GM to Invest $163M at U.S. Plants to Support Engines for Volt, Cruze, New Small Car
By Scott Doggett November 24, 2010
General Motors today announced a $163.2-million investment in its operations in Flint and Bay City, Michigan, and Defiance, Ohio, to support engine production for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, Chevrolet Cruze and a new Chevrolet small car to be built in the U.S.
Bay City Powertrain Plant Manager Joe Mazzeo and Flint Powertrain Plant Manager Kathleen Dilworth pose with 1.4-liter engines their plants will make.
-----------
The investment will protect 184 jobs at the three sites, 135 of which are located in Flint, a town that might ring a bell with you. Michael Moore's 1989 documentary film "Roger & Me" focused on former CEO Roger Smith's decision to close several plants there, at a time when GM was making record profits. The closures put 30,000 Americans out of work, while creating jobs abroad.
In a statement, Flint Engine Operations plant manager Kathleen Dilworth said "these three facilities will continue to play a key role in GM's resurgence and efforts to bring to market vehicles with segment-leading fuel economy."
The announcement has brought the total of GM's U.S. investment since the automaker emerged from bankruptcy in July 2009 to more than $3.3 billion and has resulted in the creation or retention of more than 8,000 jobs at 21 U.S. plants.
The investments will be used to support increased production of the Ecotec 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that is used in the Cruze and a 1.4-liter variant used in the Volt. The Cruze Eco, which the EPA recently rated at 42 MPG on the highway, is fitted with the Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo and a standard six-speed manual transmission.
Flint Engine is expected to start production of 400 engines a day in early 2011 and ramp up to 800 engines a day in late 2011. The newest investment increases its capacity to 1,200 a day in late 2012.
Bay City will increase connecting rod and camshaft production and Defiance will boost output of engine block and crankshaft castings.
In less than two years, GM has invested nearly $700 million and protected more than 600 jobs at the three facilities, thanks in large part to taxpayers' dollars.
LEAVE A COMMENT