GM investing $230M in Flint area facilities to support Chevrolet Cruze, Volt
2011 Chevy Volt - click above for high-res image gallery
General Motors announced today that it will spend $230 million on four facilities in the Flint, Michigan area that will support the production of the new Chevy Cruze compact and the Volt extended-range EV. The biggest chunk of the money ($202 million) is being spent on the Flint South Engine plant. The line that currently builds the inline five- and six-cylinder engines used in the Chevrolet Colorado and Hummer H3 is being revamped. That line will now build the 1.4-liter Family 0 engines that will be used in the Cruze and Volt. Originally, GM had planned to construct a new factory adjacent to Flint South, but that plan was canceled last fall as the financial crisis hit the already embattled automaker.
The Flint Metal Center a few miles away is getting updates that will allow it to stamp the sheet steel body panels for the Volt. The other two facilities are designing and building the stamping dies and welding robots that will be used to produce the panels and put them together at the Detroit-Hamtramck (Volt) and Lordstown,Ohio (Cruze) factories. GM's official press release is after the jump.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: General Motors]
PRESS RELEASE:
GM Plants in Greater Flint Area Tool Up for 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt
GM is investing more than $230 million in four greater Flint, Mich. plants to support production of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt
FLINT, Mich. - General Motors Company is investing more than $230 million in four GM plants in the greater Flint area to support the production of the fuel-efficient 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, representing more than 500 jobs. The four GM plants include 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."
The four manufacturing plants have also made significant progress in reducing their impact on the environment. The plants recycle more than 97 percent of the waste they generate. Materials recycled during the last year include 12 tons of batteries, 47,000 tons of scrap metal, 616 tons of oil, 229 tons of wood and 74 tons of plastic paper.
Key activities performed by the four plants include development of automated equipment and tooling for the Chevy Cruze and Volt assembly plants, die development and stamping of body panels and other components and the manufacturing and assembly of key powertrain components including the 1.4L four-cylinder engine generator for the Volt and the 1.4L four-cylinder turbo engine for the Cruze.
* Flint Engine South: General Motors Company is investing $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. The project represents approximately 240 employees.
* Flint Metal Center: General Motors Company is investing $1.7 million in Flint Metal Center to refurbish press lines that will produce sheet metal stampings for the Volt, representing 30 jobs.
* Flint Tool and Die: This facility designed dies for the Chevrolet Cruze and is responsible for the construction and tryout of stamping die sets for the Volt program. All dies for the Chevy Volt were engineered at Flint Tool & Die. Approximately 50 percent of dies for the Volt were designed at this facility.
* Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center: General Motors Company is investing approximately $30 million in this facility to build the robotic weld tool cells that will assemble the Volt body at the Volt assembly plant. Approximately 250 employees are working on this project, including 60 who are installing the weld tool equipment at the assembly plant. Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center also built the robotic weld tool cells for the body shop to assemble the Chevrolet Cruze at Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly.
The fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cruze, which is scheduled to launch next spring, is Chevy's all-new global compact car. The Cruze will be powered by a 1.4L four-cylinder turbo engine and is expected to deliver better fuel economy than the current leader in the segment, the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE, rated at 37 mpg highway.
The Chevrolet Volt, which is scheduled to start production in late 2010 as a 2011 model, will be GM's first extended-range electric vehicle. The Volt can travel up to 40 miles on electricity from a single battery charge and can extend its overall range to more than 300 miles with its flex fuel-powered 1.4L engine-generator, which will be produced at Flint Engine South.
About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 219,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
alex 6:14PM (10/13/2009)
i don't get it... i thought all the experts on the autoblog comments said the volt was vaporware?
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Epsilon-Not 6:39PM (10/13/2009)
To be fair, they could still end up killing the Volt.
Of course, I have no idea why they'd do such a thing this late in the game...
Dave 6:50PM (10/13/2009)
The Volt/Ampera will possibly make financial sense to buyers in Europe where gas/diesel is prohibitively expensive.
The Volt will primarily serve as a rolling GM advertisement in the USA. It will be interesting to see how many folks are willing to pay for the green cred.
AMcA 8:11PM (10/13/2009)
This is good news for the Cruze: it may just bow with the 1.4 turbo that's supposed to get it up to 40 mpg.
Cruze will die slowly with that engine, because it will be just another compact with nothing to distinguish it.
Let's hope GM has broken out of its extremely bad old habit of introducing a half-finished car, then starts making improvements as the thing dies in the marketplace.
Dr. Greenthumb 9:29PM (10/13/2009)
Dave, your OPINION is incredibly shortsighted and lacks ANY thought. I heard exactly the same blurb from one of the idiots on the CNBC. We call that parroting.
Here are a few points to chew on. We cannot wait until we are: (a) out of oil or (b) Oil gets too expensive to start building cars such as the Volt.
