| The past years have not been good to the | | | | facility. Aside from the initial $100 |
| Detroit, Michigan-based General Motors. The | | | | million investment, General Motors has also |
| company has faced the increasing popularity | | | | earmarked a sum of $41 million for other |
| of Asian-branded vehicles such as Toyota and | | | | operations that will support the plant |
| Honda. Like its peers Ford and Chrysler, | | | | itself. |
| General Motors has taken steps to turn the | | | | |
| company back to profitability. General | | | | The renovation and expansion of the existing |
| Motors has already closed down assembly | | | | engine plant will commence later this year. |
| facilities across the United States to reduce | | | | It is expected to be completed by the fourth |
| the number of excess vehicles in their | | | | quarter of 2009 when the production of the |
| showrooms. | | | | Duramax diesel engines will start. According |
| | | | to the car manufacturer, the plant in New |
| Recently though, the company announced that | | | | York will provide 150 hourly jobs. |
| they have earmarked a large sum of money for | | | | |
| the expansion of an engine assembly facility | | | | "GM is transforming its product portfolio to |
| in Tonawanda, New York. General Motors | | | | reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and |
| announced that they will spend $100 million | | | | the 4.5-liter V-8 diesel is an integral part |
| in the expansion and upgrading of the engine | | | | of that transformation, as well as a |
| plant in New York. According to the company, | | | | component of GM's strategy to diversify |
| the engine assembly facility will be tasked | | | | vehicle energy sources," says John |
| to build fuel-efficient and environment | | | | Buttermore, General Motors' Powertrain vice |
| friendly diesel engines. | | | | president of global manufacturing. "This |
| | | | will be one of the most efficient and |
| The $100 million budget will go into | | | | technically-advanced diesel engines, |
| retooling the plant for it to produce | | | | providing a 25 percent improvement in fuel |
| 4.5-liter V8 Duramax diesel engines. The | | | | efficiency and 13 percent reduction in CO2 |
| said diesel engines will be used on General | | | | emissions over gasoline engines in this |
| Motors' pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado | | | | segment - and it does all that while still |
| and the GMC Sierra. The diesel engine will | | | | providing the performance attributes required |
| also be the powerplant of future Hummer H2s. | | | | by customers in the areas of towing and |
| | | | hauling loads." |
| According to General Motors, the Duramax | | | | |
| engine will be 25 percent more efficient than | | | | The Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and the |
| a gasoline engine. Not only that, the diesel | | | | Hummer H2 are expected to still use General |
| engine will produce 13 percent less carbon | | | | Motors' outsourcing strategy for other |
| dioxide emissions as compared to existing | | | | components such as cargo liners, seatbelt |
| gasoline engines. The Duramax diesel engine | | | | assemblies, and the like. |
| will also sport filtration technologies which | | | | |
| will reduce particulate and nitrous oxide | | | | The expansion of the engine plant will surely |
| emissions by as much as 90 percent when | | | | be appreciated by the United Auto Workers |
| compared to current generation diesel | | | | (UAW). "GM's investment in the Tonawanda |
| engines. | | | | plant, totaling $1.6 billion in the last 10 |
| | | | years, is a significant vote of confidence in |
| Part of the $100 million will also be used to | | | | our employees and UAW Local 774, who have |
| renovate a complex covering 200,000 square | | | | demonstrated their commitment and dedication |
| feet in New York. Aside from retooling the | | | | to benchmark performance that is contributing |
| existing engine assembly facility, new | | | | to the company's turnaround," says |
| machines will also be procured by General | | | | Buttermore. |
| Motors as part of the upgrading of the | | | | |