FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 7th, 2010

CONTACT: Alan Mlynek
Office: (202) 225-5802
                                                                                                   
 

PETERS ON NEW PRODUCTION AT GENERAL MOTORS ORION ASSEMBLY PLANT

Peters launched ‘Make it in Michigan’ campaign last year, a grassroots effort to promote small car production in Orion Township

(Troy, MI) – Representative Gary Peters welcomed news today that GM will add another model to the production lineup at the Orion Assembly plant.  The plant idled after company restructuring ended the Pontiac brand last year, but was given new life when GM, UAW, and local leaders negotiated a way to retool the plant to produce smaller cars and restore 1,200 jobs.  Peters led the grassroots ‘Make it in Michigan’ campaign to promote Orion Assembly as the site for GM small car production, gathering support from over 30,000 people.

“Leading the world in the next generation of vehicle manufacturing takes determination to fight for every job and opportunity.  Our community came together to say that Orion was the best place in the world to build GM’s next generation of small cars,” said Rep. Peters.  “Today we are taking another step thanks to the tireless efforts of GM, the UAW, and local leaders.”

Peters’ Michigan congressional district is home to two General Motors plants, Chrysler World Headquarters and more auto suppliers than any district in the country.  Peters has been a champion of the domestic auto industry, pushing through legislation to support domestic advanced vehicle research and supporting an expansion for the widely successful Cash for Clunkers program. 

The ‘Make it in Michigan’ campaign was launched by Peters in June of 2009 after GM announced they were scouting different locations for small car production.  The grassroots effort delivered a letter to GM signed by 30,000 supporters encouraging the company to select Orion Assembly.  Today’s announcement adds to the new production slated for Orion Assembly over the coming years.

###