ARLINGTON, TX—General Motors’ assembly plant here celebrated its 70th anniversary last week and assembled its 13 millionth vehicle. The milestone vehicle is a 2024 Cadillac Escalade-V powered by a 682-horsepower supercharged V8 engine.

Arlington Assembly is the exclusive assembly site for GM’s full-size gas and diesel-powered SUVs, which have dominated the full-size SUV segment for nearly 50 years. The plant employs more than 5,400 people and has employed thousands more since 1954.

“Milestones like these are met only through the dedication, determination and skill of our employees,” said John Urbanic, plant executive director. “We can’t thank our employees enough for what they do every day. We build each vehicle as if it were our own and value every customer.”

Arlington Assembly has produced many iconic vehicles over its 70-year history, including the Pontiac Chieftain, Chevrolet Bel Air, Pontiac GTO, Cadillac Brougham, and Buick Regal. The plant converted to truck production in 1997, and a stamping facility that produces all the major exterior and mating interior panels was added to the site in 2012. In 2019, the plant produced its 12 millionth vehicle.

The plant has undergone numerous investments over the years, totaling $1.9 billion since 2014. A thoroughly modernized body shop, equipped with 1,450 robotic welders, was initiated in 2020.

The assembly team works three shifts, six days a week to keep up with demand, and the plant assembles more than 1,350 vehicles per day. It exports vehicles to over 30 countries. At 6 million total square feet, the factory is one of GM’s largest assembly plants. It contains more than 20 miles of conveyors.