Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/gm-investing-600m-in-plant-that-produces-malibu-lacrosse/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/gm-investing-600m-in-plant-that-produces-malibu-lacrosse/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/gm-investing-600m-in-plant-that-produces-malibu-lacrosse/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



General Motors, committed to investing upwards of $2 billion in plant upgrades, has just announced that it is making a $600 million investment in its Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant in Kansas City, KS - it is one of the largest investments GM has ever made in a single plant.

Construction is set to begin later this year, and the work will increase the footprint of the facility by 15 percent, bringing its total to to 3.7 million square feet. Production schedules will be unaffected by the work, meaning 4,000 employees will stay on the job.

Fairfax Assembly currently produces the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu. Operating three shifts, a completed vehicle rolls out the door every 58 seconds. The present facility was completed in 1987, but since it first opened in 1945 Fairfax has manufactured more than 12 million vehicles.

Continue reading GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse

GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fairfax assembly and stamping plantfairfax assembly plantgeneral motorsgmgm fairfaxgm investmentgm kansas cityWed, 30 Jan 2013 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20440982/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/30/gm-investing-600m-in-plant-that-produces-malibu-lacrosse/20440982/article-detail.xml 20440982 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gm628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gm628.jpg <![CDATA[Next-gen 2015 Chevrolet Cruze staying in Ohio with GM's $220M investment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/next-gen-2015-chevrolet-cruze-staying-in-ohio-with-gms-220m-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/next-gen-2015-chevrolet-cruze-staying-in-ohio-with-gms-220m-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/24/next-gen-2015-chevrolet-cruze-staying-in-ohio-with-gms-220m-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - front three-quarter view

The Chevrolet Cruze is, hands-down, the greatest success in recent history for General Motors. Now entering its third model year, the Cruze has been one of the company's top sellers in the United States, and GM has now committed to keeping production here through a second generation. According to MSN Money, the new 2015 Chevrolet Cruze will launch in the fall of 2014.

While relatively new to the U.S. market, the Cruze has been on sale globally since 2008. Our domestic Cruze is assembled at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant, which will be receiving a $220 million investment to ready it for the new model, according to GM. Upgrades to the nearby Parma stamping plant are included in that figure.

In its press release announcing the investment, GM indicated that this next-generation Cruze will be restyled and have improved fuel economy. The report speculates that this model will ride on a platform shared between compact cars and crossovers, one which will also underpin other Chevrolet vehicles including a new version of the Volt and Equinox.

Scroll down to read the full release.

Continue reading Next-gen 2015 Chevrolet Cruze staying in Ohio with GM's $220M investment

Next-gen 2015 Chevrolet Cruze staying in Ohio with GM's $220M investment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015 chevrolet cruzechevroletchevycruzecruze ecogmgm investmentlordstownparmavoltFri, 24 Aug 2012 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20307836/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/24/next-gen-2015-chevrolet-cruze-staying-in-ohio-with-gms-220m-in/20307836/article-detail.xml 20307836 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/01-2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/01-2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review-opt.jpg <![CDATA[GM Ventures invests in new lightweight NanoSteel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/07/gm-ventures-invests-in-new-lightweight-nanosteel/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/07/gm-ventures-invests-in-new-lightweight-nanosteel/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/07/gm-ventures-invests-in-new-lightweight-nanosteel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Steel strength infographic

Cutting pounds while making cars safer and stronger is a pursuit of all auto companies. Creative uses of aluminum alloys and exotic materials like carbon fiber help reduce weight and increase fuel economy and/or performance.

But both aluminum and carbon fiber are expensive. Steel has been around for centuries, and technological advancements have made it stronger, cheaper and lighter. But, argues David Paratore, president and CEO of NanoSteel, current steel technology is pushing the limits of what it can do. Harder steel is difficult to form into automotive parts. But easier-to-form steel is, by nature, less rigid.

Paratore's company has developed a new steel they claim is stronger yet easier to form than conventional automotive steel. The new alloy can be made using conventional steel processes and no new welding techniques or machines are needed. On top of all that, NanoSteel claims big weight-saving advantages. "We're not talking about saving grams. We're talking about saving kilograms," Paratore says in the video below. "Maybe hundreds of pounds in a car."

Its enough of a breakthrough that it has gotten the attention and investment of General Motors and its investment subsidiary, GM Ventures. "We are investing in NanoSteel because of the opportunity associated with their new steel alloy technology," says Jon Lauckner, GM's Chief Technology Officer, Vice President of Global R&D and President of GM Ventures LLC. "Over the next several years, light-weighting of vehicles will be a major focus area to improve fuel economy. NanoSteel's nano-structured alloys offer unique material characteristics that are not available today, making them a potential game-changer."

Terms of the investment (including monetary amounts and exclusivity rights) were not disclosed. For a quick synopsis of what NanoSteel's product is and does, watch the video below. The official press release from GM and NanoSteel is also below.

Continue reading GM Ventures invests in new lightweight NanoSteel

GM Ventures invests in new lightweight NanoSteel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>general motorsgeneral motors investmentgm investmentgm ventureshigh strength steelhigh-strength steelnanosteelultra high strength steelTue, 07 Aug 2012 18:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20294390/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/07/gm-ventures-invests-in-new-lightweight-nanosteel/20294390/article-detail.xml 20294390 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/nanosteelnewclassofahssopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/nanosteelnewclassofahssopt.jpg <![CDATA[GM invests $331 million, adds 110 jobs at Arlington plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/gm-invests-331-million-adds-110-jobs-at-arlington-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/gm-invests-331-million-adds-110-jobs-at-arlington-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/26/gm-invests-331-million-adds-110-jobs-at-arlington-plant/#commentsFiled under: ,

GM Arlington Assembly

General Motors has committed to investing a total of $2 billion in 17 of its facilities here in the United States, and the latest to receive monitory support is the Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas. $331 million is being pumped into the Arlington facility for tooling and equipment in an effort to expand the plant. 110 jobs will also be added to the facility's existing 2,400-person workforce.

Currently, the plant builds The General's GMT900 sport-utility vehicles: the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. GM likely has no plans to abandon this segment anytime soon, so it only makes sense that the plant will be updated in order to support the next generation of these full-size SUVs.

The Arlington Assembly investment comes after GM made efforts to expand its Detroit-Hamtramck, Bowling Green, Flint and Bay City facilities. Follow the jump for the official press blast.

Continue reading GM invests $331 million, adds 110 jobs at Arlington plant

GM invests $331 million, adds 110 jobs at Arlington plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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