LORDSTOWN, OH — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined workers from UAW Locals 1112 and 1714 to announce the winner of the one-millionth Chevrolet Cruze built at Lordstown Complex today.

“As we celebrate the more than one million Chevy Cruzes produced right here in Lordstown, we’re proving the naysayers wrong,” Brown said. “This is just another example of Ohio workers putting the “Made in America” label on goods and products that are used around the world.

“For the past 50 years, workers in Lordstown have made this plant GM’s largest in the U.S. and one of the most productive in North America,” Brown continued. “The work done here today ensures that future generations of Lordstown workers will continue that great American tradition.”

UAW Locals 1112 and 1714 purchased the landmark Cruze, which rolled off the line in June, to be raffled to a Lordstown UAW team member. Raffle proceeds beyond the cost of the Cruze will be donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Youngstown. Brown drew the winning name.

Brown is a longtime advocate for the auto industry and the Lordstown GM plant. Brown celebrated the first Chevy Cruze “off the line” in September 2010. In September 2009, Brown visited the Lordstown facility with President Obama. That visit followed several meetings Brown had with then-GM CEO Fritz Henderson about the future of the facility and the manufacture of the Chevy Cruze. Brown also visited the facility in May 2009 after he successfully fought for assistance to the auto industry and in August 2008 to celebrate a multi-million dollar investment in the facility that helped launch initial production of the Chevy Cruze.

Brown has been an outspoken advocate for Ohio’s auto industry. In November of 2008, he introduced S. 3175, the Auto Industry Emergency Bridge Loan Act, with a bipartisan group of colleagues. In December 2008, Brown fought to ensure that funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) were allocated to aid the Big 3 and American auto suppliers.


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