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GM Announces Chevy Volt Engines to be Built at Existing Flint Michigan Plant

February 24th, 2009 | Posted in: Generator, Production

In recent weeks we heard that construction at the Flint Michigan engine plant where the Chevy Volt and Cruze engines were to be built had been put on hold due to cash flow difficulties. This plant had initially been earmarked for the Family Zero engines back in September.

Now the automaker has announced it will be investing $250 million to re-tool an existing engine plant in Flint rather than build a new one. But the end result is the same…Volt engines build in Flint.

Press Release:
General Motors has confirmed today that it will still invest approximately $250 million to bring the 1.4-liter 4-cylinder Family 0 engine production to Flint, Mich. The engine capacity for the Chevy Volt and Cruze will be allocated to existing and available floor space in the company’s Flint South engine plant located on Bristol Road.

Preparations to the Flint South plant for installation of new machinery and equipment will begin this Spring. Production of the 1.4-liter engines is targeted to begin in December 2010.

Production of Family 0 engines at Flint South will be GM’s most flexible and competitive engine manufacturing lines in the world, with approximately 150 highly flexible stations that will allow production of multiple 4-cylinder engine families without retooling.

This means that GM will not invest in new floor space at this time due to current capital expenditure constraints and available floor space in existing facilities.

Since the engines wont start being produced until December 2010, expect at least the first Volts out the door to get their 1.4 L generator engines from Austria. But now we get the first word of actual construction-work to prepare to make parts for our Volts within weeks.

Source (GM )

Posted by: Lyle

69 Responses to “GM Announces Chevy Volt Engines to be Built at Existing Flint Michigan Plant”

RB Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Too strange. What else is happening?

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Dave B Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

I agree, RB. These flip-flopping announcements make me cringe. Is it for government dollars or is Rick taking his hand off the wheel every two minutes?

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KUD Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:37 pm

OK, we have an engine plant. Let’s get the Volt build

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Jim Mbongo Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Hey RB,

GM said since the beginning that the first Chevy Volt engine will come from an existing plant – Austria.
Is this difficult to understand?

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

Good news. December 2010 for American produced Volt engines is sooner than I expected. I have to wonder why they didn’t think of using existing floor space originally.

Does anybody know if the 2011 Chevy Orlando will use this same engine?

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RB Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

#4 Jim says
GM said since the beginning that the first Chevy Volt engine will come from an existing plant – Austria.Is this difficult to understand?
————————————————————–

Portions of the engine saga

GM says the Volt will have a 3 cyl engine

GM says it will be a 4 cyl engine, even though that is too big to fit into the space under the hood.

GM says the 4 cyl will work if it is turned sideways.

GM says the engine will be built in the US if tax credits are ok, and also used for the Cruze.

GM says the engine will be built in Flint in an all new factory, using the tax credits.

GM says the engines will come from Austria.

GM now says the engines will come from Flint.

I’m sure there are many factors that went into every decision along the way, and I wonder what some of them were, for this last step.

(I agree that off and on they have said the first engines would come from someplace else.)

/Poor little car really needs an engine.

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CaptJackSparrow Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Austrian ICE or US ICE, just build my Volt dangit!

I’ll take my Volt with No Generator, No ICE, ShAkEn not StirreD…

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I just found this:
http://www.motorauthority.com/chevrolet-orlando-coming-to-us-in-2011-may-get-volt-technology.html
“Sitting on the same platform as the recently revealed Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, the Orlando will be able to seat up to seven adults and will be powered by a range of engines displacing between 1.6 and 2.0L. The most powerful model will be a 2.0L turbodiesel with 150hp (112kW) and 236lb-ft (320Nm) of torque. According to latest reports, GM is also considering using its Volt plug-in hybrid technology in the Orlando.

“I would point out that the Chevrolet Orlando is built on the same basic vehicle architecture and component set as the Chevrolet Volt,” GM’s vice president of global program management, Jon Lauckner, revealed to Automotive News. “So if it makes sense, it’s certainly something we can take a look at.”

150hp is exactly the same as the Volt’s induction electric motor.

How many people here would buy an EREV Orlando?

