Flint MI to get new GM engine plant

to build the 1.4L gas engine for the Volt and 1.4L turbo for the cruze. Engine production to start in 2010.

1/3 of GM's engine production will be 4 cylinders by 2011.

Is this a BRAND NEW plant or revamping/modifying an old one?

:cool:

I'm confused... I thought the Cruze was going to be out in the 2009 calendar year? Will the engine be built somewhere else before that?

Brand new plant. Wagoner was out there breaking ground this morning.

Brand new plant. Wagoner was out there breaking ground this morning.

If GM has buildings standing empty (presumably paid off & still paying taxes on)and people in job banks around those plants (presumably paying wages to), why spend $$$$ to build an entirely new plant... especially since you've exhausted all your available credit, have less cash than Ford and even proportionately have less cash in the bank than even Chrysler??

I'm not quite understanding all this. :confused:

I'm confused... I thought the Cruze was going to be out in the 2009 calendar year? Will the engine be built somewhere else before that?

2009 Calendar year for Europe - which I assume uses a different engine lineup. The info they released back in August said Cruze will be on sale April 2010 in the U.S. as a 2011.

If GM has buildings standing empty (presumably paid off & still paying taxes on)and people in job banks around those plants (presumably paying wages to), why spend $$$$ to build an entirely new plant... especially since you've exhausted all your available credit, have less cash than Ford and even proportionately have less cash in the bank than even Chrysler??

I'm not quite understanding all this. :confused:

I dont know the reasons. But I'll a few.

1.) It will cost more to retool an existing building than it would to build a new one.

2.) It is not possiable to retool an existing building in such a way that it will be able to produce the engines with the same efficiency.

3.) Grants and tax breaks.

1/3 of GM's engine production will be 4 cylinders by 2011.

What ratio is it now? What's the norm for the industry? What's the ratio at Ford or Chrysler? That statistic holds no significance by itself.

If GM has buildings standing empty
I don't think this is the case. Most of the old GM plants in Flint that were shut down years ago have been leveled.

and people in job banks around those plants
Those people got other jobs or moved out of Flint YEARS ago.