GM confirms new vehicle for Fairfax assembly plant, retaining 500 jobs
General Motors has confirmed it will build the Cadillac XT4 crossover sport utility vehicle at its Fairfax Assembly & Stamping Plant.
Reports that the new vehicle was coming to Fairfax surfaced last month but remained unconfirmed by the automaker until Monday.
Mary Padilla, spokeswoman for GM at Fairfax, said the addition of the Cadillac XT4 will allow the plant to retain about 500 jobs. The assembly plant currently employs 2,235, including about 2,000 hourly workers, making the Chevy Malibu.
GM is spending $265 million to get ready to build the new vehicle in Kansas City, Kan.
“We have been busy with preparations and are ready to launch the Cadillac XT4,” plant manager William Kulhanek said in the announcement.
Fairfax lost its third shift last fall after sales of the Malibu slumped. It had employed about 3,000 with the three shifts.
The Cadillac XT4 is a crossover SUV and, while there has been speculation about its appearance, the vehicle’s design will be revealed next month, Padilla said. That will come ahead of the New York Auto Show set for March 27.
Mark Davis: 816-234-4372, @mdkcstar
This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 4:25 PM with the headline "GM confirms new vehicle for Fairfax assembly plant, retaining 500 jobs."