43
Valley residents overjoyed by car’s arrival
-
Valley residents
overjoyed by car’s arrival -
Big Lordstown
announcement today -
LORDSTOWN GM/
State assistance -
GM's revival to
benefit Valley -
GM plans to invest
millions in Valley,
Lordstown -
GM engineer: Volt to
be ready on schedule -
GM to invest $445M
in Thailand plant - State OKs more funding
for GM plant expansion - New shift at GM
rolls out well;
CEO plans visit - GM posts $15.5B 2Q
loss, 3rd-worst in its history - GM to cut 15 percent
of salaried workers - Toyota outsells GM
in 1st half - Analysts expect GM
closingsto continue - GM cuts back
on NASCAR spending - GM retiree offers worker
incentive - GM tries to soften
the blow to retirees - Workers glimpse
GM's Chevy Cruze - EDITORIAL: Cruze to
fuel GM Lordstown’s
ongoing positive evolution - GM's CEO dismisses
bankruptcy rumors
Click to view
full-size
Stories
By HOLLY SCHOENSTEIN
Vindicator staff writer
LORDSTOWN — It’s just great news for the Mahoning Valley.
That was the reaction of many area business owners, General Motors Corp. workers, and local elected officials after Rick Wagoner, company chairman and chief executive officer, spoke about how the Lordstown plant was an integral part of the company’s past and future successes.
Wagoner announced that GM has invested $500 million in the Chevrolet Cruze in the U.S., with $350 million going to the Lords-
town plant.
Diane Sauer, owner of the Chevrolet dealership of the same name in Warren, said she will take as many Cruzes as GM will supply her business with.
But for now, her dealership has been focusing on the Cobalt.
“We’ve been selling out; we’re down to one 2008, and the 2009s are arriving as we speak,” Sauer said. “We order as many Cobalts as they’ll supply us with.”
Production for the Cruze has been scheduled for April 2010.
In addition to providing hope for the Valley’s economy, some GM workers said the arrival of the Cruze is great news for their families.
Rob Veauthier, 37, works in the repairs department at the end of the Cobalt line. He said the investment has reassured him that he will have a job here.
Struthers resident Darren Bodak, 34, works the third shift as a team leader on the trim line for the Cobalt.
“It makes me proud to be living here and to be part of the Mahoning Valley because of the tough times and job losses,” Bodak said.
He said if the Lordstown plant didn’t get the Cruze, then he may have had to relocate to another GM facility, moving his wife and two young daughters. But relocating does not appeal to Bodak because he is a lifelong resident and wants his children to grow up here.
And with the success of the Cobalt proving that the Lordstown plant has what it takes to do the job, Bodak said he hopes other models will follow the Cruze.
“I hope bigger and better things come, another small car, a coupe,” Bodak said.
“I think it’s a great day at General Motors,” Boardman resident Skip Williams, 49, said. “We’ve always built a quality car here. As long as we stay in the small-car family and continue to build a car that’s quality, and that’s good on gas, we can keep this plant going for another 10 to 15 years.”
Several state and local elected officials thanked GM workers for the jobs that they do. They also reiterated the importance of GM’s commitment to investing in the area.
hschoenstein@vindy.com