By Sarah Foss
From apprentice to SVP of manufacturing: Mike Trevorrow returns to the plant where his career began
2026-02-26
By Sarah Foss
On a chilly December morning, General Motors Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing Mike Trevorrow clocked in at the North American Engineering and Tool Center (NAETC) in Flint, Michigan — the same facility where he started his GM career as a die maker’s apprentice more than 40 years ago.
At NAETC, Mike spent time learning — and relearning — the hands-on work behind the dies that help stamp hoods and fenders for GMC and Chevrolet vehicles. Mike rotated through four stations with teams across assembly, machining, verification and measurement – trying his hand at some of the fine-detail work and experiencing new technology in the tool and die space.
For Mike, the day was more than a plant tour. It was a return to his roots in skilled trades, at the very site where his GM story began, and a reminder of the people and processes that enable GM to build and deliver market-leading vehicles with safety and quality at the center.
“Days like this remind me that our greatest advantage isn’t just our technology — it’s our people,” Trevorrow said. “From the shear to the scanner, every step I saw today was about pride, precision and doing the job right.”
As GM continues to invest in U.S. manufacturing and develop the next generation of skilled trades talent, experiences like this help keep its culture grounded in hands-on work, continuous learning, and deep respect for the craft that builds every vehicle the company makes.
On a chilly December morning, General Motors Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing Mike Trevorrow clocked in at the North American Engineering and Tool Center (NAETC) in Flint, Michigan — the same facility where he started his GM career as a die maker’s apprentice more than 40 years ago.
At NAETC, Mike spent time learning — and relearning — the hands-on work behind the dies that help stamp hoods and fenders for GMC and Chevrolet vehicles. Mike rotated through four stations with teams across assembly, machining, verification and measurement – trying his hand at some of the fine-detail work and experiencing new technology in the tool and die space.
For Mike, the day was more than a plant tour. It was a return to his roots in skilled trades, at the very site where his GM story began, and a reminder of the people and processes that enable GM to build and deliver market-leading vehicles with safety and quality at the center.
“Days like this remind me that our greatest advantage isn’t just our technology — it’s our people,” Trevorrow said. “From the shear to the scanner, every step I saw today was about pride, precision and doing the job right.”
As GM continues to invest in U.S. manufacturing and develop the next generation of skilled trades talent, experiences like this help keep its culture grounded in hands-on work, continuous learning, and deep respect for the craft that builds every vehicle the company makes.