GM Confirms $230 Million Investment for 2011 Volt Production

General Motors today announced that it will invest more than $230 million in four facilities in the Flint area to support production of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. This means the US-based manufacturer will create 500 new jobs, the company said in a release. The four plant are Flint Engine South, Flint Metal Center, Flint Tool & Die and Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center.

"These four GM manufacturing plants have a key role in GM's production of the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze," said Larry Zahner, GM manufacturing manager. "The men and women at these plants are working hard to exceed their quality and cost objectives while maintaining a relentless focus on safety and improved efficiency."

Specifically, General Motors will invest $202 million in Flint Engine South to renovate the former I5/I6 manufacturing operations for production of a 1.4L four-cylinder engine generator for the Chevrolet Volt and a 1.4L four-cylinder turbo engine for the Cruze, as the company said in a statement.

The Flint Metal Center will need up to $1.7 million to refurbish press lines in order to manufacture sheet metal stampings for the upcoming Volt.

The Flint Tool and Die will handle construction and tryout of stamping die sets for the Volt, General Motors explained, while the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center will require an investment of approximately $30 million. The money is required to build the robotic weld tool cells that will assemble the Volt body at the Volt assembly plant.