GM to invest $1.2 billion in Indiana plant

General Motors is investing $1.2 billion in its full-size pickup truck plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., for upgrades and technology that will improve the plant’s competitiveness in assembling light- and heavy-duty models.

Construction of the new pretreat, electrocoat paint operation and sealing facility, expanded body shop, expanded and new material sequencing centers, and upgraded general assembly area is expected to begin in June and take several years to complete.

The investment includes several technological and environmental upgrades, such as thin-film paint pretreatment, e-coat paint customized to each vehicle style, and radiant tube ovens for improved paint finish and lower energy use.

Fort Wayne Assembly is a three-shift operation with about 3,800 employees.