GM Parking Only for Flint Michigan Plant Tour

Car Ownership

I buy American products whenever possible and I have always owned a General Motors or Ford vehicle. This is an old value passed down from my father who was rumored to ban my older sister from going on a date with a young man that drove a foreign car.

That being said, who is to say what is American any more? Do you buy a foreign car assembled in the United States putting Americans to work? Or do you buy an American vehicle assembled in Canada with Japanese parts? I’m not sure what is best for the American trying to support other Americans.

GM Parking Only

While visiting the Flint area of our great state, the group I was with had plans to tour the GM Flint Assembly Truck Plant; a place where Americans build American vehicles in America. We were dropped off on the side of the road outside of the entrance for tours because the vans we were in were not GM products. There were many signs posted, “GM Product Parking Only,” in the parking lot surrounding the entrance for tours. With no sidewalk and a busy road, we made our way to the visitor lobby of the plant.

We waited for our van drivers to return in the one GM vehicle we had amongst the group. I asked what this “GM Product Parking Only” policy was. The union tour guide informed me that is was a “company policy,” not a union thing, and was “for civic pride.” I appreciate the idea that all employees are encouraged to buy their employer’s product, but to extend that to the visitor parking lot to would-be buyers is crazy. If they want to show-off their products to potential future customers, one would have to assume they drive all brands of vehicles. With company attitudes like this, no wonder they have had financial problems.

As for the Tour …

The tour was long, nearly two hours, and shows you a lot. There were many hard working people – doing the same thing over and over – doing a  job I would not want.  No cameras are allowed inside and you must schedule your tour a week in advance. The free tours are available most weekdays at 9:00 a.m. and can be scheduled through the Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (810) 232-5758.

Michael writes about happenings in the Rochester area, travels across Michigan and destinations around the world. Contact him at Michael@RochesterMedia.com

About Michael Dwyer

Michael Dwyer is a freelance content provider. Michael writes about happenings in the Rochester area, travels across Michigan and destinations around the world. Contact him at michael@rochestermedia.com.

Comments

  1. Stephen L. Wykes says

    Hi
    Thanks for the article,
    I’m going to try to go there next week to see my truck get built
    a white 3500 Duramax Dually

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