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noel park Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Build the engines in an existing plant with available floor space instead of building a new plant? What a concept! Why didn’t we think of that?

Good news though. Bring it on.

LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS! DBNGCMEMEV

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noel park Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

#8 Dave G:

I would! Maybe even the turbo diesel, if they really do it. This is great news, if it actually happens.

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

#6 RB,

When GM moved away from the 3-cylinder engine, one of the reasons they gave for the 1.4L was that is was already being developed for other cars in Europe. When GM announced an all-new plant to build Volt engines in the U.S., it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t be done in time for the first Volts, and GM admitted soon after that the first engines would be coming from Europe.

From what I can see, the only changes to GM’s Volt engine policy have been:

1) Changing from a 1.0L Turbo to a normal 1.4L
2) Changing from an all-new engine plant to existing floor space

When GM announced an all-new plant, I never understood it then, and I understand it even less now.

When GM moved away from the Turbo, I was concerned about mileage at first, but after the Prius came out with a 50 MPG 1.8L engine, I became less concerned. It seems the cam tuning has a lot more to do with efficiency than displacement.

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old man Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

This is great news! It should be a major cost saving. They will adapt some of there existing equipment to do prep work and then [my opinion] use a [several] lines of CNC horizontal and a few vertical machining centers. As well as CNC lathes and cam grinders. These machines will have in process gauging and tool wear sensing. One of the big advantages to using CNC’s is the ease with finding job shops that can take care of any over flow. This type of machine tool will greatly improve quality control.

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CaptJackSparrow Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

@Dave G 8
“How many people here would buy an EREV Orlando?”

Not me. Sedan EREV or a Truck EREV for me.

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old man Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

Not me, I am single. But two of my daughters would and one of my brothers as well as several of my neighbors who have children.

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statik Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

#1 RB (and #6 RB)

Too strange. What else is happening?
=================

This is quite a saga indeed. I really don’t think they had sat down and thought this thing all the way through…until now. Obviously, this makes the most sense. It doesn’t make sense to build a whole new factory when you have half your factories shuttered…and it certainly doesn’t make sense to ship ‘not quite rights’ across the pond at top dollar either.
———
Lastly, here is another common sense moment:

Why start production Volts in November 2010 with expensive, overseas/non production intent engines for the first model year (or split year), when you are apparently going to ’start’ producing at home in December 2010? …and therefore could theoreticaly start fitting them into Volts in early 2011.

The likely answer?
They aren’t going to have any production Volts rolling off in November 2010. I’m guessing this is yet another in the series of big, flashing neon signs thats say, “November 2010 isn’t going to happen!”

Side note:
Thanks for firing out the ‘high quality’ posts like popcorn lately Lyle. Hope this doesn’t mean you have lots of free time because the recession has hurt the neurology business, lol

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Scott Casteel Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

count me in for an Orlando.

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Guido Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

#11 Dave G wrote :

From what I can see, the only changes to GM’s Volt engine policy have been:

1) Changing from a 1.0L Turbo to a normal 1.4L
2) Changing from an all-new engine plant to existing floor space

When GM announced an all-new plant, I never understood it then, and I understand it even less now.
—-
Dave – The existing engine plant is a pretty old structure …probably leaves a lot to be desired in the way of energy efficiency, utilities, expansion potential, etc.. – plus, it’s a bit of an eyesore. Compared to the cost of having to import the engines from Europe, I suspect they decided they could live with the limitations of the existing structure.

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Jaime Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

If that picture is the Volt’s engine, we are all screwed.

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BillR1 Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

As mentioned in a previous related thread, the cost to ship engines from Austria, versus building them locally in Flint, had to weigh into the cost for the Volt, Cruze, and other potential applications for this engine.

Also, many of the large custom machine tools and automation for the assembly process may be long lead items (up to 3 years advance order necessary). So GM may have already had a lot of the machinery for this assembly line on order, even though they cancelled their plans for a new building.

So the option becomes pay cancellation fees for all this equipment and source hundreds of thousands of engines from overseas at higher prices with more chance for supply disruptions, or find a more cost effective option than building an entirely new facility.

