General Motors says it will create more than 850 new jobs
in Arlington, some of which will replace work currently being done by GM’s suppliers outside the United States.
The automaker announced plans Friday to open a “supplier park” across the highway from its Arlington plant, which makes the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac Escalade.
The facility on the former Six Flags mall site will include two industrial manufacturing and warehouse buildings spanning more than 1.2 million square feet. The supplier park, intended to support future vehicle production at the Arlington plant, is expected to open in about nine months.
Dream Come True
The move is “a dream come true” for Arlington’s economy, Mayor Jeff Williams said.
“It enables us to redevelop a piece of property that was no longer economically viable,” he said about the former Six Flags mall, which was sold in 2012 and razed last year. In addition to creating jobs, the deal cements the city’s partnership with GM, Williams said.
Some 600 of the new jobs would replace work that would otherwise be done outside the country, said Steve Kiefer, GM’s senior vice president of global purchasing and supply chain.
Nearly a third of the parts used at the GM Arlington Assembly Plant come from outside the U.S., mostly Mexico and Canada, company executives have said in the past.
Kiefer said bringing suppliers closer to GM’s plants has reduced costs by more than $1 billion over the past four years.
International Automotive Components Group, a GM supplier, will bring operations to the new logistics center, CEO Steve Miller said. The Arlington location will be one of its flagship manufacturing operations.
The bottom line – General Motors says it will create more than 850 new jobs. And more American jobs is a good thing.
If you are looking for an American job, feel free to apply for employment at Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL. Just ask for an application at our main office.
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