Flint Truck Assembly
Encyclopedia
Flint Truck Assembly is an automobile
factory operated by General Motors in Flint, Michigan
. It is the city's main plant. The Flint factory produces full-size GM pickup truck
s for consumers as well as the commercial Heavy Duty versions. The factory has two lines, with #1 producing the Heavy Duty trucks and #2 producing medium-duty consumer versions.
The plant, on Van Slyke Road, was built shortly after the end of World War II
and was split between Fisher Body
and Chevrolet
. The Fisher operations were halted on June 24, 1970, with the entire factory turned over to Chevrolet. For much of the 1970s, Flint was home to the large Chevrolet K5 Blazer
and Chevrolet Suburban
, with pickup truck production moved to Pontiac Assembly Center
in Pontiac, Michigan
in May 1987. On August 31, 1991, production of the large SUV
s was moved to Janesville Assembly
in Wisconsin
. All laid-off workers returned to the plant on August 10, 1992 as production began. After the closure of Lordstown Van Assembly in 1993 Flint began to produce the former Lordstown Vans. The full-size van division was moved to Wentzville Assembly in Missouri
in July, 1996, but a new product, the GMT480, began at Flint the previous year. The large commercial General Motors C/K
trucks began production in 1997. The factory's current product, the GMT900-based trucks, began in February 2007. The factory also produced GM medium-duty trucks
, which were phased out in 2009 after GM discontinued that division. Beginning in 2010, GM will produce the light duty crew cab pickups here.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
factory operated by General Motors in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. It is the city's main plant. The Flint factory produces full-size GM pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
s for consumers as well as the commercial Heavy Duty versions. The factory has two lines, with #1 producing the Heavy Duty trucks and #2 producing medium-duty consumer versions.
The plant, on Van Slyke Road, was built shortly after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was split between Fisher Body
Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
and Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. The Fisher operations were halted on June 24, 1970, with the entire factory turned over to Chevrolet. For much of the 1970s, Flint was home to the large Chevrolet K5 Blazer
Chevrolet K5 Blazer
See also Chevrolet Blazer The K5 Blazer was the smallest full size SUV version of the General Motors C/K Trucks family. Introduced to the Chevrolet line in 1969, the full-size Blazer was replaced in 1995 by the Chevrolet Tahoe. In 1970, GMC introduced its own model of the truck, called the Jimmy,...
and Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
, with pickup truck production moved to Pontiac Assembly Center
Pontiac Assembly Center
Pontiac Assembly Center, also known as Pontiac East Assembly, was an automobile factory operated by General Motors.It is located at 2100 South Opdyke Road in Pontiac, Michigan....
in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
in May 1987. On August 31, 1991, production of the large SUV
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
s was moved to Janesville Assembly
Janesville Assembly
Janesville Assembly Plant is an automobile factory owned by General Motors located in Janesville, Wisconsin. Opened in 1919, it is the oldest-operating GM plant.-History:...
in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. All laid-off workers returned to the plant on August 10, 1992 as production began. After the closure of Lordstown Van Assembly in 1993 Flint began to produce the former Lordstown Vans. The full-size van division was moved to Wentzville Assembly in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in July, 1996, but a new product, the GMT480, began at Flint the previous year. The large commercial General Motors C/K
Chevrolet C/K
The C/K is the name for Chevrolet and GMC's full-size pickup truck line from 1960 until 1999 in the United States, from 1965 to 1999 Canada, from 1964 through 2001 in Brazil, and from 1975 to 1982 in Chile. The first Chevrolet pickup truck appeared in 1924, though in-house designs did not appear...
trucks began production in 1997. The factory's current product, the GMT900-based trucks, began in February 2007. The factory also produced GM medium-duty trucks
Chevrolet Kodiak
Beginning with the 2003 model year, US-market models moved to a new platform with a more spacious cab based on the GM full-size vans. The 4500 and 5500 trucks had the option for Four-wheel drive. These trucks featured solid front axles, on both 4x2 and 4x4, instead of independent front suspension...
, which were phased out in 2009 after GM discontinued that division. Beginning in 2010, GM will produce the light duty crew cab pickups here.