The plant will build camshafts for the next-gen ECOTEC engines, GM’s highest volume and most advanced four-cylinder powerplant that propels The General’s most popular vehicles, including the Chevy Malibu and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse and Regal, as well as the GMC Terrain.
According to GM manufacturing manager Gerald Johnson, this particular investment will result in the creation of 15 new jobs at the plant, while the total employment effect from GM’s three investments will result in 113 new hires at Bay City.
GM’s current lineup of ECOTEC engines is rather impressive, ranging in displacement from teensy 1.4 liter motors that produce less than 100 horses all the way to the turbocharged 2.8 liter turbo ECOTEC good for 320 hp found in the Opel Insignia OPC.
But with the demise of the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline, the North American market is devoid of these high-performance ECOTECs (LNF series). Let’s hope the next-gen ECOTEC mills will be available in their high-performance (boosted) guises in the States and beyond.
GM to Invest $20 Million in Bay City Powertrain Facility
Third Investment in 2010 Brings Michigan Plant Total to $62.5 Million
2010-08-18
BAY CITY, Mich. – General Motors today announced a $20 million investment in its Bay City, Mich. Powertrain operations to produce camshafts for the next generation Ecotec engine, bringing new investment at the plant to $62.5 million this year.
“This specific investment results in 15 jobs at the plant, but the cumulative employment impact of these three investments is 113 people,” said GM Manufacturing Manager Gerald Johnson.
The Ecotec is GM’s highest volume, most-advanced four-cylinder engine program and powers popular products like the Chevrolet Malibu and Equinox, the Buick LaCrosse and new Regal, and the GMC Terrain.
The Ecotec engine family is known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and performance. GM Ecotec engines have been on the forefront of delivering leading-edge technology including direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging. Direct fuel injection, a hallmark of many Ecotec engines since 2007, is just now becoming mainstream technology in the industry.
“The men and women of UAW Local 362 focus on quality each and every day, and our customers see that focus when they start up their GM vehicle,” said UAW Local 362 shop chairperson Todd McDaniel
About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 208,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corp. on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corp. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
###