Fairfax Assembly & Stamping
Fairfax Assembly & Stamping is a General Motors car plant in Kansas City, Kansas. It has been operating since 1987. The site covers 572 acres and has about 4.9 million square feet of space. It employs around 2,200 people who are represented by UAW Local 31.
History: The site began as a World War II bomber plant next to Fairfax Airport, where B-25 bombers were built. After the war GM bought the building and turned it into an auto plant. The original Fairfax plant stopped producing in May 1987, and production moved to the new Fairfax II on the former airport site, a project costing about $1 billion. The new plant began in 1988 with the Pontiac Grand Prix.
Notable vehicles: The plant was the exclusive maker of the Saturn Aura, which was named the 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year. It also produced mid-size sedans like the Chevrolet Malibu for many years. In 2024, Malibu production ended as GM shifted to SUVs and EVs.
Current and future products: The plant was retooled to build the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Chevrolet Equinox. The 2023 UAW-GM contract confirmed Bolt EV and Equinox production at Fairfax.
Strike and labor: In 2023, during the UAW strikes, Fairfax was idled for 46 days due to a parts shortage from the Wentzville plant, causing about 2,000 temporary layoffs. The contract included a 25% wage increase over 4.5 years, reinstated cost-of-living adjustments, and ended the tiered wage system, securing Fairfax's future production plans.
Aura and platform: The Saturn Aura used the GM Epsilon platform shared with the Malibu and was praised for its design and driving dynamics. The Aura production ended when Saturn was discontinued in GM's 2009 bankruptcy.
Future focus: GM plans to keep Fairfax making Bolt EV and Equinox, as part of a dual-track strategy for EVs and traditional vehicles.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:14 (CET).