GM’s Cobalt paved the way for Lordstown plant’s future (GM's best seller in the clunker program)

[Omaha Steve]

Disclaimer. I have an 09 Cobalt bought with the clunker program. It currently is getting over 29 MPG combined on 10% ethanol fuel with an automatic transmission. Even with all the hoopla over the Cruze I don't think I'll be trading up soon. Love my Cobalt.

OS

http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jun/26/gm8217s-cobalt-paved-the-way-for-lordsto/

Published: Sat, June 26, 2010 @ 12:00 a.m.

When it was unveiled in December 2003 at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, the Chevrolet Cobalt was received by many industry experts with apprehension. After all, the vehicle General Motors was touting as its offering in the highly competitive compact market was being built in the Lordstown plant — with its blemished history.

But as we said in an editorial marking the unveiling, the Cobalt “presents the Mahoning Valley with a great opportunity to show the nation and the world that this region can compete with the best of them when it comes to manufacturing and that the business climate has never been better.”

Six-and-a-half years later, the Lordstown assembly plant and the Valley not only have proved the detractors wrong, but have firmly established that a new era has dawned.

General Motors now considers the Lordstown complex one of its most valuable and efficient facilities. Hence, last week’s final production of the Cobalt marked not only the end of a highly successful run, but the beginning of a new chapter in auto manufacturing in this skilled-labor region.

GM has invested $350 million in updating the plant to prepare for the highly anticipated Chevrolet Cruze, which will hit the showrooms next month.

FULL story at link.