General Motors today announced the allocation of the new generation midsize diesel engine family to the GM Manufacturing Poland plant in Tychy. Start of production of the all-aluminum 1.6liter four-cylinder diesel engines that combine high performance with top refinement and high fuel efficiency is scheduled for 2017.
Total investment in the plant, which is located in the Katowice Special Economic Zone, will amount to 250 million euros. This is the biggest investment in the history of the Tychy plant and includes additional buildings and new manufacturing technology. The maximum annual production capacity will be 200,000 units.
The investment will enable the extension and modernization of the plant’s infrastructure. The building’s surface area will increase by 30 percent with the addition of the storage area as well as high tech production and testing lines. This expansion takes the plant’s technological competence to the next level and transforms the assembly facility into a full production plant. Construction and installation of the new production equipment will continue until 2016.
“The new midsize diesel engine family is an important part of our engine offensive. We appreciate the good quality and high efficiency of our Polish location and look forward to implementing this exciting project,“ says Peter Thom, Member of the Management Board, Adam Opel AG and Vice President Manufacturing Europe.
“The automotive industry is a very important branch of our market, therefore this new investment in the GMMP Tychy plant is very good news not only for the region, but also for the whole economy,” says Janusz Piechociński, Poland Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy.
“The new investment moves the GM Manufacturing Poland plant to the next development level and secures its future. With this comprehensive portfolio of modern engines and vehicles, we are committed to contributing to the Opel/Vauxhall product offensive. We would like to thank the Polish Ministry of Economy that supported the investment,” said Andrzej Korpak, Managing Director of the GM Manufacturing Poland plant.
The new engine family will meet Euro 6 emission standards while securing high power and torque density, low fuel consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. Engines will be installed in a wide range of Opel/Vauxhall models, setting the benchmark for noise, vibration and harshness.
The GM Manufacturing Poland plants in Gliwice and Tychy employ 3,500 people. The current portfolio includes the Opel Astra, the Cascada convertible and the 1.7-liter diesel engine. With today’s announcement, total GM investments in Poland will amount to over 1 billion euros.
