GM Will Close Flint Plant For 4 Weeks To Get Ready For New Heavy Duty Pickups

Gorehamj · February 20, 2018

John Goreham

Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com

2-20-2018

GM will conduct an extended 4-week July shutdown at its Flint Michigan plant this summer to ready the plant for the next generation of Chevy and GMC heavy-duty pickup trucks. This is not GM's official word on the shutdown. Rather, GM says only that "GM has constructed new body, paint and trim shops at the Flint complex and will use downtime in July to upgrade equipment in the assembly area," GM spokesman Tom Wickham said. "When employees return after the plant upgrades, they will continue to build the current generation of heavy-duty pickups."

However, that doesn't jive with the product lifecycle of GM's pickups, nor does it jive with the reality of the demand GM has right now for the heavy-duty line. Ryan Buchalski, president of UAW Local 598 that represents workers at the plant told the Detroit Free Press, “Our folks have been working very hard. The demand for heavy-duty pickups has been high, which is a great problem to have, but you know that comes with a lot of hard work and dedication from our membership and it's all paying off," Buchalski said. "We just can't build enough of (those trucks). All last year, our plant was working six days a week."

We are not saying GM isn't being truthful. They are. However, closing a plant for double the normal maintenance in the face of overwhelming demand for a product deep into its design life obviously has other goals as well. Either way, it is a mixed blessing for workers. Many will work the shutdown and earn extra cash, others will have an extended vacation in the perfect time for such a break.

Kenrbass · February 22, 2018

It sounds like a correct poll to me. My cousin has a 14(6 speed tranny) and a 16(8 speed tranny) half tons. He loves the 14 and is trying to get rid of the 16, but the trade in value is low on the 16 because of the 8 speed issues. I ordered a 2500hd and am not afraid of the tried and true drivetrain there.

If the dealers were not telling the customers that their messed up trucks were performing as designed, maybe the rating would be better. It also seems like the 8 speed is not available on the 18's, at least around here. GM used it's customers to proof test and they are mad. Can you blame them?