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GM Announces Chevy Volt Engines to be Built at Existing Flint … | Chevy2006.com Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Arch Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

I still say that the Volt was meant to be a PR only event. Now they have to build them. The long range planning had not been done. I find it fun watching them trying to catch up to us.

Take Care
Arch

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dorp7 Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Good for Michigan. We need it.

I don’t plan on using the engine much, but its still important to have.

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Dave K. =D~ Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:35 pm

hi Dave G #11,

“When GM announced an all-new plant, I never understood it then, and I understand it even less now.”

____________________________

The original announcement came when GM was dealing with a UAW strike and reports of very weak SUV sales.

The initial headline stated, “GM invests $800,000,000 into a new manufacturing facility for the 1.4L 0 Volt ICE engine to be built in Michigan”.

This was called a one time cost “in order to move forward” on the E-REV program. The public didn’t realize GM’s dire straits at this point. This awakening came 2 weeks later in the quarterly earnings report and the following power nose dive of the share price of GM stock. I believe this was $9.80 to $6.75.

The other news of the day was the collapse and emergency cash injections of supplier Delphi.

The pressure increased from here. The next headline read, “Project delayed, Volt engine to be produced over seas”. This was in addition to the news, “Volt remains on track for 2010 release, and is a highest priority project”.

Then the TARP program started. The SUV plant closures. The public disclosure of UAW pay rates and the ‘health care for life’ plan. The private jet use by execs… ect.
____________________________

News of today:

The automaker has announced it will be investing $250 million to re-tool an existing engine plant in Flint rather than build a new one. But the end result is the same…Volt engines built in Flint.

=D~

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Mark Z Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 5:49 pm

This is great news.

The Austria plant can supply engines to guarantee that VOLT will reach show room floors by November 2010. If there are problems getting Flint on-line, then Austria can continue production. If Flint can come on-line faster, then all VOLT cars shipped to dealers could have American built engines. The Austria plant can continue production for the European E-REV models.

It’s a win-win for the VOLT.

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Amy Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

2010, now 2011, oh yeah I forgot always 2 years away

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Rashiid Amul Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Every time I see the picture at the top, that guy in the top right is always working hard. He must be a union worker.

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Koz Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Dave G #8
From the article:
““So if it makes sense, it’s certainly something we can take a look at.”

IF?????

Build a more utilitarian model than the Volt and use gen 2 battery. Sell for $33K or less. NO BRAINER!

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Rashiid Amul Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

Amy #25 says,
2010, now 2011, oh yeah I forgot always 2 years away

———–
…..and right around the corner.

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Arch Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

Now this should cause some heart burn in some board rooms.

http://gas2.org/2009/02/24/vw-toshiba-planning-a-smart-car-killer/

Take Care
Arch

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john1701a Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

The Austria plant can supply engines to guarantee that VOLT will reach show room floors by November 2010.
_______________________________

With only so few available (10,000 production first year), the hope would be that each Volt is rolled off each delivery truck with a sold sign already on it.

In fact, that better be the scenario. Prius did that the first year.

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Unni Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

Why ICE engine ?

yesterday was watching an IMIEV video , the guy was carrying a small handy gas generator, when he stops car and goes away, he starts the generator and plug-in it to the car and goes away :

simple normal handy portable generator- can be used as range extender in home when we need. We can solve range anxiety easily?

yesterday was watching an IMIEV video , the guy was carrying a small handy gas generator, when he stops car and goes away, he starts the generator and plug-in it to the car and goes away :

simple normal handy portable generato

Nice to see manufacturing jobs coming back. From Canada Gm restructuring plan , Volt will be in Canada only some time in 2011.

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Adrian Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

ah, the turbo diesel… good choice for the Orlando.

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SteveF Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

I do not really understand all the components of the picture above. I saw a model of the engine that is going in the Cruze at the Detroit auto-show and it was pretty small. Above picture has the generator component add but does not explain all the other items. Main point is that for anyone that is concern with the size of the ICE and generator fitting, do not depend on the picture above. There must be many additional test components that is making it look more complex and larger.

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

#18 Jaime Says: If that picture is the Volt’s engine, we are all screwed.
————————————————————————————–
The picture shows the actual Volt engine, plus a lot of other stuff that won’t be in the Volt.
Not to worry.

