GM adding extra shift, jobs at Tennessee auto assembly plant

About 650 workers will be hired at the Spring Hill, Tenn., facility

FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2008 file photo, assembly line worker Melvin Matthews, right, uses a large robotic machine to install front seats in a new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse at the GM Spring Hill Manufacturing Plant, in Spring Hill, Tenn. General Motors Corp. has narrowed down the locations, June 10, 2009, where it could build its new small car to factories in either Michigan, Tennessee or Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2008 file photo, assembly line worker Melvin Matthews, right, uses a large robotic machine to install front seats in a new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse at the GM Spring Hill Manufacturing Plant, in Spring Hill, Tenn. General Motors Corp. has narrowed down the locations, June 10, 2009, where it could build its new small car to factories in either Michigan, Tennessee or Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)

General Motors is hiring about 650 workers for a third shift at its Spring Hill, Tenn., assembly plant to increase production of the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia.

The third shift will begin in January 2017.

"Spring Hill is demonstrating its flexibility and agility to meet increasing demand for GM's hot products," said Cathy Clegg, vice president of GM North America manufacturing and labor relations.

The XT5 is the newest Cadillac model and has quickly become the brand's best-selling product in the U.S. Cadillac sold 4,608 XT5s in September. The Acadia has been redesigned for the 2017 model year and is slightly smaller and weighs less than the model it replaces. Acadia sales were about 6,800 in September.

The Tennessee plant employs about 2,878 hourly and 387 salaried workers, according to GM's manufacturing website.

Spring Hill is the original site of Saturn production. Today, in addition to the assembly plant, GM also stamps metal parts and builds engine there.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said that GM chose to locate a plant in Tennessee 31 years ago from among 38 states.

"Tennessee is still the best place in the country for auto jobs," he said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the automaker said it would spend $148 million to make small block 6.2-liter V-8 engines at Spring Hill, which also produces 2.0-liter turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engines and 2.4-liter direct injection four-cylinder engines.

"Today's announcement of an added shift is a credit to UAW Local 1853 and its members who launched successful new products in the new Cadillac XT5 and the GMC Acadia," said Cindy Estrada, vice president of the United Auto Workers union's GM department, in a statement.

Spring Hill's UAW Local 1853 Chairman Mike Herron termed the announcement "outstanding news for our entire Spring Hill workforce."

The Spring Hill auto plant first opened in 1990.

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