General Motors’ assembly plant in Arlington celebrated its 70th anniversary Friday and also rolled out the 13 millionth vehicle it has manufactured, a 2024 Cadillac Escalade-V.
The 70th anniversary event featured remarks by John Urbanic, the plant’s executive director; Shenequa Shepard, acting shop chair of United Auto Workers Local 276; and Arlington city council member/Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Odom-Wesley.
“Milestones like these are met only through the dedication, determination and skill of our employees,” Urbanic said. “We can’t thank our employees enough for what they do every day. We build each vehicle as if it were our own and value every customer.”
The plant at 2525 E. Abram St. has more than 5,400 employees and since opening in January 1954 has produced many of GM’s most iconic vehicles, including the Pontiac Chieftain, Chevrolet Bel Air, Pontiac GTO, Cadillac Brougham and Buick Regal. The facility is now the exclusive assembly site for GM’s full-size gas and diesel-powered SUVs, including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade.
Other facts about the plant:
- Assembly team works three shifts, six days a week to keep up with demand.
- Over 1,350 vehicles produced per day.
- Six million total square feet, one of GM’s largest assembly plants.
- Site is on 250 acres.
- Over 20 miles of conveyors.
- Exports vehicles to over 30 countries.
- Set a monthly production record of over 34,000 vehicles in March of 2023.
More information can be found on the plant’s website.