General Motors was born in Flint and many of the most important developments in the history of the company unfolded here.
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The sign for the old Buick world headquarters, which moved from Flint to Detroit in 1998, is shown in this Flint Journal file photo. GM's Powertrain Flint North, which produced its last engine in 2010, is shown in the background. GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- General Motors was born in Flint, and many of the most important developments in the history of the company unfolded here.
Another chapter in the company's history here will close in July 2013, when the GM Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center ceases operation. The closing was announced Thursday, Jan. 17.
Here are some key moments in General Motors' long history that are specific to the Flint area, including when its remaining plants first opened.
- December 1903: The original Flint Buick factory, on West Kearsley Street, was completed.
- Sept. 16, 1908: William C. Durant founded General Motors in Flint.
- 1909: Champion Ignition, later renamed AC Spark Plug, becomes a GM subsidiary. AC, and later Delphi, employed thousands in Flint.
- 1936: Workers occupy plants in Flint in the Sit-Down Strike of 1936-37, leading to recognition of the UAW.
- 1942:Grand Blanc Weld Tool opens on Saginaw Road, originally as a tank plant for World War II, in the Grand Blanc area. GM announced THursday, Jan. 17, it plans to close the facility in July 2013.
- 1946: 42,611 people were working for GM plants in Flint.
- 1947: Flint Assembly plant opens on Van Slyke Road. The plant remains open today.
- 1954: Flint Metal Center opens on West Bristol Road. The plant remains open today.
- 1955: GM employment reaches its peak in the Flint area with 82,186 people on the payroll.
- 1958: The company opens the Flint Processing Center on West Bristol Road in Swartz Creek. The facility remains open today.
- 1967: Flint Tool & Die opens on Stevenson Street in Flint. The plant remains open today.
- 1968: 77,621 people are on the payroll at GM facilities in the Flint area.
- November 1973: There are 62,000 hourly and 14,000 salaried employees at Flint- area GM facilities.
- 1985: GM averaged 62,598 Flint-area employees.
- June 1989: There were 42,041 hourly and 9,772 salaried GM workers in the area.
- 1992: Average GM employment was 43,399 in the Flint area.
- 1995: AC became a part of Delphi Automotive Systems, remaining tied to GM until Delphi was spun off from GM in 1999.
- 1995: Delphi sold a former GM plant on East Coldwater Road in Genesee Township to Peregrine. The new owner closed the plant in 1999.
- 1996: Delphi's employment at its former Flint East plant stood at 7,000.
- 1998: Buick headquarters was moved from Flint to Detroit.
- December 1998: Fewer than 33,000 GM workers remained in the area.
- 1999: General Motors shut down assembly operations at its historic Buick City complex.
- September 2000: GM announced plans to raze its former East Coldwater Road property.
- 2002: GM opened Flint Engine Operations on Bristol Road.
- 2003: About 3,500 employees remained at Delphi's Flint East site.
- 2004: The final building at the former Chevy in the Hole site was demolished at the historic manufacturing complex that in the 1950s employed about 8,000 people.
- 2005: There were about 12,000 GM employees in the Flint area by the close of the year.
- 2007: About 8,850 hourly and salaried workers remained in the area by the close of the year.
- 2008: After ending the production of spark plugs, and with just 1,100 employees on site, demolition of Delphi's Flint East begins.
- July 2008: About 7,100 hourly and salaried employees remained in the area.
- August 2008: The last 280 workers at General Motors' Flint Engine North plant built their last engine and faced layoffs, transfers or retirements.
- February 2009: GM announced a $250 million investment at Flint Engine Operations to build 1.4-liter engines.
- June 2009: GM eliminated 400 jobs at Flint Truck Assembly Plant.
- June 2009: The company put 64 workers on layoff at Grand Blanc Weld Tool.
- November 2010: GM announced it would invest $138.3 million at Flint Engine Operations, retaining 135 jobs. The investment expanded production of 1.4-liter engines.
- January 2011: 750 jobs were added at Flint Truck Assembly as demand increased for pickups.
- May 2011: An $84 million investment at Flint Engine Operations was announced to expand production of 1.4-liter engines.
- March 2012: GM announced a $7 million investment at Flint Engine Operations to build two office buildings.
- Jan. 17, 2013: GM announces plans to close its Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center in July 2013.
Sources: Flint Journal files, General Motors