Automotive industry in Flint, Michigan facts for kids
Flint, Michigan, is a city famous for its history with the automotive industry. For many years, it was a major hub for making cars. Even today, General Motors (GM) still has a presence there. Over the past few decades, GM factories in Genesee County have changed a lot. Some have been renamed, some have closed, and some have reopened.
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History of GM Factories in Flint
Durant-Dort Factory One
GM's story in Flint began with the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. This company was started by William C. Durant and Josiah Dallas Dort. They made carriages, which were like early cars pulled by horses. GM bought their first factory, built in 1880, in 2013. They also bought the old Durant-Dort office, which is a National Historic Landmark.
Buick Motor Division
Buick City: A Giant Car Factory
The oldest buildings of the Buick complex on Hamilton Avenue opened in 1908. This was once the biggest GM factory complex in the world! Buick started in Flint on West Kearsley Street. That first plant later became the first Chevrolet factory.
In 1983, Buick planned something called Buick City. This was inspired by Toyota's "Toyota City" in Japan. The idea was to bring many parts of car making into one giant factory. Buick City started building front-wheel drive cars in 1985. It used many robots and a system called just-in-time delivery. This meant parts arrived just when they were needed.
Buick City closed in June 1999. Most of the buildings were taken down between 2001 and 2003. The main Buick offices moved to Detroit in 1998. Other nearby Buick plants, like those making engines and transmissions, also closed by 2010.
AC Spark Plug Division/Delphi Corporation
Dort Highway Plant: Making Car Parts
This factory made important car parts like spark plugs, air filters, oil filters, and instrument panels. It opened around the mid-1920s. This plant became known as Flint East in 1987.
Over the years, this factory joined with other GM divisions and changed names several times. In 1995, it became part of Delphi Automotive Systems. GM later spun off Delphi as a separate company. Spark plug making stopped at Flint East in 2006. The plant officially closed in November 2013.
Chevrolet Motor Division
Chevy in the Hole: A Big Manufacturing Site
This large factory complex, known as "Chevy in the Hole," opened around 1913. It made engines, parts, and assembled cars. It was originally the Flint Wagon Works before becoming a Chevrolet factory.
Many parts of "Chevy in the Hole" began to close and be torn down starting in the mid-1990s. By 2004, most of the complex was gone.
Today, only two buildings remain. Building 35 was given to Kettering University. It now houses engineering and chemistry labs. Workers in Building 35 even built the first Corvette prototype around 1953! Plant 38, called Flint Tool and Die, is still run by GM. It makes tools and dies for car parts. The rest of the land is being turned into a public park called "Chevy Commons".
Flint Truck Assembly: Building Tough Trucks
This plant on Van Slyke Road opened in 1947. It first made both cars and trucks. In 1970, it switched to making only trucks.
Today, this factory is called Flint Assembly. It is very important for GM. It builds large commercial trucks like the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick. It also builds popular full-size pickup trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM has invested a lot of money to update this plant. Many workers are still employed here.
Flint Metal Center: Making Metal Parts
This plant on Bristol Road opened in 1954. It makes metal parts for cars. It is now known as the GM Flint Metal Center. GM has spent millions of dollars to upgrade this plant in recent years.
Flint Engine Operations: Powering Vehicles
The original V8 Engine Plant on Van Slyke Road opened around 1953 but closed in 1999. Right next to it, GM built a new factory called Flint Engine South, which is now Flint Engine Operations. It opened in 2000 and builds powerful engines for many GM vehicles. A new addition also builds V6 engines.
Service Parts Operations: Distributing Parts
This facility in Swartz Creek opened in 1957. It is a major center for storing and distributing car parts. It sends parts to dealerships and repair shops all over the world. While some offices have moved, the Swartz Creek facility still operates as Service Parts Operations-Flint.
Fisher Body Division
Flint Plant #1: From Cars to Technology
This plant on South Saginaw Street made bodies and metal parts for Buick cars. GM bought it in the 1930s. It had originally been the headquarters for Durant Motors, which made a car called the "Flint."
This plant closed in 1987. Most of it was torn down. However, parts of it were turned into the Great Lakes Technology Center, which housed offices and engineering teams.
Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center: Building Tanks and Tools
This plant on South Saginaw Street opened in 1942. It originally built tanks for World War II and is sometimes still called the "Tank Plant."
Today, this plant is known as the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center. It focuses on making tools for welding car parts. GM announced some changes to this plant in 2013, and there is talk of redeveloping it for future use.
Ternstedt Division
Coldwater Road Plant: Body Hardware Production
This plant in Genesee Township opened around 1953. It was meant to make aircraft engines but instead made body hardware for cars.
Over the years, this plant changed hands several times, eventually becoming part of Delphi Automotive Systems. Delphi later sold it, and the plant closed around 1998 and was torn down.
Roger & Me
Roger & Me is a 1989 documentary film by Michael Moore, who grew up near Flint. The movie shows how the closing of several GM factories in Flint affected the city and its people. It focuses on the decisions made by GM CEO Roger Smith.
GM Operations in Genesee County Today
- Flint Assembly (Makes trucks)
- Flint Engine Operations (Builds engines)
- Flint Metal Center (Makes metal parts)
- Flint Paint Operations (Paints vehicles)
- Flint East Plants (Includes a parts processing center)
- Flint Tool and Die (Makes tools for car parts)
- Flint Body Shop (Builds car bodies)
- General Motors Archive & Research Center (Located in the historic Durant-Dort Factory One)
- General Motors Foundations Automotive Research Area (Works with Kettering University on research)
- Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center (Makes welding tools)
- Great Lakes Technology Center & Fisher Body Headquarters Building (Now owned by other companies)
- Service Parts Operations Warehouse and Processing Center (In Swartz Creek)
- Service Parts Operations World Headquarters (In Grand Blanc Township)
Images for kids
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A postcard showing a street in Flint with a sign that says "Flint Vehicle City." This sign was put up because Flint was a top city for making carriages.
