Few things translate as easily into election-year votes than announcing more jobs at a big factory in town -- especially in hard-hit Michigan. So no surprise Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero upstaged General Motors with his own announcement that Cadillac's new ATS compact sedan -- designed to be a BMW 3-Series fighter -- will be built at the Lansing Grand River plant that makes Caddy"s STS and CTS.
Tally: 600 new union jobs, $190 million in spending by GM to equip the plant, votes TBA. (Did we mention Bernero is the Democrat running for governor of Michigan?)
No comment from GM or the United Auto Workers after Bernero talked to the hometown Lansing State Journal, but a GM announcement is expected today. Look for CEO Dan Akerson to be joined by more Michigan politicians. The election is Tuesday, after all.
The ATS will be a smaller, less expensive rear-drive sibling of the CTS . Along with rivaling BMW's 3 line, the ATS will take on Infiniti G37, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Acura TSX, among others -- a tough group. A coupe may quickly follow the sedan and a droptop and even sport wagon are reported under consideration.
If Caddy adds an ATS-V performance model that's as good as its pulse-pushing CTS-V sedan, coupe and wagon, GM could have a credible homegrown rival for Bimmer's M3.