Oshawa to build new Buick Regal for North America

General Motors announced yesterday that its Southern Ontario Oshawa Car Assembly will add the production of the new Buick Regal alongside the Camaro in early 2011.

“The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers,” says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada. “Combining Buick’s top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant’s long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers’ highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan.”

The Regal slides into the Buick lineup under the LaCrosse sedan. It’s based heavily on the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 European Car of the Year. GM promises the Regal will retain all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance when it launches in North America.         

The addition of Regal production is more good news for GM manufacturing in Canada:

Oshawa’s been running overtime since June and will continue into the new year to keep up with demand for the Chevrolet Camaro. Production of the Camaro Convertible also begins in Q1 2011.

Meanwhile, there’s now a third shift and overtime at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario to keep up with demand for the new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The facility recently received a $90 million investment for additional capacity.

GM Canada’s St. Catharines, Ontario facility just added flexible transmission production with a new fuel-efficient six-speed front-wheel drive gearbox.