General Motors is getting ready for a new line of engines by building up its Saginaw, Michigan metal casting plant. A variety of aluminum engine components, including the block and heads, will be manufactured and find their way under the hood of vehicles such as the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu. Approximately $215 million will be put into Saginaw to tool the plant for the future production and thus create and or retain around 275 jobs.
“We look forward to continuing our long and proud heritage of in-house casting for key components,” said Diana Tremblay, GM’s global chief manufacturing officer. “We believe these operations really enhance our ability to provide more fuel-efficient engines to our customers around the globe.” The announcement of one of the new engines finding its way into the upcoming 2013 Malibu is rather interesting. GM has already announced that the new car will be released with a newly developed 2.5 liter Ecotec which already has a home in Tennessee and New York. So, either Saginaw will start producing the 2.5 or the Malibu will be slated to receive a second engine option. Considering this block could also find duty in Buick’s LaCrosse, it could very well be a six cylinder.
Source: GM
