Holiday shutdown of GM's Delta plant extended

DELTA TWP.  – General Motor’s holiday shutdown of its Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant will last a week longer because of retooling and new equipment installation.

Production ends for both the Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly plants on Wednesday. The Lansing plant will resume production on Jan. 4, while the Delta plant will go back online on Jan 11, said Erin Davis, GM’s Lansing-based spokeswoman.

“With tooling to install, it will take an extra week,” Davis said.

GM has invested $520 million for new tooling and equipment at the Delta Plant, which will retain 1,900 jobs.

“It’s all for future products at the Delta plant,” Davis said.

Right now, the Delta plant produces the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.

GM has also invested $174 million in a new stamping facility on the grounds of the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant. The facility will stamp parts for the Camaro and Cadillac ATS. It is expected to save GM $14 million in logistics costs once operational. The plant received the first line of presses in October with another set to arrive within the next two weeks.

Behind the wheel of the 2016 Camaro

Both projects are expected to be completed sometime in 2016.

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.