DETROIT — Sometime right around Pączki Day, old will meet new in Hamtramck, Mich., as General Motors begins assembling Chevrolet Volts in this worn and beleaguered city.  Pączki Day is Hamtramck’s version of Fat Tuesday, and it takes its name from the jelly doughnuts, or pączkis, that the Polish bakeries of Hamtramck turn out to mark the day before Lent. The day is celebrated with much enthusiasm through both good and bad years in this old municipality that lies within Detroit’s city limits. But the beginning of Volt production will be reason to party more earnestly than usual, as a place known for preserving the old ways becomes very much a part of the new way.  The G.M. Detroit-Hamtramck plant, which was built in 1985, is building the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne. Volts will be assembled on the same lines. While some new jobs will be coming to Michigan, the majority of the work force is already in place. So the selection of Hamtramck isn’t a bonanza for the legions of unemployed, but jobs not lost qualify as very good news.  While there are numerous G.M. plants that could have been chosen for Volt production, Hamtramck had many factors working in its favor. For one, there’s a skilled work force in place. The facility is close to the plant that will be making the Volt battery packs in Brownstown Township. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the engineering team will be just a few miles away in Warren, so this important start of production can be monitored carefully.  Like a meal at one of Hamtramck’s Polish restaurants, Volt production will begin at a rather leisurely pace, with the first-year supply probably numbering in the thousands. Eventually, tens of thousands of Volts could roll out of the plant. At that point, Volt production might begin to rival the number of pączkis made in the city. A sweet thought for Michigan residents.
Hamtramck, Michigan, a beleaguered city with a strong Polish heritage, received some good news this week. G.M. announced the Chevy Volt would be produced there.