Orion Assembly

Orion Assembly is a 4,300,000 square foot (400,000 m²) General Motors vehicle assembly plant located in Orion Township, Michigan. The plant currently assembles the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano. As of May 30, 2011 the plant employs 159 salaried employees and 1,300 hourly employees. It assumed operations of Buick City, and Pontiac Assembly.

History

Orion Assembly commenced production on December 1, 1983 with the 1985 model C-body cars. Orion Assembly produced the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 until 2009, when the plant was idled due to the General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization of 2009. Under an agreement with the UAW, the plant began assembling the successor to the South Korean-built Chevrolet Aveo, the Chevrolet Sonic, in 2011 — making it the only subcompact car currently assembled in America. Later in 2011, the plant began manufacturing the Buick Verano.

In the past, GM assembled subcompact vehicles in Mexico or in South Korea due to lower cost labor rates in those countries. Under the new agreement with the UAW, GM will use domestic laborers earning less than under previous contracts and slimmed down labor rules to make assembling subcompact vehicles in the US economically competitive. This arrangement replaced GM's previous plan to import a new subcompact vehicle from China. Orion township and the State of Michigan offered competitive tax breaks to keep the plant open and to build the new subcompact. Orion's bid was selected over others from plants in Wisconsin (Janesville Assembly), and Tennessee (Spring Hill Assembly).

Dedication ceremony

On July 5, 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave a ceremonial dedication speech at the plant. Also in attendance were Michigan Governor Jim Blanchard, Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Don Riegle, Representative (from the local district) William Broomfield and notable General Motors executives, including chairman and CEO Roger Smith.

During his speech, Reagan commended both GM and the United Auto Workers for their progress in the automotive industry.

Products Made

• Chevrolet Sonic (2011–Present)
• Buick Verano (2011–Present)

Past

• 2008–2010 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2005–2010 Pontiac G6
• 2000–2005 Buick LeSabre
• 2000–2003 Pontiac Bonneville
• 1995–2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
• 1995–1999 Buick Riviera
• 1991–2005 Buick Park Avenue
• 1985–1996 Oldsmobile 98
• 1985–1993 Cadillac DeVille
• 1985–1993 Cadillac Fleetwood/Sixty Special (FWD)
• 1985–1990 Buick Electra
• 1992-1999 Oldsmobile 88

See also

List of GM factories

References

• Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1984. Southfield, Michigan, United States: Ward's Communications. May 1984. ASIN B002LADYJG.
• "Orion Assembly". media.gm.com. General Motors Company. 2011-05-10. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02. Employee Information Hourly: 1300 Salaried: 159 Total: 1459
• "Orion Assembly Site". media.gm.com. General Motors Company. 2011-04-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02. Products: Retooling for launch of new products: Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano
• "GM Invests $145 Million for Small Cars at Orion Assembly" (Press release). General Motors Company. 2010-10-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02. General Motors will invest $145 million at the Orion Assembly Center, GM North American President Mark Reuss said today. Orion will be the home to Chevrolet's new small car and Buick's future compact sedan – the all-new Verano.
• Reagan, Ronald (1984-07-05). "Remarks at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Orion Township, Michigan". Archives. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-02. This plant is a result of the bold leadership of your industry and an admirable commitment to the future of America. And I think your plant symbolizes a new spirit of cooperation between management and labor.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

42.71719°N 83.26196°W / 42.71719; -83.26196