GM planning on adding second shift at Volt plant early 2012

First Pre-Production Chevy Volt Rolls Off The Assembly Line
First Pre-Production Chevy Volt Rolls Off The Assembly Line

According to a report by the Detroit Free Press, General Motors will add a second shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant next year to increase production of the Chevrolet Volt. The second shift would add about 900 to 1,000 jobs at the plant, said Teri Quigley, plant manager for the Detroit-Hamtramck factory.

As a part of the move, laid-off GM workers would get first opportunity to apply. Workers will begin training later this year with full production ramping up in early 2012.

“Detroit Hamtramck has started some of the pre-work related to adding an additional shift at the plant,” spokesman Chris Lee said in an e-mail to Automotive News. Lee said that the plant “wants to be in a position to bring on a shift as quickly as possible when we are asked to increase production to meet market demand.”

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Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt start at $41,000 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $33,500.

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News