Latest news with #TonawandaPropulsion
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why GM is Investing Almost $1 Billion in Combustion Engines While Others Go Electric
Why GM is Investing Almost $1 Billion in Combustion Engines While Others Go Electric originally appeared on Autoblog. GM's been resolute, for the most part, on electrification. With the Silverado EV released and a mix of electric SUVs across the Chevy and Cadillac brands (Escalade iQ and Lyriq, Chevy Equinox and Blazer EV), the brand has committed harder than any other American automaker. That's not to say the automaker's commitment to internal combustion is gone, though. Tonawanda Propulsion, a GM-owned plant covering 190 acres and comprising three separate facilities, has received nearly $900 million in funding, securing over 850 jobs and production of GM's sixth-generation V8 engine. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article The investment is important to a lot of people. 'This investment marks an exciting new chapter for our plant,' said Tara Wasik, the plant's director. "This is a testament to the hard work of the membership of Local 774,' said Raymond Jensen Jr. in an interview with local news. 'It's extremely important to the community, to the surrounding areas, and to New York State itself." The impressive sum of $888 million will go towards new machinery, equipment, tools, and renovations as part of the more than $1.5 billion GM has invested in New York State in the last 15 years. It's also hardly the first time in recent memory that GM has extended the V8's lifespan. In 2023, GM invested $579 million in its Flint, Michigan production site. There, too, V8 production will continue to chug along. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article However, it doesn't account for the $300 million commitment made two years ago in union negotiations to produce electric vehicles, specifically at Tonawanda. And it's not the first area where GM has had to pump the brakes on EV endorsements. The company has sold off its stake in a battery production facility to its partner, LG Energy. In other areas, GM has pushed back against California's 2035 plan to eliminate sales of gas-only vehicles, which is now, by the way, completely dead. On the other hand, GM pushed into the number two spot for April EV sales, capturing nearly 15% of EV sales. Getting mixed signals? Us too, but we blame the current political and economic climate, not necessarily GM. Outfitting the plant for V8 production is important for CEO Mary Barra, too. 'Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the U.S.,' she said in a press release. She further emphasized the plant's importance to the brand, citing its 87 years of operation. The plant will finish production of GM's fifth-gen V8 before commencing work on the sixth-gen product. This $888 million investment marks the largest single investment GM has ever made in an engine-producing facility. The fact that it happens to make V8s is almost irrelevant; it implies the combustion engine at large still has several decades of work ahead of it. GM isn't faring poorly in the EV arena, either, so unlike other automakers that have rekindled V8 production, this isn't a crutch. GM's going where the money is, and that's just good business. Why GM is Investing Almost $1 Billion in Combustion Engines While Others Go Electric first appeared on Autoblog on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
General Motors commits $888 million to build next-gen V-8 engine in New York
General Motors commits $888 million to build next-gen V-8 engine in New York Show Caption Hide Caption General Motors: History, innovation, and legacy Learn about the rich history and notable innovations of General Motors, from its founding in 1908 to its leadership in electric and autonomous vehicle technology. Retooling for the next generation engine will take two years, the company said, meaning the fifth generation engine will continue to be produced in New York until 2027. The company needs to continue producing the older V-8 engine to address manufacturing issues currently under federal investigation. General Motors is investing $888 million in its New York propulsion assembly plant to produce the next generation V-8 engine, the company said May 27. GM said it is the automaker's largest ever investment in an engine plant and the latest adjustment to electric vehicle production. GM previously announced a $300 million investment to retool Tonawanda Propulsion near Buffalo, New York, to produce electric vehicle drive units. Outside New York, GM produces small block V-8 engines for its full-size trucks and SUVs at two other locations ― Flint, Michigan, and Toluca, Mexico, according to its website. Retooling for the next generation engine, its sixth, will take two years, the company said, meaning the fifth generation engine will continue to be produced in New York until 2027. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release celebrating the investment that the project will support 870 jobs at Tonawanda Propulsion, including 177 jobs deemed at risk. The state plans to provide up to $16.96 million in tax credits in return for investment commitments. The announcement is the latest production change GM has made, often citing 'marketplace changes.' GM said April 23 that it planned to expand transmission production at its Toledo (Ohio) Propulsions Systems plant where it builds transmissions used in the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks, while reducing electric drive unit production. More from GM: General Motors revamps credit card, changes GM Rewards program to add discounts The company also laid off 200 employees at its Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan, in April to ensure production will 'align with market dynamics.' Neither move was tariff-related, the company confirmed. Adds on investment in Michigan The investment announced May 27 builds on a $579 million commitment to construct the same engine in Flint. A company spokesman said in 2023 following that announcement that the transition requires significant changes to the assembly line. 