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LG Chem ready to double workforce at plant that makes Volt batteries

With a history that involves paying people not to work, the fact that LG Chem is going to hire more people for its electric-vehicle battery plant in Holland, Michigan is good news on a couple fronts for the Korean company. The South Korea-based LG Chem is holding a job fair at the factory about 30 miles west of Grand Rapids. The company wants to double its workforce this year to "several hundred people." LG Chem, whose factory notably makes the cells for General Motors' Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle battery, is looking for everything from technical operators to maintenance workers to production supervisors. The company held a previous job fair last September that resulted in about 40 people being hired. The prior year, though, LG Chem gained a measure of infamy after the US Department of Energy (DOE) discovered that workers were, for a time, getting paid to do absolutely nothing because low demand for battery packs made it cheaper for the factory to remain idle. With LG Chem also making electric-vehicle battery components for Ford, Renault, Hyundai, and Volvo, though, those lazy days appear to be long gone. Take a look at LG Chem's press release below. Show full PR text LG Chem Michigan Inc. 2nd Job Fair Will Help To Double Its Holland Workforce HOLLAND, Mich., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Chem Michigan Inc. (LGCMI) is conducting a 2nd job fair on Thursday, May 14 as part of the company's efforts to double the size of its production workforce in 2015. LGCMI is an air-conditioned, clean room production environment with strong opportunity for career growth. Over 250 people attended the first job fair and the company is looking for more people to help it grow with increased production volume and new models. The company is adding production equipment and new processes and expects to employ several hundred people by the end of the year. Globally, LG Chem has numerous automakers as clients for EV batteries including GM, Ford, Renault, Hyundai/Kia, Volvo, Audi and Daimler etc. The company's push to build its workforce continues on Thursday, May 14 with an all-day job fair at the company's facilities, located at 1 LG Way in Holland. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and is open to everyone seeking employment opportunities with the company. Prospective candidates should plan to meet with members of LGCMI's staff to learn more about opportunities available at this market-leading, advanced-technology manufacturing company.

Leaked GM document shows GMC Sierra I6 diesel is more powerful than F-150's

GM told us earlier this year that the 2019 GMC Sierra would be getting a 3.0-liter I6 diesel option, but it never mentioned power or fuel economy figures. Hold the phone though, because a leaked GM Canada document just showed up online that lists out the details we've been waiting for. Originally published by TFL Truck, the 3.0-liter oil-burner supposedly makes 282 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. For those who are counting, that's more than the Ford F-150's 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet from its 3.0-liter diesel. It soundly bests the 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque from Ram's 3.0-liter diesel as well. Fuel economy is another story, though. The promotional material states that it will get 28 mpg on the highway, which is 2 mpg short of the F-150's 30 mpg — mind you, it's only capable of that magical 30 mpg figure in rear-wheel drive form. There's another caveat here, too; these are numbers for Canada, so they're not exactly finalized EPA figures. However, we wouldn't expect drastic differences between the two when the American numbers come out. The leaked documents also state the diesel Sierra will be capable of towing 7,800 pounds. That number seems remarkably low when compared to the F-150, which can tow up to 11,400 pounds with its diesel. Extra power and torque would have us assume that GM could get even better numbers than Ford, so we're going to hold our final judgment for official word. A 10-speed automatic will do the shifting on the diesel, just like on the 6.2-liter V8. Since the Chevy Silverado is also expected to get this engine, we can assume the figures would be almost, if not identical, to those we see here. We recently drove the 2019 Sierra and Silverado without the diesel engines, so go check those reviews out if you'd like to know more of our thoughts on the redesigned GM trucks. Related video:

2022 Chevy Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon get updated transmission

General Motors' full-sized SUVs have slipped in one more change before the year turns. GM Authority reports that the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and the 2022 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL equipped with gas V8 engines, will pick up a revised ten-speed automatic transmission. The new unit carries RPO code MHS, and Chevrolet communications rep Catherine Scales told GMA the updated gearbox "allows our manufacturing and dealer teams to more easily align the specific calibration needed for the transmission and can enable OTA updates in the future." It seems GM wants to make it easier to update the transmission's tuning and calibration in the future with the automaker's networked Vehicle Intelligence Platform/Global B electronic architecture. The 10-speed auto comes bolted to the 5.3-liter V8 and the 6.2-liter V8. The 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel continues with the 10-speed automatic already in use. To recap the other changes for the full-sizers, we'll start with the 2022 Tahoe and Suburban, which get a new 12.3-inch digital instrument display to replace the former 8-inch unit and physical gauges. Navigation will be standard equipment displayed on the 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen on all trims barring the base LS. Lane-keeping assist and parking sensors are also now standard, while reverse automatic braking is added to the Enhanced Display and Alert package on the top trims. Finally, the 6.2-liter V8 option is expanded to the Z71, RST and Premier trim levels, but it requires selecting one or more packages on the Z71 and RST. Moving onto the 2022 Yukon, availability of the 6.2-liter V8 expands to the AT4 trim, and the big V8 comes with a shiny pair of exhaust finishers. Redwood Metallic paint joins the exterior color palette, more wheel options are on offer, and illuminated sill plates can gussy up the rocker panels . An Enhanced Trailering Technology Package adds 13 cameras with the option for an interior accessory camera for those with enclosed haulers. On the safety side, expect reverse automatic braking to join the list of available driver assistance features. Inside, the Yukon welcomes the 12.3-inch digital cluster, the Yukon Denali welcomes the power sliding console as a standard feature instead of a $350 option.  Related Video: