The first truck off the line will be auctioned to help raise money for Sharon’s Kids, one of GM's favourite charities in Durham Region.. Image courtesy GM.

Reopened Oshawa GM to auction first truck for Durham charity

GM Canada yesterday announced the first Chevrolet Silverado pickup has rolled off the line at the reopened Oshawa Assembly plant.

It said the Oshawa plant will begin shipping trucks to dealers in December 2021.

The return of truck production to Oshawa provides a significant economic boost for Canada’s automotive sector, creating 1,800 new jobs to support two shifts of production in Oshawa, and supporting thousands of additional jobs in the supplier base in Canada, said a company statement.

Pickups are GM’s largest and most important market segment across the continent, and the Oshawa plant will help GM meet strong demand for its family of pickup trucks. Oshawa Assembly has been retooled in record time to be one of the most flexible and advanced of its kind in the industry, it said.

“The reopening of Oshawa Assembly is an historic accomplishment for GM Canada and our many community partners who worked together to bring us to this very happy day,” said Scott Bell, GM Canada president and managing director. “The rapid retooling, hiring, and training needed to reach today’s start of production was an extraordinary accomplishment. We continue our work with the federal and Ontario governments toward even larger transformative investments in Canada and we are especially pleased that the first truck off the line will help GM and our Canadian dealers raise money for Sharon’s Kids, one of our favourite charities in Durham Region.”

GM Canada will raffle one of its first vehicles to dealers to benefit the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation (DCAF). This continues the legacy of Sharon Clark, a former employee of Oshawa who lost her battle with cancer in 2020. For more than 50 years, Oshawa Assembly employees have donated holiday gifts for children in need, through “Sharon’s Kids.” Since 2018, GM Canada and employees have donated more than $500,000 to Sharon’s Kids, which is now part of DCAF.

“Today marks an incredible milestone as the first trucks roll off the assembly line here at GM’s reopened assembly plant in Oshawa. With this plant re-opening, over 1,800 new skilled workers will find steady and important work helping to produce world class, Ontario made GM trucks. As we move forward with our plan to build Ontario, we will continue to create the conditions needed for more investment while restoring good manufacturing jobs just like these,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, said: “We’re excited to celebrate the re-start of the Oshawa truck plant that is bringing quality jobs to our great city and building upon Oshawa’s rich automotive history.  Today, we celebrate a bright future for our community and for the automotive sector in Ontario and Canada. We thank GM Canada for believing and investing in Oshawa’s productive, innovative and high-quality workforce.”

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Don’t drink and go to sleep in your car, especially if…

Dead body found in Oshawa yet to be identified

Missing ‘distraught’ man from Oshawa found: police

Covid Update: Active cases in Durham rise to 93

Mugger asks for cash before stabbing victim

Share with:


Leave a Reply