GM recently announced that they will spend an estimated $439 million to build a new 450,000 square-foot paint facility for the C7 Corvette. Construction is slated to begin sometime mid-summer of 2015. The Bowling Green, Kentucky plant will see a host of upgrades which include the addition of longer and higher efficient baking ovens, new tooling attributes, and the enhancement of additional robots.

Expected to take approximately two years, the investment is one part of a $5.4 billion GM business plan to spend on U.S. plants and facilities over the course of three years. One of GM’s most courageous moves since recovering from the economic downfall of 2008. Karl Brauer, senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book shared that the sales of the Corvette are up 2.5-percent in 2015 and the car has done extremely well in the marketplace.

The C7 Corvette had an eight-year record high in 2014 selling close to 38,000 cars worldwide, and was even able to obtain 61.2-percent of the high-performance car market in 2014. While many are criticizing the bold moves of both GM and Chevrolet, Brauer shared, “They understand the unique status of the Corvette as America’s sports car because it’s been in production since 1953.” Perhaps those now in power really do understand the potential of the Corvette.

Corvette production schedules will be unaffected by the plant expansion, and 150 new jobs will be created as a result. Vice President of UAW, Cindy Estrada said, “Hardworking UAW members have proudly built vehicles in Bowling Green for more than 30 years, and we are pleased to be a part of such a significant facility upgrade.” GM certainly seems to be upping the anti with their sights set on rival competitors the world over.