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GM will shift production of the Cadillac SRX crossover from a facility in Mexico to the former Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The move will bring $185 million in investment and 390 jobs to the plant.
In addition to the SRX, another unnamed “midsize” vehicle and a new series of small-displacement Ecotec engines will be built at Spring Hill. Reports claim that the GMC Acadia will move to the plant in 2016, which would suggest future commonalities between the two vehicles, which are currently built on separate platforms.
Spring Hill was once the production site for GM’s Saturn vehicles, and was an overflow site from the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and the Chevrolet Traverse.
41 Comments on “GM Moving Cadillac SRX Production To Tennessee...”
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Would not surprise me if that other “midsize” vehicle is the new Buick Envision.
+1
As a current owner of a previous generation SRX, I for one find the latest version a step back in design and perceived quality. I have driven a few of the current model SRX’s (while my 07 was in the shop for one of many issues!)and find them to be lacking. That front overhang is enormous and all of the chrome in the interior screams “trying too hard”. Can’t wait to see what the next version looks like but I will not be buying another GM product for awhile given the numerous issues that keep popping up on our 07.
Your observation that it screams “trying too hard” sums up the problems with this particular vehicle quite well. I’ve always thought it to be the quintessential expression of badge engineering. It has, however sold well so what do I know. The one I sat in seemed very cramped (I’m only 5’8″) and not what a Cadillac should be.
It has, in my observation, the same problem that too many current SUV’s and CUV’s have, a sort of “pig on stilts” look about it.
Apparently “trying too hard” leads to great sales which is why the SRX outsells all of it competition except the RX350.
@carguy
I’m not sure why. You have to option an SRX into the high 40’s/low 50’s to get common, modern features like proximity entry and in fact I haven’t seen an SRX with this feature on dealer lots for under 50k. You can get many better vehicles for this price with similar if not more features. Some of GM’s premium stuff (the Buick Enclave also comes to mind) simply expects you to add too many dollars of options to get common things, like leather. You can spend FORTY GRAND on an Enclave with cloth seats. Why are cloth seats even an option? Isn’t that what the Traverse and Acadia are for?
@tuffjuff: To be honest I also don’t know why it sells so well. It is a Chevy Equinox with a nicer interior but people seem to like it and that means its a success for GM.
@carguy
I really want to know what’s so different between the platform the SRX uses and the one my 2013 Equinox uses. I want to know this because I’m struggling to justify being able to spend more than twice the $26k I paid for my 1LT Equinox with some options for an SRX.
It’s another tall front-heavy CUV, but it’s actually not really badge-engineered. The platform is a relative of that underlying the Equinox and Terrain but has been changed pretty substantially for the SRX application. It incorporates substantial parts of Epsilon 2 to allow for more interior room and a cushier ride.
Which would work fine, if the interior didn’t look identical.
It looks like a four door “cow-catcher”.
Cadillac appears to be trying to be the ultimate in bad taste.
And winning.
The UAW and Cece Preston team up to celebrate!
youtube Dy4qQXbuirA
Yah! Maybe the smarter Tennesseans will vote to keep the UAW out.
It happened at the Tennesee VW plant, to the consternation of the UAW, VW Management and VW homeboys in Germany.
My mom owns the current version of the SRX. Leased it in 2012 and the lease is up in Jan. I have driven this a few times and also was underwhelmed. They must not be selling well as the local stealership has begged her to bring it back and get a new one.
After she got it I asked her if she knew that it was made, er assembled, in Mexico. She said she did not and would not have got it if she had known-she is 90 and things like this were important to Dad, so they are important to her. One of her primary reasons for getting the SRX was that it had a back-up camera. In her mind, this was a feature that stood out-along with that huge ugly crest on the grill. I tried to tell her that most every car either already has this feature or it can be added for a couple hundred bucks.
I also told her that for about the same money she could have got a Lexus RX-point of assembly is not a big deal to me. She said there are no dealers close to her in FL. I told her that most Lexus dealers will pick up and deliver the car at her home for free.
I don’t think I’ll tell her about them making the SRX in TN because it just confuses her.
Still, good for GM to bring this back. Their target market prefers it’s caddy’s to be “made in the USA”-no matter the reality.
Still driving at 90?
My grandmother drives at 89. Her 1990 Toyota Camry still has less than 50K miles. I don’t think she should drive, but I don’t live in the same city as her, and she is unlikely to use the freeway. The “Grey Dawn” episode of South Park hits close to home.
I was thinking South Park, but I was also thinking of what my grandmother told me: “You have to admit when its time to give up driving”. She stopped driving ta 84, her father at 85, and her mother at 79. Younger members of my family rode them around.
