Moraine Assembly

Sticker found on all vehicles assembled at the plant

Moraine Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory in Moraine, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Dayton. Originally opened as a Frigidaire appliance plant from 1951 to 1979, the plant produced trucks for GM. Starting in 1981, it produced the Chevrolet S-10 small pickup, then from 2001-2008 it produced the GMT360 SUVs. The 3rd shift of production was eliminated from Moraine effective in July 2006 following an announcement in November 2005.

Plant closure

On 3 June 2008, GM Chairman Rick Wagoner announced that the Moraine plant would close in December, citing high fuel prices and decreased demand for the SUV and trucks produced by the plant. There were no plans to reconfigure the plant to produce other products.[1] The last vehicle that rolled off the line was a white GMC Envoy.

Workers at the plant in Moraine were given a letter on 3 October 2008,[2] informing them that the plant would close in December. It stated that the final day of production would be 23 December. At that time, the plant employed 2400 people.

Originally, General Motors had planned several shutdown weeks in December. However, Lee said there would be no temporary shutdowns and the plant would operate until December 23. IUE-CWA President Jim Clark said, "IUE-CWA is deeply disappointed in General Motor's refusal to keep the Moraine Assembly plant open. The announcement that the plant will be closed much earlier than initially stated will further hurt our members, their families and a Dayton community already rocked by plant closings and layoffs."[3]

The plant closing was the subject of the HBO short documentary, The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant. It was filmed by local directors Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert with the help of several Moraine Assembly workers. In 2010 it was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category. It lost to the documentary Music by Prudence.

Past products

1983–2004 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
1983–2004 GMC S-15 Jimmy
1991–2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
1998–2009 GMC Envoy
2002–2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2005–2007 Buick Rainier
2003–2008 Isuzu Ascender
2005–2009 Saab 9-7X

Redevelopment

As of April 2011, GM Moraine Assembly was awaiting federal approval of a sale from Motors Liquidation Company to Downey, California-based Industrial Realty Group (IRG), which plans to redevelop the site for multiple commercial and industrial tenants.[4]

In 2014, GM Moraine Assembly was purchased from IRG by China-based Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd. Fuyao manufactures automotive glass for GM and other automakers. They plan to begin operations in late 2015.[5] As of December 2014, construction is underway to repurpose the site for Fuyao's use.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dayton Daily News, 3 June 2008 issue
  2. ↑ GM spokesman Chris Lee said plant managers shut the line down at 2:30 p.m. on 3 October to gather the workers together and give them the letter.
  3. ↑ WHIO TV news item
  4. ↑ "Master Plan for Former GM Site". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Fuyao bringing 800 jobs to former GM plant". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 11 December 2014.

Coordinates: 39°42′5.37″N 84°12′52.42″W / 39.7014917°N 84.2145611°W / 39.7014917; -84.2145611

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