On the 28th of last month at GM Korea’s Changwon plant (GM Korea) on Changwon-daero in Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, South Gyeongsang Province. Inside the approximately 48,000㎡ plant, yellow robotic arms were continuously moving, welding the roof, body, floor, and other parts of vehicles. This is the plant where the roof and other body parts of Chevrolet’s compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) “Trax Crossover (Trax)” are welded to complete the body-in-white.

Although the plant is as large as seven soccer fields, only one or two employees could barely be seen on the shop floor. This is because all welding processes have been automated. A total of 627 welding robots automatically weld 3,650 points per vehicle with uniform quality and without deviation.

This body shop is where GM Korea’s automated assembly technology is concentrated. On one side of the plant, five robotic arms were precisely picking up components smaller than a human palm and assembling them in specified positions. When a parts box ran out, the system detected it and automatically replaced the box on its own.

Automation processes were also operating throughout the “assembly plant,” where interiors, engines, and other components are installed on the completed body from the body shop. In particular, the operation in which a robot independently attaches tires to the body attracted attention. Previously, workers had to lift 15–20kg tires onto the vehicle and then drag a heavy wrench machine to tighten the nuts. During complex assembly processes that robots cannot perform, the conveyor belt automatically adjusted the height of the vehicle—raising or lowering it to a level that made it easier for workers to operate.

GM Korea’s Changwon plant, with a total area of 730,000㎡, was established in 1991 during the Daewoo Motor era and initially produced the “Tico.” It subsequently produced models including the Damas and Labo until 2022. However, when GM’s U.S. headquarters invested a total of KRW 3 trillion in Korea in 2022, KRW 900 billion was allocated to the Changwon plant to build advanced production facilities, and the plant has since become the production base for the Trax.

The Trax, which began to be exported from Korea to the United States in 2023, rapidly became a popular model. Surpassing Hyundai Motor and Kia, it ranked first in passenger car exports by single model for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025, and it is performing well in the U.S. market with a 27% share in the compact SUV segment. Last year alone, 264,885 units were sold in the United States.

On 29th of last month at Masan Port (Gapo New Port), more than 6,000 Trax vehicles awaiting export were lined up. Kang Seon-il, Vice President of Purchasing at GM Korea, said, “The Changwon plant’s production capacity is about 60 units per hour, but the Trax is selling so well in the United States that supply currently cannot keep up with demand.”

Thanks to the success of the Trax, which is developed and produced in Korea and exported under the Chevrolet badge, GM Korea has continued to post profits, recording operating income of KRW 149 billion in 2023, KRW 220 billion in 2024, and KRW 431.4 billion last year.

In particular, GM Korea secured an additional investment of KRW 880 billion from the U.S. headquarters in March this year, enabling it to reinforce facilities. GM Korea plans to use half of this amount to upgrade production facilities, including the introduction of state-of-the-art press machines.

With successive investments, GM Korea has been able to partially dispel speculation about a possible withdrawal from the Korean market. Last year, it also paid dividends for the first time in 11 years. Asif Khatri, Vice President of Manufacturing for GM International Operations, said regarding the withdrawal speculation, “We are dispelling such concerns through our actions,” adding, “Management and the labor union will work together to further highlight that Korea is a very important strategic hub within global GM.”

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