'With all of the renovation work that needs to be done to prepare Flint Engine to build the company's sixth generation V-8 engine, GM will continue to produce Gen 5 V-8 engines for several years,' the spokesperson said. It is not unusual to have multiple plants produce the same engines given the advantages associated with streamlining production, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. GM builds its heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups at Flint Assembly. A spokesperson said engines produced in Buffalo feed vehicle production at Fort Wayne Assembly, Indiana; Arlington Assembly, Texas; Wentzville, Missouri; Oshawa, in Canada; Bowling Green, Kentucky, and overflow to Flint Assembly. The next generation Silverado is not expected to arrive before 2027, likely in line with the newest V-8 generation, Fiorani told the Detroit Free Press. 'Investments this large means those plants will be around for a while. You can't spend half a billion ― or nearly a billion ― on a plant and have it go away in a couple years,' he said. 'This guarantees production will continue for years, as it takes that much time for a return on that size of investment. We're likely to see V-8s well into the 2030s.' Already facing manufacturing issues In addition to adequate retooling time, there's another reason why GM will continue producing the fifth-generation V-8 for a while, Fiorani added: The company needs to continue producing the older V-8 engine to address manufacturing issues currently under investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. GM opted to voluntarily recall about 721,000 vehicles worldwide for defective internal engine parts ― the crankshaft and connecting rods ― damaged during the manufacturing process. Any vehicle engines that don't pass inspections at the dealership level will need to be replaced. Models impacted include Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevy Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL produced for 2021–24 model years. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Why GM is Investing Almost $1 Billion in Combustion Engines While Others Go Electric
GM's been resolute, for the most part, on electrification. With the Silverado EV released and a mix of electric SUVs across the Chevy and Cadillac brands (Escalade iQ and Lyriq, Chevy Equinox and Blazer EV), the brand has committed harder than any other American automaker. That's not to say the automaker's commitment to internal combustion is gone, though. Tonawanda Propulsion, a GM-owned plant covering 190 acres and comprising three separate facilities, has received nearly $900 million in funding, securing over 850 jobs and production of GM's sixth-generation V8 engine. The investment is important to a lot of people. "This investment marks an exciting new chapter for our plant," said Tara Wasik, the plant's director. "This is a testament to the hard work of the membership of Local 774," said Raymond Jensen Jr. in an interview with local news. "It's extremely important to the community, to the surrounding areas, and to New York State itself." The impressive sum of $888 million will go towards new machinery, equipment, tools, and renovations as part of the more than $1.5 billion GM has invested in New York State in the last 15 years. It's also hardly the first time in recent memory that GM has extended the V8's lifespan. In 2023, GM invested $579 million in its Flint, Michigan production site. There, too, V8 production will continue to chug along. However, it doesn't account for the $300 million commitment made two years ago in union negotiations to produce electric vehicles, specifically at Tonawanda. And it's not the first area where GM has had to pump the brakes on EV endorsements. The company has sold off its stake in a battery production facility to its partner, LG Energy. In other areas, GM has pushed back against California's 2035 plan to eliminate sales of gas-only vehicles, which is now, by the way, completely dead. On the other hand, GM pushed into the number two spot for April EV sales, capturing nearly 15% of EV sales. Getting mixed signals? Us too, but we blame the current political and economic climate, not necessarily GM. Outfitting the plant for V8 production is important for CEO Mary Barra, too. "Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the U.S.," she said in a press release. She further emphasized the plant's importance to the brand, citing its 87 years of operation. The plant will finish production of GM's fifth-gen V8 before commencing work on the sixth-gen product. This $888 million investment marks the largest single investment GM has ever made in an engine-producing facility. The fact that it happens to make V8s is almost irrelevant; it implies the combustion engine at large still has several decades of work ahead of it. GM isn't faring poorly in the EV arena, either, so unlike other automakers that have rekindled V8 production, this isn't a crutch. GM's going where the money is, and that's just good business. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
American Military News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- American Military News
GM invests $888 million to make engines at New York plant
