General Motors is investing $163.2 million three plants as it prepares to ramp up engine production for the Chevrolet Volt, Cruze and a new small Chevrolet. The company’s Flint Engine Operations will take home the lion’s share of the money, with $138.3 million going to help boost production of the Ecotec turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine used in each of the company’s fuel-thrifty cars.
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Meanwhile, The General’s Bay City Components plant will receive $12.7 million and Defiance Castings in Defiance, Ohio will see $12.2 million. All told, GM says that the money will protect 184 jobs across the three manufacturing sites.
At the beginning of 2011, the Flint plant will be responsible for producing around 400 engines per day, though GM wants to increase that number to 800 by the end of next year. The Bay City plant is set to increase production of both connecting rods and cam shafts while the Defiance facility will increase its output of crank shafts and engine blocks.
