General Motors has just disclosed that a total of almost US$ 332 million will be invested in four manufacturing sites across the US to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions. The investments – announced today at GM plants in Flint and Bay City, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Ind. – will support production of a new Ecotec small gas engine, a new V6 engine, 8-speed transmission, and tooling for an existing 6-speed transmission. GM also is increasing previously announced powertrain investment in plants in Romulus and Saginaw, Mich., to $646 million – an increase of $46 million – to support production of the new V6 engine. Since 2009, GM has announced nearly $1.8 billion of investments for the six powertrain facilities.
Here is how the investments break down –
- $215 million in Flint Engine Operations for a new small Ecotec gasoline engine, which is part of a new family of engines that includes 3- and 4-cylinder variants with displacements ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters. Details of what variants the plant will build will be announced later. The plant will also upgrade tooling for its current V6 engine.
- $55.7 million in Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity and tooling to produce an all-new, advanced 8-speed automatic transmission and an existing 6-speed transmission. The Toledo-based 8-speed will be used in numerous GM vehicles by the end of 2016.
- $31.7 million in Bay City Powertrain including $19.2 million to produce components for a new V6 engine and $12.5 million to produce components for the small Ecotec gasoline engine.
- $29.4 million in Bedford Castings including $19 million to produce components for the small gas engine and $10.4 million to produce components for the new 8-speed and existing 6-speed transmissions.
