GM to add 800 jobs with third shift at Arlington SUV plant
General Motors will introduce a third shift at its Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, creating 800 jobs to meet demand for full-size SUVs including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade.
General Motors will add 800 jobs at its Arlington Assembly plant in Texas as it prepares to launch a third shift in early 2013. The move is aimed at meeting steady demand for the company’s full-size SUVs, which include the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade.
The new shift will begin operations in the first quarter of 2013, but the company will start hiring additional staff in the fourth quarter of 2012. GM said the expansion is necessary to keep up with market demand for its large SUVs, a segment where the Arlington plant is a key supplier for North America.
SUV demand drives Arlington expansion
Sales figures for the first five months of 2012 show why GM is increasing production. The Chevrolet Tahoe saw a 21.8% rise in sales, while the Suburban climbed 15.8% compared to the same period in 2011. The Escalade ESV also grew by 9.3%. However, the standard GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade fell by 6% and 10.5% respectively, indicating a mixed picture within the segment. Even so, overall demand for the Arlington-built models remains strong enough to justify the third shift.
Investment and local impact
Within the previous 13 months, GM had already invested $531 million in the Arlington facility, creating or retaining more than 1,000 jobs. The new third shift takes the total number of new or preserved jobs at the site even higher, providing a boost to the local economy and reinforcing the plant’s role in GM’s US manufacturing network.
For workers in Arlington and the surrounding area, the additional shift means new employment opportunities at a time when many manufacturers are still cautious about expanding capacity. The United Auto Workers union credited plant employees for delivering quality and flexibility, which helped secure the extra shift.
Arlington’s role in GM’s SUV strategy
The third shift is scheduled to begin in early 2013, with hiring set to start before the end of 2012. GM’s move at Arlington signals confidence in the ongoing demand for full-size SUVs in the US market.
