General Motors has announced plans to invest $380 million in its Wentzville, MO plant for production of an all-new Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup, and to start a second van production shift, adding a total of 1,660 jobs.
GM plans to produce a completely redesigned, mid-size Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck in Wentzville, creating at least 1,260 jobs at the factory. The automaker also will begin a second shift of 400 workers on production of its current products, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna vans, in January 2012 to meet market demand.
In total, these expansions will boost GM’s Wentzville work force from 1,400 employees to at least 3,060 once the Colorado comes online. The investments will support tooling and equipment upgrades. The current-generation Colorado will be produced in Shreveport, LA, through the 2012 model year.
Gov. Jay Nixon, Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi and several GM executives and union leaders, including Cathy Clegg, GM’s vice president for manufacturing and labor were in attendance when the announcement was made.
