GM is considering moving its Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky to Michigan, GM Authority has learned.
For those readers who may be unaware, GM’s Performance Build Center is located at the automaker’s production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the same facility that has exclusively produced the Chevy Corvette since 1981. The Performance Build Center was relocated from Michigan to Bowling Green in 2013 following a $3.5 million investment.
GM Bowling Green Assembly
The Performance Build Center is responsible for production of the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, which is used to power a variety of different GM vehicles, including the Chevy Camaro ZL1, Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, and Cadillac Escalade-V. The LT4 can also be found under the hood of the C7 Chevy Corvette Z06 and Cadillac CTS-V, while a marine variant powers the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV boat.
Now, GM Authority has heard rumblings that GM is considering moving the center, or possibly just parts of it, from Kentucky to Michigan. Although it’s unclear at this time which parts of the center may be moved or how the move would affect GM’s engine production, at this point, it’s a possibility that’s under consideration.
GM Bowling Green Assembly
Theoretically, one could argue that the decision to move the center (or parts of it) to Michigan lines up with GM’s strategy to hand-build the Cadillac Celestiq at the GM Tech Center in Warren. After all, if GM is looking to hand-build high-performance engines, it makes sense to consolidate the center alongside similar jobs in terms of attention to detail and build quality.
That said, although the Chevy Corvette C8 does not offer the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4, the Performance Build Center is still responsible for production of the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 cradled by the Corvette C8 Z06, so geographic proximity certainly makes sense when it comes to the LT6. What’s more, the center will likely produce the new twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 LT7 planned for use in the upcoming Corvette C8 ZR1 and Corvette C8 Zora.
GM Bowling Green Assembly
Either way, GM has yet to make a final decision on the matter, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GM business news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Too bad it won’t see the Camaro. But it’s kind of close to the plant where the Camaro/caddy is built. It’s nice to dream outload.
What are you talking about they are going to put Camaro on everything. Or so they claimed🙄
What are they thinking. They move this deal like crazy.
I would say the the Corvette engines will remain in KY and the rest to MI.
They are offering the deal to build your own Z06 engine so being near the plant is key.
Does it really matter? They are going to all boring EVs.
Whatever makes the Most sense… Is exactly what GM WONT DO…😳
Prove me wrong….😁
I would hate to see them leave but it makes sense being surrounded by the best engineers, machining, specialized performance companies such as their GMs new Corvette deal with Pratt&Miller in Michigan along with their testing grounds. But we will see since the democratic controlled governor could Careless about creating jobs and opportunities in Michigan. It’ll come down to money, taxes for such a huge investment
They should move it to Flint the hometown of General Motors as it is:
Close to Detroit and the GM Tech Center
Has Kettering University (formally GMI) for
research, testing via an engineering student
body
Brings GM back to Flint where the first Corvettes
were made in fact my dad took me in 1953
to the Chevy plant to actually see and touch
the all white 53 Corvettes
It would be the right thing to do👍
It would boost the Flint economy and add
jobs
Flint has good hard working people
GM please make this happen
Back to Wixom… original home of the “you help assemble your own Z06.”
Move it to Flint and be by Kettering (GMI) University for research, testing, etc. Close to Detroit, hometown of GM, first Corvettes (all white) were made in Flint 1953 (my dad took me to the plant to see the 1953 Corvettes as they came off the assembly lines), live. It would be a big boost to Flint for jobs, the economy, the future and restore the “spirit of Flint Michigan.
Ross a proud Flint Native
Labor Arbitrator-Negotiator
Labor-ManagementRelatiosns.com and/or alanderconsulting.com
p.s. a Fisher Body Craftsman Guild participant and still have the 1957 car I built
Let’s be honest, the death of Pontiac was the death of perfomance at GM… oopppssss…. gm. Yes home of gm…. Michigan…. Detroit Edison… DTE Can not support EV vehicles at the level that everyone wants. DTE even as a profitable utility with great raye increases fails to keep homes with power even before the stress of EVs.
More importantly… those that can buy… and pay for home chargers on networks that would be stressed to charge them can’t even get a vehicle.
I still say moving the performance to Flint and coupling it with Kettering University (formally GMI) an engineering university would make the most sense. Plus you would also have “the Hole”down the street from Kettering
Peace
Ross
Proud Flint Native
Bring back Pontiac