GM’s Delta Twp. plant celebrates 2 millionth car

DELTA TWP. – The 2016 Buick Enclave rolled off the assembly line wafting that new car smell over toward the roaring crowd inside General Motor’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant Friday morning.

The sleek white car was a milestone, the plant’s 2 millionth vehicle.

“We’re coming back in stride from the recession,” said Bill Reed, president of UAW Local 602. “The demand for this vehicle is very high. We’re working a lot of Saturdays.”

The Delta Township plant opened in 2006 and produced its 1 millionth vehicle, a GMC Acadia, in 2011.

It only took four years to reach its 2 millionth, an average of 250,000 vehicles each year. The plant also produces the Chevrolet Traverse.

“We’re showing no signs of slowing down,” said Michael Trevorrow, regional plant manager. “The entire economy, for vehicles, is in high demand right now and were pushing to supply that demand.”

He said the roughly 3,200 employees at the plant have been working in three shifts for the past five years to pump out 1,100 cars a day.

As of June, they have produced more than 500,000 Buick Enclaves. The one that rolled off the assembly line Friday morning had a list price of $49,875.

“There’s a good chance of a record year,” Trevorrow said.

Lansing Mayor Virg Berneo said this milestone reflects the “world class” productivity in the metro Lansing area.

“When you build a vehicle like this, you’re not just building great cars, you’re building a great community,” Bernero said.

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