Escalade

Make
Cadillac
Segment
SUV

If the latest reports are to believed, Chevrolet is poised to kill off the Camaro by the end of 2023. Don't for a second, however, think that's because GM is going broke. In fact, it's because The General is putting money into the segments that it knows will help it turn a profit. Namely, the truck and SUV segments.

Within the span of a month, GM has invested $150 million into its Flint Assembly facility to bolster Silverado HD and Sierra HD production and then pumped another $24 million into its Fort Wayne, Indiana truck plant to ensure the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500's assembly line is up to par as well. And now, GM has just announced a third investment into one of its factories.

This time around it's a smaller sum, a paltry $20 million intended for its Arlington, Texas assembly line. The Arlington plant is responsible for churning out the world's supply of GM's full-size SUVs including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. The Arlington plant will combine the cash infusion with over $1.4 billion it's already received from GM since 2015 to build a new paint shop and make general upgrades to its body shop and general assembly area.

"We've been building trucks in Texas for more than 20 years, and our additional investment in Arlington Assembly is proof of our commitment and confidence in our Arlington team," said Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing. "We are counting on the Arlington team to continue focusing on building the highest quality products possible for our customers while preparations continue for the launch of the next generation of our full-size SUVs."

As Johnson points out, the check for the Arlington plant was written in a similar light as the investments made into GM's truck plants, because the automaker wants to prepare its plants for new vehicles that are either already being produced or are set to be produced soon. With GM's redesigned full-size SUV family expected soon after being delayed, the money is needed now more than ever.