Auto jobs boosting Michigan's economy (again)

General Motors Co. is expected to announce today that it's investing $2 billion in 17 plants and adding 4,200 jobs--$4-a-gallon gas be damned.

GM Chairman Dan Akerson and Ohio Gov. John Kasich are slated to make the announcement at a GM transmission plant in Toledo. But Michigan appears to be the big winner.

Akerson reportedly will announce that GM will add 2,000 jobs at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant to boost production of the Chevy Volt. Take that, all you naysayers who predicted the Volt would flop!



The prospect of long-term high gas prices, and the fact that the Volt is a great car, are fueling strong sales.

When gas prices last topped $4 a gallon three years ago, automakers were touting vehicles that got 30 miles to the gallon. Now, a few are boosting of models that achieve 40 mpg. Maybe automakers will be able to meet President Barack Obama's mandate that they meet a 62 mpg standard by 2025 after all.