Since 2009, General Motors has invested around $10.1 billion in its U.S. operations – $2.8 billion in 2013 alone – which led to the creation or retention of more than 26,500 jobs. Yet a new generation of products are on the way, and GM has once again plotted its next round of manufacturing investments in its Michigan, Ohio and Indiana facilities. The announcement was made today at the Flint, MI Assembly Facility.
The large investment plan is expected to create or retain around 1,000 jobs, and will be divided as follows:
- $600 million in Flint Assembly for facility upgrades, which will include a new paint shop
- $493.4 million in Romulus Powertrain Operations, which includes $343.4 million for equipment to produce an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission and another $150 million to increase capacity of an all-new V6 engine
- $121 million in Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly for a logistics optimization center
- $30.6 million in Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity and tooling for a new variant for an existing 6-speed transmission
- $29.2 million in Bedford Castings, which includes $22.6 million to produce components for the 10-speed transmission and $6.6 million to produce components for an existing 6-speed transmission
GM won’t shed any extra details on the new transmissions or engine at this time, though the 10-speed unit has been previously announced as a joint-venture project with Ford Motor Company.
Comments
Glad they are making a new V6, the 3.6 is their only offering and that is getting long in the tooth..
The 3.6L would be perfect if GM added Active Fuel Management and Intake Variable Valve Lift….
What is this new V6? I am very intrigued. A new 3.0L?
Who knows, we may see AFM and such in the all-new V6. But it’s not going to be that TT 3.2L that was previously speculated. That engine won’t even be what powers the ATS-V. Think LF3, but with stronger bits.
When do we get the 10 speed transmissions? We need that bad.
What we also need is a new head designer with an Audi/VW background. Kia, ford and mazda have all hired from audi/VW and all three have made huge progress on their designs.
Big 3 technology sharing… good news for all 3.
Also… there will be those who say, that the 10 speed auto is unnecessary… Anything that is not a CVT, is a good thing.
The Spark EV has no shifts, just a planetary with one single ratio, yet it can out accelerate the 2013 Camaro (look for a video on YouTube). So if all GM vehicles were electric, the 10-speed transmission will be unneeded.
The 2014 Spark EV has no shifts, just a planetary with one single ratio, yet it can out accelerate the 2013 Camaro (look for a video on YouTube). So if all GM vehicles were electric, the 10-speed transmission will be unneeded.
That is the future goal which GM must reach!
Those 10 speeds will probably see work in the silverado/Sierra as well as a lot of the GM crossovers. Kinda looking forward to the new v6
Maybe, but me thinks Cadillac will be the Top Dog in the 10 Speed mania, and all the other Divisions will get either the 7 or 8 speed transmission. Now that being said…..GM could opt to make 2 10 speeds like they did the 6 speed(2006– 6L80/6L90 and 2007– 6L45/6L50), but regardless how they proceed…..Very Happy and Excited that this is coming to fruition……What would Really be Amazing is if they could be Ready before the Cadillac/Chevy/GMC SUV’s and the Diesel Colorado/Canyon go into Full Production!!!! That would be Sweet 🙂
I sure hope the new variant they are bothering to work on for a 6 speed will not find its way into anything bigger than a Sonic. Anything bigger and pricier than that should get more gears, though for the compact vehicles not necessarily more than 8.
I suspect the Cadillacs will get the 10 speed first. But, hopefully it will soon find its way into the full size trucks and SUVs. And maybe the Corvette, unless the transmission adds too much weight/unbalance by then and perhaps should be limited to 8 gears.
I’m also hoping it’s not long before anything mid size trades in the 6 speed for the upcoming 8 speed.
Any more details you can share on the ats-v engine? You are implying it’ll be a revised LF3 not a simple retune for more HP? Also do you think the ats-v will debut alongside the coupe at the Detroit auto show next month?
Manufacturing has taken a major hit and anything that helps to create 1,000 job is definitely good news to the industry and unemployed workers.
GM is actually not developing a 10-speed. GM is developing a 9-speed. Ford is developing a 10-speed. They are venturing into these higher speed transmissions together. GM will develop the 9-speed and start production of that first and then Ford will use the 9-speed the following year. Conversely, Ford will develop the 10-speed and start production the same year GM starts producing the 9-speed, and then GM will start using the 10-speed a year later.
GM’s SOP date for the 9-speed is April 2016. They will start using the 10-speed in April 2017.
Ford’s Job-1 date (SOP) for the 10-speed is March 2016. They will start using the 9-speed in March 2017.
Joe,
I know this is a GM forum but I was redirected here by researching the joint GM/Ford 9-speed transmission dates of production and which vehicles in which they would be installed.
Do you know if the 2016 Ford Fusion will have the 9-speed? I’m looking at getting the titanium. If I wait till the very end of the 2016 production cycle to order one, could I specify ordering it with the 9-speed? I’m hoping to get the current style fusion before a redesign and acquire the nine speed if possible.
Do you know when those things are scheduled to happen?