The General Motors Lordstown plant in Ohio went idle after decades of production, but the automaker may have news to share about the facility in the next few weeks.
According to The Business Journal, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told media at a visit to the Mahoning Valley that “it’s clear” there’s something going on behind the scenes surrounding the Lordstown plant. He added his office is in touch with GM about twice a week to try and learn more about any possible deal to sell the plant to another company. DeWine said he assumes any deal involves another automaker, but he’s not certain.
The governor also said the last time he asked the automaker when the state would learn more (this past Sunday) GM said it’d have more to share in four to six weeks.
Governor DeWine has been adamant he wants the state to be involved as soon as possible with any potential buyer of the Lordstown plant to present incentives for another company. The earlier the state can show what it has to offer, the better, Governor DeWine said previously.
“The state is going to be actively involved to help, and we can’t help until someone says what help they need,” he said Tuesday.
The discussions around the Lordstown plant’s future seem to kill any idea of GM planning to allocate a new vehicle for the plant. Governor DeWine said that remains the ideal situation, but realistically, it doesn’t seem likely from what the automaker has told his administration. Production ended at the facility last Wednesday when the final Chevrolet Cruze left the assembly line. The car will stay local to Ohio after a buyer petitioned to purchase the car before it was shipped to Florida.
We may learn some news about the facility in the weeks to come, but the final say will come from United Auto Worker union and GM negotiations as the two hash out a new labor contract later this year.
Comments
As I have said there is more going on here than Oshawa.
PSA could be taking over the facility to re-enter North American market.
They had better first see if anything will sell here first. They really have little to offer unless they can win on price.
French cars here has a solid history of failure.
We do not need any more expensive to fix failures here.
GM/Ford Mega Deal!
Ford gets Lordstown to build FocusActives, EcoSports, Transit Connects & Future self driving vehicles.
GM gets
Ford’s truck factory in Brazil to build Silverados & Equinoxes for South America.
1(or more) of Ford’s European factories to build Cadillacs for Europe & Holdens for Australia
throw in five first round draft picks and $30 million dollars for patrick mahomes and we’ve got a deal!!!
Maybe they should build a Chevelle coupe there.
A Caprice/Impala replacement on Omega (with 2.7t to 6.6 v8) and a Cruze replacement on Alpha (1.6t to 5.3 V8) ……
Gm (government motors company) is junk! They took our tax money 3 times! I wish the company would become extinct! They only make junk!
I hate to say this, but after driving the Cruze and a few of its Japanese competitors it was easy to see why GM can’t sell them. The engine is horribly buzzy and sends vibrations throughout the entire car, through the seats, and right into the driver. The interior is also noisier than other compacts, with excessive road noise and exhaust drone.
GM clearly didn’t invest the necessary R&D on the Cruze. Now they, and their workers, are paying the price.
Don’t worry. The money GM is using to cheapen up their current products will lead to a really nice Cruise AV that nobody has any interest in.
Should have tried a Volt! Smooth and quiet as silk.