[camaro5]

The Detroit auto industry's annual summer shutdown is a tradition that goes back many decades, but this year, General Motors is taking a pass.

It comes from a time when the new model year started in September for every car and they all debuted simultaneously, usually in dealer showrooms.

The shutdown was the two week period in the summer during which all the plants installed updated tooling for the new models.


In more recent times, the practice has persisted as a time to do maintenance and other work that might interfere with production – even if it hasn't coincided with the launch of a new model.

This year, however, GM's inventories on many models are running so low that nine of the automaker's 11 assembly plants will keep producing vehicles during the designated shutdown period.

Among the plants that will stay open are the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that builds the Cadillac DTS, the Delta Township plant builds the Lambda crossovers and the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY. Full press release after the jump.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/18/g...s-to-meet-dem/

Carpocalypse is fading! More Vettes!! (and Camaros)