The news regarding GM has been mostly negative since they made the announcement to shut down five assembly plants in the US and Canada.

While we might not agree with the route taken, we’re seeing some positive news come from GM as they ramp up the production of their pickup trucks. This positive news comes in the form of the addition of 1,000 workers to the heavy-duty pickup truck line in the Flint, MI plant to ensure these trucks would be built in the numbers desired.

The Priority in the Right Place for GM

The news that up to 15,000 jobs would be cut across GM, many of them white-collar employees was met with harsh words from the Presidential office and from some of the lawmakers in the Midwest. The 1,000 new jobs in the Flint, MI assembly plant will be offered as priority positions for those who were laid off in other plants around the country. This makes it possible for those who have been displaced due to shutdowns to find a continuation of their career with GM in this truck plant.

Increased Truck Sales for GM help to Create Jobs

Since the 2013 calendar year, the sales of heavy-duty pickup trucks in the US have grown to more than 600,000 models per year. That’s a strong increase of 20 percent and the prices of these trucks have only increased during that time as well. The affordable price of fuel and modern engine technology are two factors that make it possible for more US consumers to drive these big trucks, even if they aren’t being driven for the purpose of getting a daily job done that requires a heavy truck for the work.

Celebrating the Launch

Recently, GM was able to celebrate the launch of the new generation of the heavy-duty GMC and Chevrolet pickups that are all being assembled at the plant in Flint, MI. The significance of the launch of these two trucks is more than just a pair of new GM models but also shows us that GM could easily find a way to bring back its workforce as it shifts the focus away from sedans and cars to build more of the larger vehicles that we expect to see on the market.

The Future of GM has a Glimmer of Light

The light may feel dim for GM and its assembly plants right now because of the massive amount of scrutiny and threats that have come from the public in two countries and from lawmakers, but new models could be the solution. We already see an increase in models with the new Chevrolet Blazer and additional jobs with these heavy-duty trucks.

As the company works toward offering us electrified vehicles under the Cadillac brand and expands the SUV numbers, it’s possible the number of jobs lost will be replaced and production brought back to plants that are being closed. At least, that’s the hope we can have for the future.