Opel announced today the production of the new generation of diesel engines will take place at the GM Manufacturing plant in Tychy, Poland. Production of the new, all-aluminium 1.6 liter diesel engine will commence in 2017.
“The new midsize diesel engine family is an important part of our engine offensive. We appreciate the good quality and high efficiency of our Polish location and look forward to implementing this exciting project,” said Peter Thom, member of the Management Board at Adam Opel AG and Vice President of Manufacturing Europe.
GM will invest about 250 million euros to retool the Tychy plant for production of the new engine. This is the biggest investment ever in the Tychy facility and includes the construction of new buildings and manufacturing technology. The plant will produce about 200, 000 units annually.
Opel says the new engine family will meet Euro 6 emissions standards while maintaining a high power and torque density. The engine will be available in a wide range of Opel and Vauxhall models.
The GM Manufacturing plant in Tychy currently produces the 1.7-liter diesel engine used in the Opel Zafira Tourer, Astra and other Opel models. It employs about 3, 500 people.
Comment
Lots of confusion with Tychy and automobile production in Poland generally …
“The GM Manufacturing plant in Tychy currently produces the Opel Astra, Cascada convertible and the 1.7-liter diesel engine.”
No, the GM factory in Tychy only produces engines, and only Diesel engines. This engine factory had been created in 1996 by Isuzu. In 2002, GM took 60% of the capital of this Polish subsidiary of Isuzu, and last year (2013), GM took over the remaining 40%.
The Opel/Vauxhall Astra and Cascada are being assembled in a different factory located in Gliwice (also known by its German name Gleiwitz).
Then there is another factory of the automobile industry in Tychy, and that is the FIAT plant wich produces among others the Fiat 500, and — reportedly — also the current Ford Ka.
This Fiat plant in Tychy and the GM engine plant in Tychy are quite often confused with each other, or taken as one single plant.