11-09-2004: GM Fort Wayne Assembly Builds 4 Millionth Vehicle

FT. WAYNE, Ind. - Employees at the General Motors Ft. Wayne Assembly plant today built the 4 millionth vehicle since the facility broke ground in 1984. The plant produces a wide variety of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups.

"This is a significant achievement," said Cathy Clegg, Plant Manager. "It highlights the productivity of our employees, as well as their commitment to building quality in every vehicle-whether it's our first, or our 4 millionth."

Dan Dressler, a 26-year employee, was chosen by his peers for the honor of driving the milestone vehicle off the assembly line and through a special ceremonial banner.

"Producing four million of anything is quite an accomplishment," said Don Swegman, president of UAW Local 2209, which represents hourly workers at the plant. "But building 4 million high-quality pickup trucks is truly amazing. It could not have been done without the highly skilled and dedicated workforce here at Ft. Wayne Assembly."

Ft. Wayne Assembly is among the most productive full-size pickup truck plants in North America. It ranked second in the 2003 Harbour Report, which measures productivity performances - plant-by-plant, and company-by-company - for automotive manufacturers in North America.

Ft. Wayne Assembly built its first vehicles, the Chevrolet C/K and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks, in 1986. Due to strong demand, the plant added a second shift of production in 1987. Today, the plant operates two production shifts and three maintenance shifts, with a total of approximately 3,000 people. Nearly 267,000 vehicles were produced at Ft. Wayne Assembly in 2003.

The plant is also the home of the world's first full-size hybrid pickup trucks. The hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra deliver 10 to 12 percent improved fuel economy with no compromise in performance or utility. In addition, the hybrids feature four 120-volt, 20 amp electrical auxiliary outlets that can accommodate up to four accessories while driving or when parked. The truck can power tools or appliances for up to 32 hours non-stop.

Dennis Funk, UAW Local 2209 shop chairman is proud of the plant's many accomplishments. "We are looking forward to building the eight millionth world class high-quality truck," he said.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs about 325,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly 8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's corporate website at www.gm.com.