The next line of small Ecotec engines will be made by General Motors at their all-new Uzbekistan assembly plant. Located in Tashkent, the new facility is only 400 kilometers from GM’s Central Asian vehicle assembly plant in Asaka and is the product of a joint venture between UzAvtosanoat and GM. The engines to be produced, 1.2 and 1.5 liter versions of the Ecotec DOHC inline four cylinder, will be found in various GM products around the world. First finding work in the upcoming refreshed Spark minicar, the new block will be the first product of the Uzbekistan initiative.
“Through our strong partnership with the Uzbekistan government and UzAvtosanoat, this engine plant will enable us to deliver on our promise of providing a broader range of small, fuel-efficient engines to our customers around the world,” said John Buttermore, GM International Operations Vice President of Manufacturing and Labor. At first, up to 1,200 people will be employed at the facility, which is the second plant created from the joint venture. Taking 75 percent of the venture is UzAvtosanoat while GM holds on to the remaining 25 percent. The venture has been active since 2008.
Source: General Motors
