World News – CA – GM and Unifor agree to bring truck assembly back to Oshawa, Ontario plant

Full-size pickup production will return to General Motor’s Oshawa assembly plant in southern Ontario, according to a statement from the automaker this morning, though details are still rare

« Subject to the ratification of our 2020 agreement with Unifor, General Motors plans to return pickup truck production to the Oshawa Assembly Plant, » said Scott Bell, president and CEO of GM Canada.

Bell also spoke of additional investments at St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Center

New investments planned by GM will include the pipeline of $ 1 billion to $ 1 billion to the Oshawa Assembly, with the expected hiring of 1,400 to 1,700 hourly workers Construction will begin immediately at the Assembly of Oshawa and will include a new body shop as well as a flexible assembly module Production is expected to start in January 2022

There is also just over $ 100 million allocated to the St. Catharines propulsion plant to support increased production of engines and transmissions (mainly gearboxes for the Chevrolet Equinox and Corvette) A nominal amount was also announced for operations at the Woodstock parts distribution center

If that sounds like a familiar refrain, treat yourself to a Gold Star In 2017, the Oshawa Assembly Plant was retooled to build the previous generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as shown the main photo They pulled off this feat in about six months, so a quick move from ad to production isn’t without precedent.

According to a GM Canada fact sheet, the company currently employs more than 5,300 people across the country, not to mention the more than 20,000 hard-working employees at GM dealerships There are also just under 1,000 people in Oshawa OnStar and in customer contact centers

Little is said about the transition plan put in place when Impala production was halted in Oshawa At the time, a $ 170 million plan was presented that included paid retraining and retirement programs A new 55-acre advanced technology track was also announced at the time, intended to test autonomous vehicles and other Jetsons-grade vehicles.

General Motors, Unifor, GM Canada, GM Oshawa Car Assembly, Automotive Industry