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Automotive Consumer
AUTOS: GM Boosting Production Of Equinox
Consumer demand for Chevrolet crossover has dealers crying for more.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted March 26, 2010   Oshawa, ON
Chevrolet Equinox is one of the 2011 midsize crossovers recalled by GM for possible seat-belt failures. (Photo: Chevrolet)
General Motors has a major hit on its hands and the automaker is increasing production to meet demand.

Dealers can’t keep the Chevrolet Equinox in stock, GM says, so it’s adding a third shift at its Oshawa, Ontario, Assembly Plant to complete more of them. That’s unprecedented, GM said, because the crossover and its sibling, GMC Terrain, are normally manufactured at GM’s CAMI Automotive plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.

Workers complete final assembly of a Chevy Equinox at the CAMI plant in Ontario. Strong sales of the crossover SUV helped lift GM's second-quarter results. (Photo: Chevrolet)
GM plans to expand CAMI’s Body shop to produce Equinox body assemblies beyond the factory’s overall capacity to build them, then ship them about 130 miles to Oshawa for completion alongside the plant’s current Chevrolet Impala production. Under the plan, CAMI could also increase GMC Terrain production.

The third shift at Oshawa will be added in October and is expected to recall about 600 idled workers to the plant. All of the laid off workers at CAMI be recalled, and the additional body shop volume should create about 70 new jobs by August, GM said.

“This plan for CAMI and Oshawa allows us to meet customer demand for hot products while avoiding a potential production over-capacity situation by creatively using our assets and facilities,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “This innovative approach enables us to ramp up in a timely and cost-effective way and highlights the importance of these plants and communities in our North American plans.”

Chevrolet and GMC dealers have complained that they can’t stock enough of the Equinox and Terrain crossovers for buyer demand.

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