By Joseph Szczesny
 General Motors plans to spend more than $131 million over the next two to prepare for the production of the new generation Corvette at its assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky.
 GM said Wednesday the invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette will add about 250 jobs to the plant's payroll.
 “This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president.
 "Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world's best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage,” Reuss said.
 The plant in Bowling Green is scheduled to continue building the current generation Corvette for at least the next two model years, including the 2012 model year that begins this summer.  During this period, the investment starts to take effect, preparing the facility for the next-generation Corvette, Reuss said.
 "This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers," Reuss added.
 Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Chevrolet Corvette –Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1.  Corvette’s current generation, the sixth in its 58-year history, has seen the car enter the realm of the world’s highest-performing cars.