General Motors plans to build the redesigned 2012 Chevrolet Malibu at a Detroit plant. But local union officers and analysts don’t believe it will affect the model’s production at the Fairfax plant.
The Detroit News reported that GM will spend $336 million to upgrade its Detroit-Hamtramck plant to produce the Malibu and the Chevrolet Volt, GM’s highly touted electric car.
Company officials declined to comment, but local union officials said initial indications were that GM plans to build the Malibu at more than one facility as the economy improves and vehicle demand picks up.

     Until recently, GM built the Malibu at Fairfax as well as its Orion Township, Mich., plant, which is being retooled for a new small car.
“It sounds like GM needs an overflow plant,” said Alan Baum, research and analysis director of the Planning Edge, an automotive consulting firm. “They want more capacity for the Malibu, and of course, Fairfax also is making the Buick LaCrosse now. I don’t think Fairfax is losing the next Malibu.”
GM is about to add a third shift to the Fairfax plant in anticipation of growing demand. The LaCrosse was launched earlier this fall and has been well received.