Along with new hopes and dreams for the Mahoning Valley, the first 2011 Chevrolet Cruze rolled off the line Wednesday during a 10:30 a.m. celebration.
As the Boardman Band played outside, a trio of new Chevy Cruzes rolled off the assembly line, appropriately red, white and blue. The lead model was driven by the head of GM's North American Operations out to a cheering crowd.
"It's simply the finest compact car GM has ever done. Period," President Mark Reuss said.
This marks the 18th model to roll off of the line at the General Motors Lordstown plant since its inception in 1966.
The Cruze will come with standard safety features, such as anti-lock breaks and stability control, but will also be equipped with 10 airbags.
Blue tooth capabilities and XM Satellite Radio are options on the car. The Eco model, which will debut in November, will get up to 40 miles per gallon.
The Cruze will retail between $17,000 and $24,000.
Jim Graham, president of UAW 1112, said they are very excited about the launch and were overwhelmed with the turnout at the celebration. Graham was hired at the Lordstown plant in 1968, and after all of the vehicles he's seen roll off the line, he said he's confident that the Cruze will sell.
"It's far superior to anything we've ever produced in Lordstown," Graham said. "We've already sold over 300,000 units in Europe. That's unheard of. We can compete with anyone in the world and we will."
Plant Manager Bob Parcell said the Cruze "is outstanding. It's designed well; it's engineered well."
"[GM has] given us the opportunity to pave our way into the future," Parcell said. "We think the Chevy Cruze is gonna be the car that puts Lordstown back on the map, where we should be."
Autoworker Robert Moralis said they've been doing a rolling production and are able to produce about 70 cars a day. Above all, he said, the main concern is "getting the product right."
"It's an exciting day for us in Lordstown," Moralis said. "Not only for us but the community."
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-17) said cooperation between Congress, plant management and the union is what ultimately made this deal happen. For every auto job, he said, there are about seven or eight spin-off jobs.
"If you're gonna rebuild, you have to have a base to start from and GM's our base," Ryan said.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-6), said there are about 100,000 jobs related to the car industry in Ohio. This investment in Lordstown, he said, is a must.
"I think the Chevrolet Cruze is gonna be a real home run," Wilson said. "I'm excited."
