(July 18, 2011) FLINT, Mich. — General Motors will invest $328 million to prepare its plant in Flint, Mich. to build the next generation of Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickup trucks, creating or retaining 150 jobs.

The plant, which currently has 2,047 employees, builds the heavy-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. 

Sales of the new-for-2011 trucks have led to an additional 2.4 percentage points of market share (through May), bringing GM’s total HD share to 36 percent.

“This investment will allow us to continue building award-winning full-size pickups that offer better fuel efficiency than ever before without sacrificing features and functionality,” said Cathy Clegg, GM vice president of Labor Relations. “We remain committed to providing customers the utility and capability of our world-class full-size pickups.”

GM’s retail share of the full-size pickup market has grown to 40.4 percent through May compared with 37.7 percent in the first five months of 2010.

The investment announced Monday is part of $2 billion GM is spending that will create or retain about 4,000 jobs in 17 facilities in eight states over the next 18 months. 

Michigan has been a major beneficiary in the current round of investments, designated for $744 million. The Flint Engine, Bay City Powertrain, Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, Lansing Grand River Assembly, Saginaw Powertrain and GM Components Holdings in Wyoming, Mich., all were designated for manufacturing investment along with a $130 million Data Center on its Warren, Mich. Technical Center campus.