General Motors of Canada President Arturo Elias announced earlier today that the 2011 Buick Regal will be built in Oshawa for the North American market. Already running at capacity, the 2010 Camaro production line will be joined by the Camaro convertible and the Regal at the beginning of 2011. The Regal is based on the 2009 European Car of the Year, Opel Insignia.
This is huge news for GM Canada and the city of Oshawa certainly needs the boost. This ensures that many employees who have been laid off will go back to work soon.
Full press release after the break.
Oshawa, ON, November 25, 2009 — North American production of the all-new 2011 Buick Regal was today confirmed for the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011. The new 2011 Regal is a midsize sport sedan based on the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 “European Car of the Year” – and it brings all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the North American market.
“The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers,” says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada. “Combining Buick’s top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant’s long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers’ highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan.”
Production of the new Buick Regal is the latest in a string of positive news for GM manufacturing in Canada including:
Oshawa Car Plant running maximum overtime since June 2009 that will continue into the new year to keep up with demand for the Chevrolet Camaro
Production of the Camaro Convertible in Oshawa beginning in Q1 2011
The recent addition of a 3rd shift plus scheduled overtime at CAMI Automotive to keep up with strong demand for the all-new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain
The investment of $C90 million in CAMI Automotive which will add an additional 40,000 units of capacity to current production and result in full employment at CAMI
The introduction of flexible transmission production at GM Canada’s St. Catharines facility beginning with assembly of the fuel-efficient 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmission
The new Buick Regal joins the Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC Terrain as the third new vehicle in the production commitment that was part of the agreement with the Canadian and Ontario Governments.
General Motors of Canada (GMCL) is headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario and employs 9,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures vehicles, vehicle powertrains, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through dealerships and retailers across Canada.
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