The GM Detroit-Hamtramck facility – also referred to as D-HAM Assembly or the controversial Poletown Plant – built over 4 million vehicles from 1985 through 2020. Notably, current GM CEO Mary Barra was once the plant manager of D-Ham.
Currently, the site is being rebuilt as GM’s Factory ZERO plant, which will be the launchpad for GM’s multi-brand EV strategy. Notably, the name ‘Factory ZERO’ is a reflection of the advancement towards GM’s zero-crashes, zero-emissions and zero-congestion future.
The General is managing to go forth with its retooling of the assembly plant despite complications brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The restructuring is expected to cost $2.2 billion, which is part of the revised tax credit agreement with the state of Michigan wherein the automaker will invest $3.5 billion in its various operations in the state over the next 10 years. The agreement also stipulates that the automaker’s tax incentives will be cut by 75 percent if its workforce drops below 34,750, but above 27,875 employees.
General Information | |
---|---|
Year opened: | 1985 |
Facility size: | 4.1 million square feet |
Location: | 2500 East Grand Boulevard |
Detroit, Michigan – 48211 – United States | |
Employee information | |
Hourly: | 205 |
Salaried: | 157 |
Total: | 362 |
Union local: | UAW Local 22 |
While officially located in Detroit, Michigan, the plant’s footprint spans two U.S. cities, technically speaking — Detroit and Hamtramck, and the only GM facility to do so. Adding to its significance is the fact that it will be GM’s first EV-exclusive assembly plant.
Products
In the final years leading up to the introduction of Factory ZERO, D-HAM produced the Chevrolet Impala and Chevy Volt, Cadillac CT6, and Buick LaCrosse, all of which have been discontinued.
With four vehicles built on a single production line, Detroit-Hamtramck was one of the most complex manufacturing assembly facilities in North America. Fittingly, the transition to Factory ZERO should compound this facet exponentially.
Below is a listing of every vehicle ever produced at D-HAM by model year:
- Third-generation Buick LaCrosse (2017-2019)
- First-generation Cadillac CT6 (2016-2020)
- Tenth-generation Chevrolet Impala (2014-2020)
- Second-generation Chevrolet Volt (2011-2019)
- Cadillac Eldorado (1986-2000)
- Cadillac Seville (1986-2004)
- Cadillac Allante (1987-1993)
- Buick Riviera (1988-1993)
- Oldsmobile Toronado/Toronado Trofeo (1988-1991)
- Cadillac Deville (1994-2005)
- Buick LeSabre (2000-2005)
- Pontiac Bonneville (2004-2005)
- Buick Lucerne (2006-2011)
- Cadillac DTS (2006-2011)
- Opel Ampera (2012-2015)
- Vauxhall Ampera (2012-2015)
- Holden Volt (2013-2015)
- Chevrolet Malibu (2013-2015)
- Cadillac ELR (2013-2016)
History & Statistics
Origin
A bit of the controversy that surrounds the origin of GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. As we’ve reported, GM proposed a new plant that sat at the edge of Hamtramck and Detroit back in the 1980s, when Detroit was desperate for economic development. However, the proposed 300-acre plot of land, known as Poletown, was already occupied by a small community of approximately 1,500 homes, over 125 businesses, and over 15 churches.
Government officials used Michigan’s highly controversial eminent domain powers to seize the land from its owners and gift it to the automaker. A civil case was eventually taken to the Michigan Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the City of Detroit. According to Mika Meyer PLC, the court found that the City of Detroit was “constitutionally authorized to exercise its eminent domain powers in such a way that condemned private property could be transferred to another private party (General Motors) for the purpose of constructing a privately owned automobile assembly plant on the property. The Poletown Court held that this was a proper public use for which the City’s eminent domain powers could be exercised because the proposed automotive assembly plant would provide a generalized economic benefit to the City and thus serve the public health, safety and welfare.” The outlet also notes that the Poletown decision was eventually overruled in the Wayne County v Hathcock case in July 2004.
Investments
- December 2009: $336 million for Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera production
- April 2010: $121 million for Chevrolet Malibu
- May 2011: $69 million for Chevrolet Impala
- December 2013: $121 million for Logistics Center
- April 2014: $384 million for second-generation 2016 Chevrolet Volt, 2016 Cadillac CT6 and more
- January 2020: $2.2 billion planned for Factory ZERO retooling
State Economic Impact
- State Wages: $38,977,768.43 (2020)
- Income Tax: $7,714,695.69 (2020)
Milestones, Accomplishments & Awards
- Named a 2014 Michigan Environmental Leader by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for outstanding voluntary environmental stewardship
- One of several GM facilities to earn EPA’s Energy Star Challenge for Industry in 2013 and 2014
- 2014 Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Award recipient for improving environmental awareness and the quality of life in the community by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
- Michigan Clean Corporate Citizen Award four years running (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) for exemplary environmental performance and stewardship
Plant Green Initiative
The D-Ham plant participated in various environmentally-friendly initiatives and objectives, including:
- Creating a 16.5-acre wildlife habitat conservation area
- Received recognition and certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC)
- Building a 30kW solar carport located in the visitor’s parking lot
- Capable of simultaneously charging up to 10 electric vehicles
- Recycling roughly 70 thousand wood pallets and 609 tons of cardboard annually
- Housing Michigan’s largest ground-mounted solar array for generating 516 kW
- Developed in partnership with a local utility company
- 6.06 acres in size
- Capable of providing 10 percent of the plant’s fixed energy demand
Causing no damage to the plant. Most of the facility is operational again. Detroit-Hamtramck - Michigan - USA News
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