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Fairfax Assembly & Stamping

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Coordinates: 39°08′50″N 94°36′12″W / 39.14722°N 94.60333°W / 39.14722; -94.60333
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This article is about the current automotive plant on a former airfield. For the historical airfield and federal land, and the Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac plant, see Fairfax Field. For the history of the former airport, see Fairfax Airport.
Fairfax Assembly & Stamping
The south side of the plant is surrounded by the old airport runway.
Map
Operated1987–present[1]
LocationKansas City, Kansas
Coordinates39°08′50″N 94°36′12″W / 39.14722°N 94.60333°W / 39.14722; -94.60333
IndustryAutomotive
ProductsAutomobiles
Employees~2,234[2]
Area572 acres (2.31 km2)[2]
Volume4,900,000 sq ft (460,000 m2)[2]
Address3201 Fairfax Trafficway
Owner(s)General Motors
Websitewww.gm.com/our-company/manufacturing/fairfax-assembly

Fairfax Assembly & Stamping is a General Motors (GM) automobile manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Kansas. The site was originally a World War II bomber plant, and has a comprehensive history of producing vehicles for numerous GM brands. It exclusively assembled the critically-acclaimed Saturn Aura, the 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

The 4,900,000 sq ft (460,000 m2) plant employs over 2,200 hourly and salaried employees, who are represented by United Auto Workers Local 31.

For many years, the plant was a key producer of GM's mid-size sedans, including the long-running Chevrolet Malibu. Following an industry-wide shift away from sedans, the plant became central to GM's evolving manufacturing strategy, undergoing retooling to produce the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle alongside the popular Chevrolet Equinox SUV.

History

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Fairfax I (1945–1987)

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The original Fairfax assembly plant was located next to Fairfax Airport, the former location of the North American Bomber Production Plant where the B-25 Mitchell was manufactured during World War II. After the war, GM purchased the building and converted it to an automobile assembly plant under the management of GM's newly created Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division. In 1952, alongside car production, the plant produced F-84F jet-powered fighters.[3]

Fairfax II (1987–present)

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President George W. Bush shook hands with Fairfax assembly line workers on March 20, 2007.

The original Fairfax plant ceased production in May 1987, and production was moved to the newly constructed Fairfax II. The new plant was developed on the grounds of the former Fairfax Airport in a project reported to cost $1 billion.[1] The new plant began production with the 1988 model year Pontiac Grand Prix. On August 23, 2005, the Fairfax facility built its 10 millionth car.[4]

The plan to build the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV and add production of the gasoline-powered Chevrolet Equinox was confirmed as part of the 2023 UAW-GM national labor agreement, placing Fairfax at the forefront of the company's dual-track strategy for EVs and traditional vehicles.[5]

The UAW's 2023 "Stand Up Strike" did not initially target the plant, but Fairfax was idled on September 20, 2023, due to a parts shortage from the striking Wentzville Assembly plant, resulting in the temporary layoff of about 2,000 workers.[6] The 46-day national strike concluded with a historic contract that included a 25% general wage increase over its 4.5-year life, the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and the elimination of the tiered wage system. The agreement secured the plant's future by allocating production of the next-generation Bolt EV and Equinox to Fairfax.[7] The workforce is represented by UAW Local 31.[8]

The Aura was a cornerstone of GM's effort to revitalize Saturn by shedding its image of building small, practical cars and competing directly with popular mid-size sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Aura was built on the global GM Epsilon platform, which it shared with the Chevrolet Malibu, and it was praised by critics for its European-inspired design and driving dynamics. Its critical acclaim peaked when it was named the 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year, a major achievement that brought significant positive attention to both the brand and the quality of production at the Fairfax facility.[9] The Aura's production ceased not due to its own merits, but as a result of GM's decision to discontinue the entire Saturn brand during its 2009 bankruptcy and restructuring.[10]

The end of Chevrolet Malibu production in November 2024 represented a shift in GM's manufacturing strategy within a larger industry trend of phasing out traditional sedans in favor of SUVs and EVs.[11] GM confirmed the move was necessary to retool the Fairfax facility for the next-generation Bolt EV and the upcoming Equinox, swapping a legacy sedan for new electric technology and a high-demand compact SUV.[12]

Products

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Past

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Upcoming

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References

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  1. ^ a b "GM Closes Ohio Plant, Idles 4,000 Workers". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1987. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Vockrodt, Steve (September 25, 2018). "Ready to roll: GM's Fairfax plant is on the verge of launching a new Cadillac". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Flying High". KC History. Kansas City Public Library. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "GM's Fairfax plant produces 10 millionth vehicle". Kansas City Business Journal. August 24, 2005.
  5. ^ Kullgren, Ian (November 6, 2023). "UAW details GM contract gains, including $1.5B investment in Spring Hill". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Shepardson, David (September 20, 2023). "GM idles Kansas assembly plant due to UAW strike part shortage". Reuters. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "2023 General Motors (GM) UAW National Agreement Summary" (PDF). United Auto Workers. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Gutierrez, Lisa (September 28, 2023). "What a UAW strike against GM's Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, could look like". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Motor Trend Staff (November 22, 2006). "2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Saturn Aura". Motor Trend. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  10. ^ Bunkley, Nick (September 30, 2010). "G.M. to Close Saturn as Sale to Penske Collapses". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  11. ^ Lutz, Hannah (November 8, 2024). "GM ends Chevy Malibu production to make way for new Bolt". Automotive News. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  12. ^ Stafford, Eric (May 9, 2024). "Chevrolet Malibu Production Is Ending as GM Prepares for New EVs". Car and Driver. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Capparella, Joey (2024-11-12). "Cadillac XT4 to Die So That the Next-Gen Chevy Bolt EV Can Live". Car and Driver.
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