GM adding 600 jobs in Lansing to build the 2013 Cadillac ATS

The 2013 Cadillac ATS will enter the GM luxury lineup is the smallest and most affordable sedan, taking direct aim at the likes of the BMW 3 Series that has led the market for ages. The ATS surely looks the part of a compact luxury sedan that could make a major impact in the segment and if that proves to be true – the GM Lansing Grand River Assembly plant will face a major increase in demand for their vehicles. To prepare for that increase in production, GM will add a second shift starting in July that will bring 600 new positions to Lansing Grand River.

Some of these 600 new hires have already started at Lansing Grand River and leading up to the addition of the second shift in July, these new workers have been mixed in with the 835 hourly workers on the current single shift that is presently building the Cadillac CTS. Grand River previously built the Cadillac STS until that larger sedan was phased out and while the CTS is one of the most popular models in the lineup – the Lansing plant has been able to meet demand in one shift. However, GM expects that the continued popularity of the CTS sedan, coupe and sport wagon combined with the influx of demand for the new ATS will allow the plant to keep two shifts busy. When this second shift begins in July, both shifts will have a mix of both new and veteran workers.
These new workers at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant will start at $16 per hour under the GM-UAW two-tier pay system while veteran workers make $29 an hour. Under the new labor agreement between GM and the UAW, the pay of these entry tier workers will increase to $19 per hour over the next four years.

The 2013 Cadillac ATS will go head to head with the BMW 3 Series; the vehicle which has comfortably led the compact luxury sedan class for years. The ATS will offer comparable performance – both in terms of handling and acceleration – with more power and a lighter construction than the European competition. More importantly, the Cadillac ATS will have a base price that comes in below the entry 3 Series and the ATS is less expensive than the comparable Bimmer as you move up through the model ranges.

In addition to offering solid competition for the European luxury sedans, the 2013 Cadillac ATS will likely attract new buyers to the luxury market with its price starting under $34,000. As the price of luxury models like the new ATS creep progressively lower, new buyers who would have previously paid more for something like a loaded up Chevrolet or Buick sedan may instead go for the new ATS. Click here for a closer look at the early pricing figures for the 2013 Cadillac ATS.

Source: Automotive News