan for.
A 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD being built Thursday, January 24, 2019 at General Motors Flint Assembly in Flint, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)
On May 5, GM announced that working with the Ontario government and Unifor partners, they are accelerating the start of production of full-size trucks at the Oshawa Assembly plant to the fourth quarter of this year ahead of the previous target of January 2022. Oshawa Assembly is on track to deliver one of the fastest plant launches in GM history. This C$1.3B investment will create nearly 1,700 new jobs and indirect supplier jobs to aid in Canada’s pandemic recovery.
Scott Bell, GM Canada President and Managing Director said “Working with the Canadian government and our Unifor partners, GM is pulling ahead truck production at Oshawa Assembly to Q4 of 2021, ahead of the previous target of January 2022. Oshawa has a long history of innovation, speed and launch excellence and is on track to deliver one of the fastest plant launches in GM history.”
As part of the C$1.3 billion investment to prepare Oshawa for truck production, the team is:
- Installing a new body shop, big enough to occupy the equivalent to 13 acres
- Installing more than 1,200 new robots, covering 30 acres of automation
- Installing 3,150 metres of new conveyors, and 500 kilometres of electrical wiring
Oshawa is currently hiring nearly 1,700 people to staff two shifts of production, including: 110 electricians, 60 millwrights and 1,500 production workers. These are permanent full-time positions eligible for pay and benefits in accordance the GM-Unifor collective agreement. Between wages, benefits, insurances, pension, shift and overtime premiums, the total compensation package for Skilled Trades purportedly has the potential to exceed C$100,000 per year.
Oshawa’s plant launch is 6 to 12 months faster than they would normally plan for.
When asked if the semiconductor shortage would affect the types of trucks or work being done at the plant, a GM spokesperson said, “We have been leveraging every available semiconductor to build and ship our most popular and in-demand products – including full-sized trucks and SUVs and do not expect the semiconductor shortage to impact launch timing.”
