autoevolution
 

Need for More Big Engines Makes GM Invest Millions in New York Facility

If you had any doubts the battle in the pickup truck segment is about to heat up even more in the U.S. as GM is chasing Ford all over the place, here’s something to put those doubts to rest.
GM invests more in the Tonawanda facility 1 photo
Photo: GM
While most of the other carmakers are already in their dens, counting the year’s wins and losses, American behemoth GM is out and about, making plans for the future. In a surprise announcement made just two weeks before the end of the year, the company revealed a major expansion plan for the Tonawanda, New York engine facility.

Tonawanda is the place from where engines used in a large number of the carmaker's vehicles come from. The Chevy Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe, the GMC Yukon, and the Cadillac Escalade all get their hearts from this place. That includes the 6.2-liter V8, but also the 6.6-liter small-block V8 used on the Silverado and Sierra.

The facility, which currently employs around 1,300 people, will have to ramp up production in the near future, as customer demand for the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups is on the rise. To be able to do that, Tonawanda is to become the recipient of a $70 million investment, GM said today.

“GM continues to invest to strengthen our core business and respond to growing customer demand for our full-size pickups,” Phil Kienle, the company's vice president of North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations, said in a statement.

“Our Tonawanda and Parma teams are dedicated to building world-class products for our customers and these investments reflect our confidence in these teams.”

Separately, the Americans said they would invest $6 million into their Parma, Ohio metal stamping plant, the place that supplies parts for GM vehicles as well as third-party partners.

The carmaker also announced this week the opening of the Additive Industrialization Center, a 15,000-square-foot facility where 3D printing technology will be researched and produced.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
About the author: Daniel Patrascu
Daniel Patrascu profile photo

Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories