Taking a trip back home

I post these pictures tentatively due to my run in with plant security. I am still quite ticked off by it so I almost deleted them but....wow....they came out pretty good on the crappy sony camera on my phone.

The short version of the story is this - I was taking pictures of my riviera at the various gates of the Orion assembly plant where these cars were built. It was the saturday morning of GM shutdown so no one was around. I then noticed the visitor lot was open and the gates were open so I drove in and took pictures in an empty, deserted parking lot. Next thing I know 2 cavaliers attempt to box me in and a V6 silverado appears on the scene as well. I explain that my car was built here over 15 years ago so I brought it back for photos and that it would be cool to show off to people. Free publicity for a plant that really really really needs it

....Apparently I caused "A massive security breach" to quote the guard who was almost as big as his cavalier. I almost explained to them that a) their gates were open b) this is the visitors lot and the only reason why this plant is operational is due to taxes on the rest of us and c) they advertise on the plant as assembling the sonic but really most assembly happens in korea this plant just adds some trim and some interior bits and calls it good. Then he asked for my camera because they " ....needed to confiscate the photos......". I really hope he was joking but I decided not to risk it, I stomped on it (they never asked me to turn off the engine ) and flew out of there before the truck could cut me off. Turns out my riv is faster than security cavaliers. Not saying much, but still.

Side note - this is the plant making the cruze which is the replacement to the cobalt....which was a replacement for the cavaliers the guards were driving....and ironically enough a car built at that very plant that was older than all of them showed them all how it's done!

But enough talk, you guys want pictures



























So I'll let you guys be the judge - did you learn anything that could compromise GM production?

In all seriousness though, aside from the bleached out look of the photos due to crappy camera software I was surprised as to how photogenic the car could be. It's such a simple shape....and yet there are so many little details and touches that every angle generates something new. My personal favorites are the shot of just the front under the banner of the factory and the last photo where she is "looking" at the old assembly molds and what not. almost like she's contemplating something (awwww )

I am doing a followup gallery where I will visit the old Buick powertrain facility only this time I might call and ask for when I can go into the visitor lot....although it still seems stupid to have to call to go into an open visitor lot when there is no production happening....

That's exactly what I thought about the last picture, too. Nice photo set, and yeah the reason why I wound up taking thousands of pictures of my Riv is because each angle looks different.

Remembering my recent work trips to China and India, however... this car is the target size, ride and equipment for the global middle class in the industrialized world. ...I kinda wonder how many Americans, you think, will react badly to learning that the Cruze is a Daewoo Lacetti? I also kinda wonder how many people in this segment (Corolla/Civic/Focus) will care about that at all?

@ albertj - None, it's built decently well and has more than 5$ worth of materials for the interior. It's no different than the germans learning that the SLS is actually a viper or that the G8 was australian and the 300C is an old benz. No one cares so long as the cars embody the end goal. And if you do get your panties in a bunch then too bad, globalization is here to stay.

And a slight correction to my post above - they don't produce the cruze here....this plant will be dedicated solely to the sonic and verano. It was really hot out that morning so I guess in the heat the other sonic looked like a cruze....I probably secretly wanted it to be a cruze so badly that I mentally saw it :/

But this also means something else - that plant is completely idle right now as it stopped malibu production in 2010 so it is currently in limited production and testing for the sonic and verano. IF that is the case then I can see why they didn't want me wandering the grounds. But then one has to ask why they left the front door open?

Kinda silly considering GM is touting the cars on web sites

http://www.chevrolet.com/sonic-family/

http://www.buick.com/vehicles/future-vehicles/verano.html

Why was the door "open" you ask? That's not such a big deal, people work all hours. Point is, it was not open for *you* per se. Security was just mad at you for forgetting to bring donuts and coffee.

Albertj

"My name is Bond,Chris Bond

That's excellent. And I still want to nut-stomp GM for changing the name of the Cavalier again. The Cobalt was fine. Why change it again? Because you want to chase Toyo/Hunduh/Nissan with their awful names?

And so the poor security system at this defunct plant tried to stop you and chase you when the gates were already open?!? Amazing.

Good pics sir.

I have an almost identical Riv and I live about 4 miles from that plant. I am going to either:

1) Stay the hell away from the plant OR

2) Part at one of the gates, walk around my car and act stupid if the guards ask me if I am taking photos

They didn't care about me being at the gate but they really didn't like me being in the lot. If I wasn't going back up to flint for school I would join you but I now need to attack buick city.

Nice pics, Chris!

Great pics! Those guards were just trying to scare you, I know cause I used to be a security guard. They're really not supposed to touch you unless you pose a direct physical risk to them or others (concerthalls and other venues can still legally do patdowns cause you agree to let them by buying a ticket). Since they can't touch you the standard procedure for something like this would be to use intimidation tactics, just like they tried to do. Ordinarily you would call the police before confronting the trespasser and simply stall them there till the real cops arrive. They can ask for your camera but you do not need to give it to him since he's not a cop (its not recommended he actually touch your camera anyway for fear of a lawsuit). Problem is if you give the guard too much crap and the cops do come, they will side with the guard and CAN confiscate your camera and ticket you for trespassing. Always remember security guards aren't there to keep you safe, they're there to make you feel safe.