automotive production facility Archives - News Now Warsaw https://www.newsnowwarsaw.com/tag/automotive-production-facility/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:38:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Slate Auto highlights innovation as electric truck maker ramps up toward production in Warsaw https://www.newsnowwarsaw.com/slate-auto-highlights-innovation-as-electric-truck-maker-ramps-up-toward-production-in-warsaw/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:38:15 +0000 https://www.newsnowwarsaw.com/?p=136227 By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

[caption id="attachment_136230" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo of hard hat provided by Slate Auto.[/caption]

WARSAW — Slate Auto’s transformation of the old RR Donnelley printing plant in Warsaw into a high tech automotive production facility continues on schedule, according to the company which offered a glimpse on Friday into the changes.

Local media on Friday took a tour of part of the 1.3 million square foot property including the production area that was gutted and brought back to life over the past year.

The start-up automotive company seeks to shake up the market with a stripped-down "Blank Slate" vehicle with a price of $24,950.

More than 180,000 people previously placed a refundable $50 reservation and more than 10,000 have now placed $300 down payments.

“We’re really excited that we have the reservations to prove this is the truck that America wants," said Jeff Jablansky, Slate's head of public relations and communications.

Dan Tasiemski, Slate's head of manufacturing engineering, said they remain on schedule to begin production in the fourth quarter.

Friday's tour focused on part of the production area, which looks like a new plant, already busy with employees and contractors moving across newly installed heavy duty cement flooring.

Jablansky said the factory is essentially "full and basically ready to start building.”

The tour on golf carts included a stop in the body shop where robots could be seen moving behind what looked like wire cages, moving quietly and efficiently.

"The body shop alone (has) 374 robots and just behind us, we're adding 20-plus over here, so this building alone will have over 400 robots in it," Tasiemski said.

The ongoing ramp-up is currently in the design validation phase of the prototype process, which is one step ahead of building production vehicles, Tasiemski said.

[caption id="attachment_136255" align="alignright" width="380"] Dan Tasiemski, Slate's head of manufacturing engineering, stands in front of a work station on the assembly line that moves up and down for better ergonomics. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Eventually, the company plans to push about 35 trucks an hour through the assembly process. At peak production, the company will use three shifts of workers spanning 20 hours.

The tour also took reporters over a stretch of outdoor pavement that felt like an intense and lengthy rumble strip. The company calls it the BSR, (short for buzz, squeak, rattle) that is part of quality control.

Slate also highlighted how work stations on the assembly line can moves up and down for better ergonomics.

Construction of a 133,000 square-foot extension of the production building is currently under way.

Slate has headquarters in Michigan and other offices in California, and has already hired 575 people for the Warsaw facility. Eventually, the company plans to employ around 2,000 and continues to hire aggressively.

The company is currently hiring, with an emphasis on attracting local workers.

“We need and we want those local candidates … to be a part of this team,” said Stacy Burk, head of plant human resources, “My goal, and I think a lot of the leadership's goal here is to create a generational place.” 

Workers, she said, will need “a willingness to be part of something fun. I tell them, 'You know, if you want to come to a company that's got a great culture, come here. You will want to be a part of this. You'll want to come to work every day.' ”

Below are photos taken during the tour by News Now Warsaw.

[caption id="attachment_136260" align="aligncenter" width="752"] Plans to construct an extension of the automotive production area are underway.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

The post Slate Auto highlights innovation as electric truck maker ramps up toward production in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

]]> By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
Photo of hard hat provided by Slate Auto.

WARSAW — Slate Auto’s transformation of the old RR Donnelley printing plant in Warsaw into a high tech automotive production facility continues on schedule, according to the company which offered a glimpse on Friday into the changes.

Local media on Friday took a tour of part of the 1.3 million square foot property including the production area that was gutted and brought back to life over the past year.

The start-up automotive company seeks to shake up the market with a stripped-down “Blank Slate” vehicle with a price of $24,950.

More than 180,000 people previously placed a refundable $50 reservation and more than 10,000 have now placed $300 down payments.

“We’re really excited that we have the reservations to prove this is the truck that America wants,” said Jeff Jablansky, Slate’s head of public relations and communications.

Dan Tasiemski, Slate’s head of manufacturing engineering, said they remain on schedule to begin production in the fourth quarter.

Friday’s tour focused on part of the production area, which looks like a new plant, already busy with employees and contractors moving across newly installed heavy duty cement flooring.

Jablansky said the factory is essentially “full and basically ready to start building.”

The tour on golf carts included a stop in the body shop where robots could be seen moving behind what looked like wire cages, moving quietly and efficiently.

“The body shop alone (has) 374 robots and just behind us, we’re adding 20-plus over here, so this building alone will have over 400 robots in it,” Tasiemski said.

The ongoing ramp-up is currently in the design validation phase of the prototype process, which is one step ahead of building production vehicles, Tasiemski said.

Dan Tasiemski, Slate’s head of manufacturing engineering, stands in front of a work station on the assembly line that moves up and down for better ergonomics. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.

Eventually, the company plans to push about 35 trucks an hour through the assembly process. At peak production, the company will use three shifts of workers spanning 20 hours.

The tour also took reporters over a stretch of outdoor pavement that felt like an intense and lengthy rumble strip. The company calls it the BSR, (short for buzz, squeak, rattle) that is part of quality control.

Slate also highlighted how work stations on the assembly line can moves up and down for better ergonomics.

Construction of a 133,000 square-foot extension of the production building is currently under way.

Slate has headquarters in Michigan and other offices in California, and has already hired 575 people for the Warsaw facility. Eventually, the company plans to employ around 2,000 and continues to hire aggressively.

The company is currently hiring, with an emphasis on attracting local workers.

“We need and we want those local candidates … to be a part of this team,” said Stacy Burk, head of plant human resources, “My goal, and I think a lot of the leadership’s goal here is to create a generational place.” 

Workers, she said, will need “a willingness to be part of something fun. I tell them, ‘You know, if you want to come to a company that’s got a great culture, come here. You will want to be a part of this. You’ll want to come to work every day.’ ”

Below are photos taken during the tour by News Now Warsaw.

Plans to construct an extension of the automotive production area are underway.

 

 

 

 

The post Slate Auto highlights innovation as electric truck maker ramps up toward production in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

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