A sign of better times ahead?  GM says that in order to meet growing customer demand for some of their hot-selling vehicles, Warren transmission in Warren, Michigan, is adding over 100 new jobs to its second shift six-speed operations.

Warren supplies transmissions for nine GM models including the Chevy Equinox and Traverse and the GMC Acadia and Terrain.  The plant produces four- and six-speed transmissions and employs approximately 660 hourly and 120 salaried employees.  The new jobs will be filled with UAW members currently on layoff, drawn from the UAW-GM local area hire.

GM says that for the first three months of 2010, Equinox midsize SUV sales are up 130 percent compared to the same period last year, while Buick Terrain crossover SUV sales are up 245 percent.