Pilkington: GM partnership strengthens

Pilkington Automotive has been awarded the windshield business for the next J-car, the platform for the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire.Pilkington's US operation will supply 300,000 windshields per year beginning with the 2005 model year, which starts production in 2004.

The new car line will be built at GM's assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, and the glass will be manufactured at Pilkington's Collingwood, Ontario facility. Value added operations, such as the application of mouldings, will take place at a new satellite facility near GM in Lordstown, an innovation that keeps costs down for both parties.

Said Shannon Dickens, Pilkington Automotive future programmes quote manager. "It was a great win for Pilkington, and happened because of our ability to meet all four GM criteria: quality, service, technology and price."