GM has announced its largest single facility investment in the US this year to improve the Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas.

Thanks to the massive $1.4 billion investment, the plant will get a new paint shop, body shop and general assembly area upgrades, allowing it to “more competitively produce high-quality full-size SUVs.” Construction will begin this summer and will take approximately three years to complete.

GM said the construction will not affect production schedules for Chevrolet Tahoes and Suburbans, GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs and Cadillac Escalades.

“This super-sized investment reflects GM’s commitment to our full-size SUV customers who expect nothing but the absolute best from us and their vehicles,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations vice president.

With this announcement, GM’s total investment at Arlington Assembly nears $2 billion, including the launch of the current full-size SUVs and a new stamping plant. The announcement is part of the $5.4 billion GM announced it would invest in US manufacturing over the next three years. Approximately $4.5 billion of the $5.4 billion has been identified, leaving about $900 million to be announced by year end.

Since June 2009, GM has announced US facility investment of approximately $17.8 billion. About $12.4 billion of that has come since the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement. GM says these investments have created a total of 6,250 new jobs and secured the positions of approximately 20,700 others.

PHOTO GALLERY