www.mybaycity.com February 5, 2017
Business Article 10710
Sponsored by Bay Area Chamber of Commerce


A Cadillac displayed in Shanghai attracts attention.

TRUMP EFFECT? Bay City GM Plant Gets Boost, Caddys Soar in China

Michigan Site Picked for Joint Fuel Cell Venture with Honda

February 5, 2017
By: Dave Rogers


Is there a Trump Effect spurring American business?

Even skeptics are beginning to believe it.

Hours after meeting with new President Donald J. Trump, General Motors Corp. announced it will invest $47 million in its manufacturing facilities in Spring Hill, Tennessee and Bay City, Michigan to prepare for future product programs.

And, GM announced that Cadillac sold far more cars in China in the first month of 2017 than it did in the U.S., a symbolic milestone for General Motors' iconic premium brand as it works to expand beyond a home market where foreign luxury companies dominate. Sales of 18,011 cars in China was 73 percent more than Cadillacs sold in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported.

"The brand is recognized in China as having long heritage and pedigree," says Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. "It is also seen as fresh and new. Its U.S. history has had its ups and downs."

GM is lavishing $12 billion on new Cadillac models that it will sell globally by 2020. Several are SUVs, favored by American and Chinese luxury buyers. While it offered to buy out more than 40 percent of its 925 U.S. dealers last year, Cadillac plans to almost double its dealership count in China, to 300, in the next few years.

That?s why GM was comfortable opening a $1.2 billion plant in Shanghai in 2016 to build the new CT6 sedan and XT5 SUV. Starting production on the mainland helped to jump-start growth because the locally built vehicles avoid China?s 25 percent import tariff, which, when added to the country?s 17.5 percent value-added tax, made Caddys too pricey for many buyers.

Michigan also can boast of being named the site for a stunning new joint venture between GM and Honda.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) today announced the establishment of the auto industry's first manufacturing joint venture to mass produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system that will be used in future products from each company.

Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, LLC will operate within GM's existing battery pack manufacturing facility site in Brownstown, Michigan, south of Detroit. Mass production of fuel cell systems is expected to begin around 2020 and create nearly 100 new jobs. The companies are making equal investments totaling $85 million in the joint venture.

Honda and GM have been working together through a master collaboration agreement announced in July 2013. It established the co-development arrangement for a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies. The companies integrated their development teams and shared hydrogen fuel cell intellectual property to create a more affordable commercial solution for fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems.

The combined Bay City-Spring Hill investments will result in 230 retained jobs in the U.S.

This is part of a $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing operations announced by the company in January. GM has invested more than $21 billion in U.S. operations since 2009.

Investment Details:

Bay City Powertrain

$20 million to support production of cam rough machining operations for future engine programs Jobs: 15 hourly jobs retained

Current employment: 379

Bay City Powertrain produces engine components used in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 31 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest markets.

Spring Hill Manufacturing

$27 million to prepare the plant to assemble a right-hand-drive crossover for export to Australia as the Holden Acadia

Jobs: 215 hourly and salaried jobs retained

Current employment: 4,097

Spring Hill vehicle assembly also produces the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia crossovers



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