If the VIN starts with a “3”, it’s made in Mexico. The only good thing from Mexico is the glass bottle Coca-Cola.
I think that maybe a somewhat uncharitable generalization.
Yes, because glass bottle Coca-Cola made from corn syrup tastes so much better than glass bottle Coca-Cola made from corn syrup in the United States…
Wait a minute. The United States version is the sweet taste of freedom! The sweet taste of a size 14 American Nike sneaker (made in Asia) up the arse of a Honduran 13 year old crossing the border illegally. The United States version is all about Team America World Police – hell ya!
Hate the US, love the UAW. How typical.
Actually, Mexican Coco Cola is the real thing. They use real sugar there, not the corn xxxx..
Maybe my opinion is affected by old age, but Salma Hayek looks pretty good too….
So auto assembly jobs are moving from Mexico to the US? That’s a bit out of the ordinary!
Their workers are already here.
But, but, but, isn’t there the evil UAW in Tennessee? Doesn’t the UAW only kill American investment and destroy American jobs that end up going to Mexico or southern states to avoid the evil UAW…
http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/cars/2014/08/26/gm-announce-cadillac-crossover-headed-spring-hill/14633639/
This is something organized crime extorted out of GM during the 2011 protection arrangement negotiations.
So when capital organizes to increase its bargaining power (through large conglomerates or industry consolidation) it’s The Free Market At Work, but when labor organizes to increase its bargaining power it’s “organized crime.” Got it.
No you don’t. The Wagner Act allowed monopoly power for labor unions, not companies.
Pity RenCen didn’t convince them to take on ELR production as opposed to the only model which Cadillac sells well and profits from a volume basis.
Southeast, southeast, southeast! Yay!!!!!
Tennessee is right to work. They could whip the annoying union workers in the booty. I’ve been to Tennessee a lot, and it’s a great place. Kudos to Cadillac. Shame is, GM loves their unions. But hopefully, they’ll look at what happened to their home base, and realize locating in an RTW state is the right thing to do.
The Spring Hill Plant is represented by UAW Local 1853. http://www.uawlocal1853.org/
Yes Tennessee has done some great things. Where would the environmental movement be today if they hadn’t sent Al Gore to Washington DC?
My understanding is that Cadillac (and maybe GM as well), has reached a “profit sharing” agreement with the UAW that culminated with the relocation of the SRX assembly back to the US, in spite of the greater profits for GM if the SRX is assembled in Mexico.
But I guess non-stakeholders like the UAW employees can now share in the GM profits without having to buy stock. Such a deal!
It’s amazing what bailouts, handouts and nationalization can do for a company that declared itself dead in 2009.
Desert Cat,
If you had been employed in the private sector, you might know that profit sharing arrangements with employees are very common. It’a called a bonus.
VoGo, I’m quite aware of ESOPs, and annual bonuses.
If you had taken the time to research this agreement, you would have learned that this agreement is neither.
I see it is much more in line with guaranteed profit sharing reserved from shareholders and stock holders, with none of the losses to be suffered by UAW employees that stock holders and owners would have to suffer in case of losses.
Pretty smooth, actually, since the US taxpayers can always be called upon for bailouts, handouts and nationalization again.
Precedence already set.
>>Yes Tennessee has done some great things. Where would the environmental movement be today if they hadn’t sent Al Gore to Washington DC?<<
Tennessee voted against Gore when he ran for prez,
Gore cast the DECIDING vote for the ethanol boondoggle because it advanced his interests against the public interest and he has profiteered enormously off his environmental views since he left office.
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/project_syndicate/2011/03/the_ethanol_catastrophe.html
I forgot my /sarcasm tags. Edit: just discovered the site even strips off fake html tags.
@turboprius…”They could whip the annoying union workers in the booty”….”GM loves their unions”?????
Well, as far as the whipping goes. There is people here that would totally back that idea.. I’m sure that GM management would have no problem finding volunteers to administer such punishment.
Some folks would could even enjoy it. Giving, and receiving!
Now when it comes to GM loving their unions…..? Its a bit of a reach. However,given that these sort of articles are a chance for the union haters/GM haters to spew their vile.
Anything is possible
Regardless, I am happy to see some production moving BACK to the US. The wife saw an ad for the SRX the other day and actually kind of liked it. Of course, we’re here in Saudi and in no rush (or ability) to buy any vehicle, but maybe we’ll look at a TN-Caddy down the road, just for giggles.
There is an extraordinarily complex relationship involving free trade, NAFTA, shareholder wealth, union decline, RTW states, etc.
I’m just glad to see some middle class workers return to the U.S., because (in general), they tend to pay their fair share in taxes and stimulate the economy by actually being part of it.