• GM’s Flint, Michigan, plant hits 16 million vehicles after nearly 80 years in the game.
  • Milestone 16 millionth vehicle also gets the 3.5 millionth Duramax diesel engine.
  • Historic plant once built Corvettes, now dominates heavy-duty pickup production.

GM’s Flint Assembly plant has been cranking out vehicles since 1947, and it’s clearly got no plans to retire to Florida just yet. The Michigan factory has just built its 16 millionth vehicle, which is kind of mind-boggling. The milestone truck is a Chevrolet Silverado, and it isn’t just any truck.

The Lakeshore Blue 2500 HD Crew Cab LTZ also happens to be packing the 3.5 millionth Duramax diesel engine, which is clearly GM doing a double-flex, and who can blame it? Those are some impressive numbers.

Related: GM Extends Flint Assembly Shutdown, Leaving Thousands Temporarily Out Of Work

To mark the occasion, the company rolled the truck through the factory like a celebrity on a farewell tour. Workers across the line got their moment as the pickup moved through body, paint, trim and final assembly, reminding everyone this kind of milestone doesn’t happen by accident, or without their help.

More Than Trucks

Flint has always been more than just a truck factory, though. Long before heavy-duty pickups became its calling card, it helped launch some seriously iconic cars. We’re talking classic Bel Airs, Monte Carlos and Impalas. Not a bad résumé for one plant.

GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One

The first 300 C1 Corvettes were even built there back in 1953 before GM switched production to St Louis the following year. The Corvette then moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1981, where it still resides.

These days, Flint all about the big stuff. Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD trucks roll out of the gates for customers who actually use their vehicles for work, towing, and generally intimidating compact crossovers everywhere.

Customer Collection

GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
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GM also brought in the lucky customer who’ll get the anniversary Silverado to underline the company’s built-to-last message. Andy Sanford showed up to watch his new truck come together, and ride shotgun while it was put through its dynamic testing paces.

And given his history, he’ll be making plenty more memories in his new Silverado because his last one, a 2016 Silverado HD with a Duramax diesel has close to a million miles (1.6 million km) on the clock and is still going strong on its original injectors.

That kind of story is marketing gold, but it’s also the sort of real-world durability buyers in this segment actually care about. Flint’s boss Theo Lavergne says the GM plant’s strength comes from the teamwork and attention to detail that goes into every truck.

It’s the same corporate speak you’d get from any plant boss, sure, but after 16 million vehicles, they’ve probably earned the right to say it.

GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One
GM’s 16 Millionth Vehicle In Flint Is Going To A Man With Nearly 1 Million Miles On His Last One

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