General Motors said today it will invest almost $1.3 billion in plant upgrades at five manufacturing sites in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to produce new fuel-efficient engines and transmissions, improve quality and streamline logistics. The investments combined will create or retain about 1,000 jobs. About 7,500 people work in the plants now.
The spending announced today at GM plants in Detroit, Flint and Romulus, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio and Bedford, Ind. – are for the production of a new V6 engine, new 10-speed transmission and an existing 6-speed transmission. They will also fund assembly plant upgrades, including a new paint shop and logistics optimization center.
Since the 2009 “quick rinse” bankruptcy of 39 days under the Obama Administration, GM has announced investments of about $10.1 billion in its U.S. operations – $2.8 billion in 2013 alone – creating or retaining more than 26,500 jobs.
“This is further proof that collective bargaining works,” says UAW Vice President Joe Ashton, who directs the union’s GM Department.
GM’s investment includes:
- $600 million in Flint Assembly for facility upgrades, including a new paint shop
- $493.4 million in Romulus Powertrain Operations, which includes $343.4 million for equipment to produce an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission and $150 million to increase capacity of a previously announced new V6 engine
- $121 million in Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly for a logistics optimization center
- $30.6 million in Toledo Transmission Operations for increased capacity for an existing 6-speed transmission and tooling for a new variant
- $29.2 million in Bedford Castings, which includes $22.6 million to produce components for the 10-speed transmission and $6.6 million to produce components for an existing 6-speed transmission
The 10-speed automatic transmission will contribute to improved fuel economy and performance. Details about this program and the new V6 engine will be announced later.