Ford & Toyota has already been building ugly hybrids for the better part of a decade, and both has been roundly praised for doing so. GM builds a worthy competitor/successor, and A$$_clowns come out of the woodwork whining.
The Volt will raise the stakes. It won't be long before cars like the Prius go the way of the Dodo bird. In turn, five or ten years from now, the Volt will either evolve or be altogether replaced. This is how technology works. However, to say that now is not the time to build this car, is, in a word STUPID.
bigMIKE 6:20PM (10/13/2009)
Did anyone notice they are investing $230 million in a plant that will build their 230 mpg car? Hmm. Probably not an arbitrary number. What else are they going to bring up with the number 230 in it?
Let's see.
First year production run: 230 cars
Factory rebate: $230
Government rebate: $230
Cost in fuel per year: $230
Average income of Volt buyer: $230,000
Average cost of Volt: $40,230
OK. Even I am getting sick of this. I will stop.
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Nick 6:29PM (10/13/2009)
bigMIKE:
"Average income of Volt buyer: $230,000"
huh? Considering the cost of the Volt will be relatively low (30-40k), the average income will reflect the average buying power of Middle class America.
You should add "elitist buyers" and "green hippie billionnaires" or "Hollywood hipsters" to get the full Fox News effect.
Michael Warren 8:38PM (10/13/2009)
Dang. I was just joking. I doubt any Volts will be under $40K though. Not exactly for the average family. According to a few sources online, the average car price was $28,715 last year. That's over a $10K jump. I know I am out of the range of one for now. But maybe by the time it actually goes into production... ;-)
Jim 7:39AM (10/14/2009)
It looks to me no matter what GM does, you'll hate them. If we lost GM that probably would make you happy. We would lose a great American icon, not to mention the lost of jobs. I know they made big mistakes in the past,but they are now on the mend. In case you don't know, all new GM cars coming out within the last 3 years, are not only as good as the competitors, but better. You probably don't this because usually the big complainers know very little about cars.
jon 11:53AM (10/14/2009)
i agree with the sentiment... 230 million for the fake 230 MPG...
Michael Warren 12:59PM (10/14/2009)
Jim
You couldn't be further from the truth. I was having some fun with numbers in the story. That's all. Sorry I didn't use a smiley face for you.
Truth is my first car was a brand new, first year IROC-Z my senior year. I have owned a couple of Grand Am's. I am building a custom 57 Chevy Truck. I was gonna buy a new Camaro, but they are in short supply and I refuse to pay over sticker for ANY car. So, your assumptions are misplaced and unwarranted.
I do still think the Volt will be too expensive in the beginning to benefit Joe America. They need to get in that sweet spot price range starting under $30K and max out at $40K. I teach marketing at a local university and it is obvious they are not targeting middle class, but rather upper middle class. I don't blame them for this at all. You have to do your research on who is more likely to purchase a vehicle like this AND who can afford this vehicle at a price that will allow GM not to lose money or too much money on each car.
Personally, I would love to have a Volt, but I will bide my time and see if the technology proves out in the real world.
Now, who can get me a Camaro at sticker?
Epyx 6:23PM (10/13/2009)
Hey Autoblog, two Ms when million is abbreviated. Headline should read $230MM. $230M is $230,000.
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ebleyes 6:28PM (10/13/2009)
I think they are using the SI unit system, not the American unit system.
Jimbo 7:55PM (10/13/2009)
$230M is $230,000,000. $230k is $230,000.
Frank 6:29PM (10/13/2009)
Brainless anti-government rants 3....2....1...
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Dave 6:32PM (10/13/2009)
..Let's see who will blame Obama first.
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Scott 6:45PM (10/13/2009)
"The Flint Metal Center a few miles away"
Try a few *feet* away. It's right next door. The other plants mentioned are a few miles away.
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why not the LS2LS7? 4:10AM (10/14/2009)
No kidding. Just because one is on Bristol and the other on Van Slyke doesn't mean they aren't right next to each other.
JOe 6:57PM (10/13/2009)
You mean a Daewoo designed cruze. cough cough.
People don't know that Daewoo is responsible for the enormous growth in China and around the world. Sold as Buicks, but really a Daewoo car. And people don't know how creepy the transaction was to acquire Daewoo for a measley 230 million dollars. When Daewoo was worth 100 fold that price. I Smell something rotten in GM
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alex 7:20PM (10/13/2009)
There is no way in hell Daewoo was worth $230 billion. It was a bankrupt company on the brink of insolvency!
And GM is a global company with global operations. That means the lines have become blurred. Idiots like you who want to claim "that's just a Daewoo!" and "that's just a Holden!" are plain wrong. I have a family member working on a few of these cars that people like to claim are 100% Korean. She works in Detroit, not Seoul.