Willow Run Transmission

Willow Run Transmission (also called Ypsilanti Transmission Operations, YTO) is a General Motors factory in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.[1] Opened in 1953, it produced Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions for use by General Motors and others. This factory was originally the Ford Willow Run facility, which built B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II. From 1947 to 1953 it built Kaiser and Frazer cars for the Kaiser-Frazer Corp. On February 14, 2006, GM announced an investment in the Willow Run plant to produce the six-speed GM 6L80 transmission.

Products:

On June 1, 2009, GM announced it would be closing the plant as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.[2][3] The plant is currently owned by Motors Liquidation Company, and transmission production ended on December 15, 2010.[4]

The plant is a Michigan State Historic Site, and as such will not be demolished after closing down.[4] Rather, ownership is to be transferred to a trust at the end of 2010 if it has not been purchased.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "GM will shut down Willow Run transmission plant in Ypsilanti Township next year under bankruptcy plans". MLive.com. http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/06/gm_will_shut_down_willow_run_t.html. Retrieved 2010-12-27. 
  2. ^ Carey, Nick (2009-06-02). "GM restructuring claims historic Willow Run plant". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE55209E20090603. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
  3. ^ Hyde, Justin (2009-06-29). "GM says it'll close its Willow Run transmission plant". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/article/20090629/BUSINESS01/906290370/. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
  4. ^ a b c "General Motors closes historic Willow Run plant". Autoblog. December 27, 2010. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/general-motors-closes-historic-willow-run-plant/. Retrieved December 27, 2010.