GM slipped one past us with their latest press release: in announcing that the 2011 Buick Regal is to be built at the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant starting Q1 2011, The General also unveiled plans to begin production of the Camaro Convertible at the same plant and at the same time.

Last we’ve heard, the Camaro ‘vert was undergoing testing in Australia – that’s when an eagle-eyed enthusiast spotted these pre-production models. The fact that the Zeta-based convertible will only begin production in the first quarter of 2011 means we’ll have to wait at least one year until we can get our hands on the drop-top muscle car.

And for those following the production side of things, the Oshawa plant already builds the hard-top Camaro as well as the Chevrolet Impala. The Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain compact CUVs are built at the Ingersoll (Ontario, Canada) plant by CAW local 88. Thanks for the tip, Jeff!

2007 Chevrolet Convertible Concept

2007 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept

Check out GM’s press release after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE

2011 Buick Regal to be built at the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant

11-25-2009

Oshawa, ON — North American production of the all-new 2011 Buick Regal was today confirmed for the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011. The new 2011 Regal is a midsize sport sedan based on the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 “European Car of the Year” – and it brings all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the North American market.

“The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers,” says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada.  “Combining Buick’s top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant’s long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers’ highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan.”
Production of the new Buick Regal is the latest in a string of positive news for GM manufacturing in Canada including:

• Oshawa Car Plant running maximum overtime since June 2009 that will continue into the new year to keep up with demand for the Chevrolet Camaro
• Production of the Camaro Convertible in Oshawa beginning in Q1 2011
• The recent addition of a 3 rd shift plus scheduled overtime at CAMI Automotive to keep up with strong demand for the all-new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain
• The investment of $C90 million in CAMI Automotive which will add an additional 40,000 units of capacity to current production and result in full employment at CAMI
• The introduction of flexible transmission production at GM Canada’s St. Catharines facility beginning with assembly of the fuel-efficient 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmission

The new Buick Regal joins the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox and the GMC Terrain as the third new vehicle in the production commitment that was part of the agreement with the Canadian and Ontario Governments.