General Motors Co. is pouring $888 million into a plant near Buffalo, New York, to make V-8 engines used in full-size SUVs and trucks, the company said Tuesday. The capital infusion into Tonawanda Propulsion will pay for new machinery, equipment, tools and renovations as the plant gears up to start making the next generation of V-8 engines in 2027. The announcement comes as GM grapples with pressure from President Donald Trump to increase U.S. manufacturing or pay hefty import taxes has imposed on vehicles and auto parts made outside of the United States. 'Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the U.S.,' CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. 'GM's Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come.' The company invested $70 million in the plant in 2020 as part of an effort to ramp up production of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Tonawanda is the second GM propulsion plant to make sixth generation V-8 engines. The automaker in 2023 spent another $500 million to get its Flint Engine plant ready to make engines that the company says will be 'stronger performance than today's engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions,' citing new combustion and thermal management innovations. 'This investment marks an exciting new chapter for our plant,' said Tara Wasik, plant director at Tonawanda. 'For generations, our team has demonstrated its commitment to manufacturing excellence. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the Western New York community and steadfast in our mission to deliver world-class propulsion systems to our customers.' A Detroit News request for comment to the United Auto Workers local president was not immediately returned Tuesday. ___ © 2025 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
General Motors commits $888 million to build next-gen V-8 engine in New York
General Motors is investing $888 million in its New York propulsion assembly plant to produce the next generation V-8 engine, the company said May 27. GM said it is the automaker's largest ever investment in an engine plant and the latest adjustment to electric vehicle production. GM previously announced a $300 million investment to retool Tonawanda Propulsion near Buffalo, New York, to produce electric vehicle drive units. Outside New York, GM produces small block V-8 engines for its full-size trucks and SUVs at two other locations ― Flint, Michigan, and Toluca, Mexico, according to its website. Retooling for the next generation engine, its sixth, will take two years, the company said, meaning the fifth generation engine will continue to be produced in New York until 2027. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release celebrating the investment that the project will support 870 jobs at Tonawanda Propulsion, including 177 jobs deemed at risk. The state plans to provide up to $16.96 million in tax credits in return for investment commitments. The announcement is the latest production change GM has made, often citing 'marketplace changes.' GM said April 23 that it planned to expand transmission production at its Toledo (Ohio) Propulsions Systems plant where it builds transmissions used in the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks, while reducing electric drive unit production. The company also laid off 200 employees at its Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan, in April to ensure production will 'align with market dynamics.' Neither move was tariff-related, the company confirmed. More: GM adding V-8 engine to Flint plant worries sites that already make it The investment announced May 27 builds on a $579 million commitment to construct the same engine in Flint. A company spokesman said in 2023 following that announcement that the transition requires significant changes to the assembly line. 'With all of the renovation work that needs to be done to prepare Flint Engine to build the company's sixth generation V-8 engine, GM will continue to produce Gen 5 V-8 engines for several years,' the spokesperson said. It is not unusual to have multiple plants produce the same engines given the advantages associated with streamlining production, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. GM builds its heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups at Flint Assembly. A spokesperson said engines produced in Buffalo feed vehicle production at Fort Wayne Assembly, Indiana; Arlington Assembly, Texas; Wentzville, Missouri; Oshawa, in Canada; Bowling Green, Kentucky, and overflow to Flint Assembly. The next generation Silverado is not expected to arrive before 2027, likely in line with the newest V-8 generation, Fiorani told the Detroit Free Press. 'Investments this large means those plants will be around for a while. You can't spend half a billion ― or nearly a billion ― on a plant and have it go away in a couple years,' he said. 'This guarantees production will continue for years, as it takes that much time for a return on that size of investment. We're likely to see V-8s well into the 2030s.' In addition to adequate retooling time, there's another reason why GM will continue producing the fifth-generation V-8 for a while, Fiorani added: The company needs to continue producing the older V-8 engine to address manufacturing issues currently under investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. GM opted to voluntarily recall about 721,000 vehicles worldwide for defective internal engine parts ― the crankshaft and connecting rods ― damaged during the manufacturing process. Any vehicle engines that don't pass inspections at the dealership level will need to be replaced. Models impacted include Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevy Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL produced for 2021–24 model years. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: General Motors commits $888M to build next-gen V-8 engine in New York Sign in to access your portfolio
