As we reported yesterday in the investment into the Bedford, Indiana casting facility, we’re beginning to see the final allocations of the $5.4 billion General Motors announced for U.S. manufacturing investment earlier this year.
Today, GM announced an additional $44 million is being invested into the Bowling Green, Kentucky Corvette assembly. Specifically, the $44 million is being set aside for the Performance Build Center.
GM stated the investment comes with the success of the 2016 C7 Corvette Z06, which accounts for nearly one-third of all C7 Corvette sales.
The Performance Build Center houses the “Build Your Own Engine” program, a $5,000 option for C7 Z06 buyers to assemble their own 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine. The program includes a full day with a build technician, assembly and a personalized engine plaque identifying the customer with professional photography.
The $44 million investment will create 36 news jobs, and follows an earlier $439 million investment by GM into the Bowling Green assembly as a whole. The latter funds will be used for a new paint shop and general facility upgrades.
Retooling and construction following the investments are scheduled to begin in January 2016.
Comments
Hmmm?
Could we be seeing movement here for a new C8 engine program along side a C7?
There are no plans for a Corvette based model till 2025 if even then according to Cadillac. With the mules we have seen and testing going on this investment appears more than just for additional Z06 engines or owners to assemble the engines.
It does make one ponder.