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Arlington Assembly exports more vehicles than any other GM U.S. plant.
Everything is bigger in Texas – including the global reach of our GM Arlington Assembly plant. Each day nearly 5,500 team members assemble full-size SUVs, many of which are exported as far away as the Middle East.
Arlington currently assembles the Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe for markets in 32 countries across the globe, making it the most export-heavy manufacturing site within GM.
The plant’s export process helps support the business in many ways, and the impact stretches far beyond Texas.
Customized for Every Country
GM exported nearly 70,000 total vehicles in 2020 across all brands, and the Chevy Tahoe alone accounted for more than 11,000 of those exports, the most of any model.
“The products assembled here in Arlington go to South America, Russia, Korea ... but the highest-volume region by far is the Middle East. These vehicles are really part of the culture in that part of the world.”
- Mike Stevens, Arlington Assembly plant launch operations manager
Each export vehicle produced by the plant must meet specific requirements based on the destination country and to support functionality in other climates. This usually involves modifications to the vehicle, and sometimes the changes are substantial. Vehicle content changes include exterior lighting modifications and window tinting, and in-vehicle text and all labels must be translated or use universal symbols. Regulations for different countries can vary widely, therefore extensive testing must be performed annually at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan to certify export vehicles for country-specific emissions and noise standards.
One of the most unique examples of an export modification is the state-automated emergency response system that is required for Russian exports. This system provides driver assistance and allows local police to communicate with drivers. The system is similar to OnStar in the U.S. but is government-controlled and requires a few unique adjustments.
Export vehicles often have different requirements, depending on the market where they’re headed. This Cadillac Escalade bound for Russia had to be modified to ensure only the lower half of the taillamps illuminates.
Local Support with Global Impact
Arlington Assembly exports support the business by creating volume for our manufacturing plants. Increased volume not only supports jobs in Arlington, but our suppliers and the component, propulsion and metal stamping plants that support export vehicles are positively impacted, as well.
Exporting vehicles across the globe is one of the ways the plant can maintain high volume, keep jobs and spread work across three shifts. Exports also stretch GM’s brand reputation across the globe – promoting the GM name and exposing the world to the high quality of our flagship vehicles.
Quality for Every Region
Most export vehicle specifications in Arlington are supported at the plant level and built into the assembly line. The plant’s stringent quality checks help ensure vehicles are correct – no matter its destination.
Our detailed error-proofing process confirms every export has the right specifications and ensures quality for our customers across the globe.