UPDATE | 5,000 expected to tour GM Lordstown today

50 Years of Lordstown GM

Video

Marking 50 years of the Lordstown GM plant, UAW President Glenn Johnson talks about the close knit work environment and discusses a pivotal moment in the late 90's when the joint efforts of both the union and GM management helped keep the production plant open and saved thousands of local jobs.

LORDSTOWN — An expected 5,000 people are expected to tour the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant today for its open house.

Tours started at 9 a.m. today and end at 7 p.m.

"It's great for the folks on the floor," said Rick Demuynck, the new Lordstown plant manager. "It's a great sense of pride. You see a lot of smiling faces."

The open house is to celebrate 50 years of making cars at the plant that employs 4,500.

The first car, an Impala, rolled off the line on April 28,1966.

The next-generation Chevrolet Cruze is currently in production.

Follow Vindy.com for updates on today’s open house.