By Maria Carter
Kansas City, KS – General Motors will produce a new mid-sized sedan at its plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The struggling automaker is in the process of closing down 12 plants, but company insiders say the new Saturn Aura is a good sign for the Fairfax plant.
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The Aura, a mid-sized sedan, is one of three new Saturn's being released this year. Company officials say the cars, which include a roadster and hybrid SUV, will help revitalize the Saturn brand. GM officials touted the Aura's styling and refinement as a way to appeal to customers. The Kansas City plant now produces the Chevy Malibu. Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak says it makes sense to use the facility for the Aura because both cars use the same underbody.
Jill Lajdziak: "Given the plant is use to building the architecture, this is a way obviously to continue to leverage the expertise and the great work of this plant now bringing this vehicle to the marketplace."
The assembly line could add as many as 200 workers for the Aura. The mid-sized sedan will begin showing up in dealership showrooms at the end of July.