Another car for Lordstown, another reason for pride

The workers and management at the General Motors complex at Lordstown have had reason to be proud of the success of the plant's new product, the Chevrolet Cobalt, which replaced the long-running J-cars.
That justifiable pride has now brought the plant and its employees a material reward with the announcement that a new Pontiac model built on the Cobalt frame will be produced at Lordstown for the U.S. market.
The plant has been producing a relatively small number of Pontiac vehicles, but only for sale in Canada and Mexico.
The new Pontiac G5 will give domestic dealers an entry-level vehicle to replace the J-car Pontiac Sunfire.
Vote of confidence
Scheduling the new Pontiac for production on the Lordstown line is a recognition by General Motors that the local plant is not only capable of producing a successful Chevrolet, but also a second product. Actually it is arguably a third or fourth product, given the Canadian and Mexican versions, but the projected numbers for the G5 are about twice those for the Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada.
At an expected 25,000 to 30,000 cars in its first year run, the G5 could add nearly 10 percent to the Lordstown plant's output, which was just over 300,000 cars in 2005.
It is also interesting to note that General Motors is saying the new G5 will sell for less than $15,000. That means there will be virtually no change in the sticker price of a G5 compared to a Pontiac Sunfire coming off the assembly line in 2000.
To be able to produce a larger, more sophisticated car and market it for the same price seven model-years later is an impressive accomplishment.
Important market
The old Sunfire reached a desirable demographic for an automobile company. About 60 percent of the retail buyers were women and most buyers of the coupes were single and between the ages of 21 and 34 years old. The G5, which will be built only as a coupe, will help Pontiac draw new customers into the showroom and build brand loyalty.
The importance of General Motors to the Mahoning Valley economy can't be overstated. About 5,000 hourly workers, members of United Auto Workers Locals 1112 and 1714, are employed at the assembly plant and fabricating plant. Thousands more work for area suppliers of parts and services to the plants.
Pontiac's G5 announcement is good news for those workers and good news for all their neighbors.