GM announces $257M plant investment for next-gen Chevrolet Malibu

General Motors has announced it will be investing $257 million in its Fairfax, Kansas, and Detroit Hamtramck assembly centers. The investments, announced today by GM CEO Ed Whitacre, will be used to ready the plants for the production of the next-generation of the Chevrolet Malibu.

The Fairfax plant, which currently builds the Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse, will be receiving the majority of the investment money, securing $136 million of the funds. The remaining $121 million will be used to upgrade the Hamtramck factory.

GM's Fairfax plant will become the main plant for next-generation Malibu production. The Detroit Hamtramck will be used to ensure GM can keep up with demand. Detroit Hamtramck currently builds the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, but GM failed to mention if those vehicles would be eliminated to make room for Malibu production.

GM sold 49,000 units of the Malibu and 14,000 units of the LaCrosse during the first quarter, representing a 58 percent increase over the same period last year.