Orion Assembly is a 4,300,000 square foot (400,000 m2) General Motors vehicle assembly plant located in Orion Township, Michigan. The plant currently assembles the Chevrolet Sonic. As of May 30, 2011[update] the plant employs 159 salaried employees and 1,300 hourly employees.[1]
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Orion Assembly commenced production on December 1, 1983 with the 1985 model C-body cars.[2] Orion Assembly produced the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 until 2009, when the plant was idled due to the General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization of 2009. Under an agreement with the UAW, the plant will begin assembling the successor to the South Korean-built Chevrolet Aveo, the Chevrolet Sonic, in 2011 — making it the only subcompact car currently assembled in America.[3] Later in 2011, the plant will begin manufacturing the Buick Verano.[4][5]
In the past, GM assembled subcompact vehicles in Mexico or in South Korea due to lower cost labor rates in those countries. Under the new agreement with the UAW, GM will use domestic laborers earning less than under previous contracts and slimmed down labor rules to make assembling subcompact vehicles in the US economically competitive. This arrangement replaced GM's previous plan to import a new subcompact vehicle from China. Orion township and the State of Michigan offered competitive tax breaks to keep the plant open and to build the new subcompact. Orion's bid was selected over others from plants in Wisconsin and Tennessee.
On July 5, 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave a ceremonial dedication speech at the plant. Michigan Governor Jim Blanchard, United States Senators from Michigan Carl Levin and Don Riegle, United States Representative (from the local district) William Broomfield and notable General Motors executives, including chairman and CEO Roger Smith also attended the ceremony.
During his speech, Reagan commended both GM and the United Auto Workers for their progress in the automotive industry.[6]