GM to spend $63 million to expand, upgrade equipment at Lansing-area assembly plant

General Motors Co. will invest $63 million as part of an expansion at a mid-Michigan plant where crossover vehicles are being built, the automaker announced Wednesday.

GM's Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Eaton County will get about 263,000 square feet of new space and robotic equipment.

The project is part of $300 million Chief Executive Mary Barra has said the Detroit-based automaker will pour into its southeastern Michigan factories.

The Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia crossovers are made at the Delta Township plant. The 3.4 million-square-foot facility opened in 2006 and has nearly 3,300 workers.

Wednesday's announcement "is the latest example of our ongoing efforts to strengthen key plant capabilities," GM North America Manufacturing Vice President Cathy Clegg said in a statement on the company's website. "We're committed to producing the highest quality and safest vehicles in the market, which will help us earn customers for life. This is why facility investment is so important."

The Delta Township expansion will add about 28,000 square feet to the plant's general assembly area and more than 181,000 square feet to the body shop. The paint shop will see about 54,000 square feet added.

"GM's major investment is yet another exciting chapter in the story of Michigan's economic turnaround," Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement. "We appreciate GM's ongoing commitment to Michigan and its contributions to the overall vigor of our auto industry."