DETROIT – Ontario Premier Doug Ford and a delegation from Ontario attended the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Michigan. The Premier held talks with the Governor of Michigan and shared the message that “Ontario is Open for Business” – the show was not all serious business, however. Workers from the General Motors plant in Oshawa in partnership with Lego© built a full-sized Chevrolet Silverado truck.
![Ontario Premier Doug Ford at International Auto Show hosting meetings. "We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the auto companies in Ontario," said Ford. "When job creators succeed, workers succeed, and communities succeed."](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ontario-Premier-at-North-American-International-Auto-Show-9.jpg)
During their meeting, the Premier congratulated Governor Whitmer on her recent election, and invited her to visit Toronto. They also discussed opportunities to support and increase trade between Ontario and Michigan. Ontario and Michigan share a long-standing, productive and valuable trade partnership. In 2017, trade exceeded CAD$85 billion (US$64 billion), and the economies are closely linked through supply chains. Auto parts built in Michigan are used in vehicles assembled in Ontario, and vice versa. Auto parts can cross North American borders up to seven times before being installed on a completed vehicle. Michigan is Ontario’s number one trade partner.
The Premier and minister also met with auto company executives and labour representatives. In their meetings with representatives from Ford, Magna, GM, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota, they discussed the measures that the Ontario government has already taken to make Ontario open for business. They also heard from industry leaders on how the government can support auto manufacturing jobs in Ontario.
“We are committed to supporting Ontario’s auto manufacturing sector and manufacturing workers,” said Ford. “We continue to listen to workers and employers about how best to support the creation of good new jobs and help people find those jobs.”
“Ontario’s auto sector supports hundreds of thousands of families across the province,” said Smith. “Our government is creating an environment where job creators ― including those in the auto sector ― can continue to grow and thrive. Our message to industry leaders is clear: Ontario is open for business.”
Chevy partners with “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part”
![Chevrolet revealed the first-ever full-size LEGO® Silverado at the North American International Auto Show. The truck is a continuation of the partnership between Chevy and Warner Bros. that began in 2017 with the LEGO® Batmobile.](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Chevy-Silverado-2019-FullSize-LEGO-Silverado-07.jpg)
With over 2000 person-hours of work and over 334,000 pieces of ©Lego, the truck is a real piece of engineering.
Chevrolet unveiled the first-ever full-size LEGO® Silverado over the weekend at the North American International Auto Show just ahead of the show opening to the public. The model is an exact life-size replica of the all-new 2019 Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss, and it is the first full-size Chevy vehicle built entirely of LEGO bricks.
The LEGO Silverado continues the partnership between Chevrolet and Warner Bros. Pictures that began in 2017 with “The LEGO Batman Movie” and the LEGO Batmobile from Chevy.
A custom mini-build of the Silverado High Country will make an appearance in the new big-screen animated adventure “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” when it debuts in theatres on Feb. 8. In this fun and action-packed sequel, the heroes of “The LEGO Movie” reunite to save their beloved city from a new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from space.
“Chevrolet is once again thrilled to be working with Warner Bros. to integrate the brand and one of our most iconic products – Silverado – into ‘The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,’” said Sandor Piszar, director of Chevrolet Truck marketing. “The themes of determination and teamwork in the new movie align perfectly with our Chevy brand values and we are sure that the all-new Silverado has the features, technologies and strength that would help Emmet, Lucy and their friends as they take on exciting new challenges.”
Eighteen specially trained LEGO Master Builders spent more than 2,000 hours hand-selecting and placing each of the 334,544 pieces on the red LEGO® Silverado, which has unique working lights and graphic details.
LEGO® Silverado Fast Facts:
- The LEGO® Silverado model is 72 inches (6 feet) high, 240 inches (20 feet) long and 96 inches (8 feet) wide.
- Total weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs.)
- Total number of LEGO bricks used to build the LEGO® Silverado: 334,544. Each piece was hand-selected and placed by a specially trained builder.
- Most common LEGO brick used: red 2×8 stud brick.
- The LEGO® Silverado took 18 builders more than 2,000 hours to assemble.
- The LEGO® Silverado was designed and assembled by LEGO Master Builders in the LEGO Group’s Model Shop in Enfield, Connecticut.
ABOUT CHEVROLET IN CANADA
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.ca, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/chevroletcanada or by following @ChevroletCanada on Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part”
The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt. The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.
“The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” stars Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, Maya Rudolph. Directed by Mike Mitchell from a screenplay by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, story by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and Matthew Fogel, based on LEGO Construction Toys, the film is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Roy Lee, and Jinko Gotoh; with executive producers Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone, Matthew Ashton, Chris McKay, Zareh Nalbandian, Ryan Halprin, Will Allegra, Chris Leahy. Patrick Marc Hanenberger is the production designer; Clare Knight, the editor; Mark Mothersbaugh, the composer; and Trisha Gum, the animation director. Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group present, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Rideback/Lord Miller/Vertigo Entertainment Production, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Rated PG. TheLEGOMovie.com
About The LEGO Group
The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK. Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO brick, it is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials. Guided by the company spirit: “Only the best is good enough”, the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.
LEGO, DUPLO, the LEGO logo, the minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2019 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.