GM is expanding an assembly plant in Michigan, where it will build the new small 2013 Cadillac ATS.

The Detroit News reports a formal announcement will come today for the expansion. GM will invest $190 million in its Grand River Assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan, and will add 600 workers to accommodate the new product.

GM hasn't confirmed that the ATS is the product to be added to the Grand River site.

The 2013 ATS will be the new entry-level Cadillac, slotting beneath the CTS. By the time the ATS arrives late in 2012, the Cadillac sedan lineup will include the ATS four-door (and possibly a hatchback version), a revamped CTS, and the 2013 Cadillac XTS, a front- or all-wheel-drive large sedan to be built in Oshawa, Ontario.

Grand River Assembly now builds the CTS lineup and the SRX crossover.

The ATS is being developed with European markets specifically in mind. Cadillac has offered a BLS model in Europe, but the lightly reskinned version of the Saab 9-3 sold poorly and was discontinued as GM prepared to sell off the Saab division.

General Motors plans to invest $88 million to update its Cadillac factory in Lansing, the latest installment of its $2-billion plan to ready its factories for growing U.S. demand.

GM said Tuesday the investment won't create any jobs, but will equip the Lansing Grand River plant to make an unidentified new model, expected to be the upcoming Cadillac ATS compact. The factory has 971 workers and makes the Cadillac CTS sports sedan.

Tuesday's announcement is part of a $2-billion investment in 17 U.S. factories that the company launched May 10. GM has already revealed several other plants getting new jobs and updates as part of the eight-state effort: Detroit-Hamtramck is to get the biggest piece when it adds 2,500 jobs and two shifts. The automaker also is hiring at plants in Bay City, Flint, Toledo, Arlington, Texas, and Bowling Green, Ky., and is expected to add about 75 jobs total in Saginaw and Warren.

Since the Cadillac ATS will be the smallest and cheapest Cadillac for 2012 it should sell pretty quick, so the expansion should be well worth the investment. These days everyone wants a small car with good gas mileage that still holds many features of bigger/expensive cars, the ATS should bring that to the market.

Since the Cadillac ATS will be the smallest and cheapest Cadillac for 2012 it should sell pretty quick, so the expansion should be well worth the investment. These days everyone wants a small car with good gas mileage that still holds many features of bigger/expensive cars, the ATS should bring that to the market.
thats very true. cars are getting smaller and more feature packed. the ATS should be a good example of this.

Good points made here guys,

Like mentioned in other threads here, the ATS is believed to be based off of the Cruze. If so this will open a new market for those looking for a vehicle as great as the Cruze, but something a lot more technology advanced.

I know a lot of people that love Cadillac but before buying them, gas mileage always seems to be of concern, hopefully not with the ATS!

The ATS-V definitely won't be that great on gas. I think the 2.0 turbo model should actually be pretty good on gas. And if they keep it light it should be a ton of fun to drive as well.

Interesting to read the ATS is specifically made for the European market. I wonder if the American and European Cadillac ATS will stay the same or if they will change some things for the markets....

I would imagine that American's and European's won't agree all the time when it comes to cars.