Southfield, Michigan – Lear will build a 160,000 sq ft (18, 900 m2) seat plant in Flint, Michigan on the former site of the Buick City administration building.
No financials were disclosed for the investment.
GM executive director of Interior and safety supply chain, Tom McMillen, said ‘Lear has been a partner of GM for 100 years. We look forward to continuing this relationship in our next generation of vehicles made in Flint.’
Lear said that GM has found that when suppliers of large components locate close to its plants there are lower transport costs, better communications, quality improves and can be driven higher more easily than with remote suppliers.
Lear will add 600 to its headcount when the new plant is operational in early 2018. Workers will be represented by the UAW trades union and its regional director Gerald Karien said: ‘We look forward to partnering with Lear in another endeavour.’
