General Motors said on Thursday (4 April, 2013) it would spend around US$332m at four factories to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions.

The spend – announced today at GM plants in Flint and Bay City, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio, and Bedford, Indiana – will support production of a new Ecotec small petrol engine, a new V6, eight-speed automatic transmission, and tooling for an existing six-speed automatic.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The automaker will also increase by $46m a previously announced powertrain spend at plants in Romulus and Saginaw, Michigan, to $646m to support production of the new V6.

Since 2009, GM has announced nearly $1.8 billion of investments for the six powertrain facilities.

Combined, the two investments will retain about 1,650 jobs at the six factories, GM said.

The planned $331.8m spend includes:

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
  • $215m at Flint Engine Operations for a new small Ecotec petrol engine, which is part of a new family of engines that includes I3 and I4 variants sized from one to 1.5 litres. Details of what variants the plant will build will be announced later. The plant will also upgrade tooling for its current V6 engine.
  • $55.7m at Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity and tooling to produce a new, advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and an existing six-speed gearbox. The eight-speed will in “numerous” GM vehicles by the end of 2016, the automaker said. [Rival Chrysler last month announced a $374m spend to build eight- and nine-speed automatics in Indiana – ed]
  • $31.7m at Bay City Powertrain including $19.2m to produce components for a new V6 and $12.5m to produce components for the small Ecotec line.
  • $29.4m at Bedford Castings including $19m to produce parts for the small petrol engine and $10.4m to produce components for the transmissions.

The additional $46m brings the total to $646m for the V6 project. 

The new small Ecotec engine is part of a global engine family that could top 2m engines a year by the end of the decade, based on production in Flint and other locations around the world. The new engines will offer improved fuel economy, higher quality, better performance and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

The eight-speed automatic transmission – also already used by luxury makers Jaguar Land Rover and BMW, etc – will assist in improved fuel economy and performance. Details about the new V6 engine will be announced later, GM said.

Since 2009, GM has announced spending of over $8.5bn at its US operations – $1.2bn in 2013 – claiming to be creating or retaining over 24,700 jobs.