The service writer at my Chevrolet dealer told me that the SS models were pulled from the regular HHR assembly line and hand built as SS by GM Performance Division. Is this correct?

 

That would not surprise me in the slightest. It could be a good thing. It could mean a few more GM jobs here in the US. Lord knows we could all use one. AND the hand done instead of assembly line COULD possibly yield better installs imo.

 

Could explain the GM performance tag in the eng compartment

 

I thought that came with the stage1 turbo upgrade.
The last time I knew of something like this was the SLP camaros, it would be nice to get some confirmation.

 

No, all the SS's have that, even new camaro's and such under the hood.

The stage1 comes with a premium required gas sticker. That is the main way I know easy to tell if one has it or not.

 

^^^^Thats correct, the GMS1 comes with the requires premium octane sticker and the metal GM performance badge.

 

I have a 2008 hhr ss, and a 2010 camaro ss and they both have the badge under the hood.

 

Lets stop this one before it get too far out.

The HHR SS were built on the same line with all other HHR's. None were pulled or done off line.

The GMPD badge is on all cars that were engineer and tuned by the GM Performance Division with or with out the turbo upgrade.

GMPD has tuned many cars like the Camaro SS, CTSV, Trailblazer SS and others. All wear the badge and all were line GM built cars.

Right now GMPD is working on the Cruze and Aveo for future models that will wear this badge.

GM only did the SLP cars as it helped them in emissions and production cost. Right now GM is doing all their performance cars in house.

I was at Lordstown a while back and even the Cobalt SS was badge with the GMPD and were built right behind and infront of a LS Cobalt sedan or coupe. The parts arrive on the line and get to the right cars with no issues and they are very easy to build.

Watch as in the future GM will build not only different models of the same car but they will build entire different cars on the same line. When the Camaro goes to the Alpha they may build them on the same line as the ATS Caddy.

 

The turbo upgrade kit also comes with a white GMPP (GM performance parts division sticker) as well as the ''premium fuel required'' sticker.

 

The SS is no longer being built, so even if what the OP was told was a true statement, which it is not, those jobs would now be gone.