The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2021 GMC Yukon have begun rolling off the assembly line at the Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, according to sources familiar with General Motors‘ production timeline.
GM Authority received word that both the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon had entered production following a two-month plant shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, only short-wheelbase models are being built, with the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL set to enter production at a later date. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV have also yet to enter production and will begin rolling off the assembly line in Arlington later this summer.
GM began retooling the Arlington Assembly plant to produce the next-generation of its full-size SUV lineup in early May after production of the previous-generation Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade had concluded. While many automotive plants in the United States closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 23rd, Arlington remained open to complete production of the outgoing line of SUVs. GM is eager to ensure the full-size SUVs launch on-time, as the vehicles are some of its most popular and profit-heavy products.
UAW Local 276 Shop Chairman Kenny Hines raised the alarm bells over GM’s return to work at Arlington Assembly earlier this month after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19. Hines said previously that he would like to see GM idle the plant and wait for the amount of COVID-19 cases in the Dallas area to taper off, but GM decided to keep the plant open. There have not been any other reported cases of COVID-19 at Arlington Assembly since that employee tested positive the week of June 5th.
Interior of GM’s Arlington plant
The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon should begin to arrive at GM dealerships shortly, followed by the Suburban, Yukon XL, Escalade and Escalade ESV sometime after. Customers interested in the newly offered Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0L LM2 I-6 engine will also have to wait a while more.
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Comments
Finally! I’m ready to see and drive one at the dealership. Really need to evaluate if I like the new Denali dash vs. Chevy dash. Then I’ll be able to place my order with the diesel!
Now, with Texas CV-19 cases spiking – I hope the plant does not shut again!
Did you read the actual article? It explicitly stated that that plant never shut down! Jeeze
Really lookijg forward to seeing the escalade esv
Anyone else out there tired of the COVID-19 pandemic?? I really don’t see how idling a plant, where conditions can be controlled, until the number of cases diminish in a huge city makes no sense at all. The world simply cannot stop until this virus is gone. Most of the new cases of the virus are in young people, have not been as severe, and have not increased the number of hospital admissions.
Back to the ’21 Tahoes and Yukons, I am eager to see one that I can get into and drive. Saw it in February at an auto show, but it was strictly hands off. Great looking vehicle inside and out!
I wonder what “should begin to arrive at GM dealerships shortly” means. Few weeks, a month, couple months?
It’s About time…
fantastic…
My niece has a special needs daughter who has to travels with special things (wheelchair). She keeps her ’98 Tahoe because it has the “barn doors” in the back. Plus this vehicle has more storage space than the new ones. She measured and checked. She intends to keep what she has because the newer ones just do not help with her.