But industry observers don't expect the local plant's work force to grow unless it substantially increases the number of trucks it makes daily. Any time you get that type of capital investment, it's a signal that you're going to continue to get new product into the plant, and . Plans called for construction of a new rail spur into the new body shop and for moving some roads. The existing body shop will be gutted. The company also plans to upgrade and replace equipment in the plant's general assembly area.
New equipment is scheduled for installation sometime next year.
GM has not released much information on its long-term plans for the factory, and officials declined to discuss its future while local contract negotiations are under way with United Auto Workers Local 2209, which represents workers there. But GM officials said at the time they announced the expansion that the company expects to increase capacity above the 20,000 trucks made there monthly. That doesn't mean GM will employ more workers at the plant. Industry observers expect design changes in 1999 model pickups and production modifications to improve efficiency dramatically. A GM plant in Moraine, Ohio, that recently underwent similar changes cut the time it needs to make a sport-utility vehicle from 30 to 20 hours, Cole said.