GM Wentzville Assembly Plant Adds Third Shift For 2015 Colorado, 2015 Canyon
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When GM announced plans to bring all-new midsize pickups to market, many analysts wondered why the automaker would invest in a shrinking segment. Indeed, annual midsize truck sales have shrunk to volumes that make profits hard to come by. But GM stuck with its three-truck strategy for both Chevy and GMC, and early signs show that the decision seems to be paying off. That’s because, in response to really high, early demand for its 2015 Colorado and 2015 Canyon, GM will add a third shift at its Wentzville Assembly plant to throttle production of the new midsize pickup trucks. This early production increase is either a gamble by The General on behalf of its dealers, or a greater sign of things to come. Either way, it is a good thing for GM.
The additional shift at Wentzville will bring 750 jobs to the area and caps a total investment of $513 million from GM, which was spent on launching production of both trucks as well as adding a third stamping plant.
While GM plans on bringing the third shift on in early 2015, the trucks should arrive at dealer lots before then. Early dealer orders of nearly 30,000 2015 Chevy Colorado pickups are expected to begin production at the end of September. But it is important to note that dealer orders are still not direct customer sales. However, it’s likely that customers have already been calling dealers for availability, and dealers have ordered according to customer demand.
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Still waiting for them to hit the dealer lot so I can take one for a spin. I’m hoping the Colorado will live up to my expectations so I can make it mine.
The segment is much more popular outside of North America, particularly in Australia where all the mid-size truck offerings are selling very well. Sadly GM is giving Holden the global Colorado model which is very inferior to the North American version and doesn’t really do anything better than the competition. GM could benefit from building the North American version (Both Chevy and the GMC Canyon) in Right Hand Drive and exporting them to Australia as a new model of the Colorado. The added features that the NA Colorado has would put it ahead of the competition and the additional features found in the GMC Canyon would suit the high price of mid-size trucks in Australia. If GM really wants Holden to survive the closure of local manufacturing and be the No.1 brand by 2020, they really need to do this among other things.
Give them time and you may just get them. Hell we don’t have them here yet ourselves. Let GM at least release them and then just see what they do with them before you complain too much.
As far as we know this could be the 2nd gen for you in a year or so.