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

#33 SteveF Says: Above picture has the generator component add but does not explain all the other items.
————————————————————————————–
Actually, I don’t think the picture shows the generator, but I could be wrong on this. There is a lot of test equiptment hooked up.

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

#31 Unni Says: simple normal handy portable generator- can be used as range extender in home when we need. We can solve range anxiety easily?
————————————————————————————–
No, not really. If you want to slowly recharge the car over 6 hours, then yes a small (loud) portable generator will work. But if you actually want to drive somewhere beyond your electric range, you’ll need a much bigger generator, like this:
http://evmaine.org/html/ev_trailers.html

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

#26 Rashiid Amul Says: Every time I see the picture at the top, that guy in the top right is always working hard. He must be a union worker.
————————————————————————————–
Oh no, you said “union”… Let the games begin!

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noel park Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

#36 Dave G:

Plus which, those little generators are really dirty, IMHO. No EGR, no air pump, no catalyst, no nothing. Kind of like a lawnmower is a lot dirtier than a modern car. Get a few million of those going in LA, for example, and it would be an air pollution disaster. I don’t think there’s any way that’s gonna happen.

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Dave K. =D~ Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

The ‘lab’ photo looks like the Volt zero ICE 1.4L powering the main electric motor. With measuring devices and some sort of transmission/converter/regen system. Just what you would expect to see in the lab. And being that this photo is a year old now, good news on the R&D front.

The electric motor (pictured) may be the 165HP that was originally set to power the wheels of the Volt. We know by other EV and assorted kit tests that the smaller 150HP motor offers a good balance of range and power.

And as mentioned here recently, a compact car with a 20HP electric kit will give a top speed of 50MPH. The Corvette-like Tesla at 250HP (electric) is clearly overkill on power and accelerates battery drain.

=D~

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Dave G Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

#19 BillR1 Says: As mentioned in a previous related thread, the cost to ship engines from Austria, versus building them locally in Flint, had to weigh into the cost for the Volt, Cruze, and other potential applications for this engine.
————————————————————————————–
I don’t know the exact costs, but someone here mentioned that shipping engines over the surface of the ocean was relatively cheap.

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Red HHR Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

“Production of Family 0 engines at Flint South will be GM’s most flexible and competitive engine manufacturing lines in the world, with approximately 150 highly flexible stations that will allow production of multiple 4-cylinder engine families without retooling.”

I really like the little four banger in the HHR, DOHC, VVT, Balance shafts, the thing is sweet….

Maybe it (the engine) would not need al the fancy stuff in the Volt, I duno. I just want a Voltec HHR

Red HHR

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Cab Driver Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:26 pm

#18 Jaime Says: If that picture is the Volt’s engine, we are all screwed.
————————————————————————————–
#34 Dave G replies: The picture shows the actual Volt engine, plus a lot of other stuff that won’t be in the Volt.
Not to worry.
============

The Volt ICE is sideways in the central portion of the photo behind and to the left of the yellow dynamometer load device for the passenger side wheel. The yellow dynamometer load device for the driver side wheel is partially visible at the left edge of the photo.

The silver castings between the load dvice at the left and the ICE house the transaxle which includes both the generator and drive electric motors as well as reduction gears and the differential.

The transaxle looks very much like the front wheel drive two mode hybrid transaxle 2MT70 from the Vue two mode hybrid. (This was pointed out by WopOnTour in a previous thread http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1332&page=2 .)

It will be very interesting to find out whether the volt really has a single speed fixed reduction gear or whether Lutz’s reference to a very special transmission means that it will have multiple speeds or even a continuously variable ratio.

We shall eventually see.

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JEC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:28 pm

40 Dave G
“…shipping engines over the surface of the ocean was relatively cheap.”
============================================
Or, they could ship them by submarine.
—————————————————-

I agree that it is strange that GM has waffled so much on the engine. My guess is that it is being viewed as leverage to get more govt money, by showing that GM is trying to keep jobs in the US.

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koz Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Me #27

“Build a more utilitarian model than the Volt and use gen 2 battery. Sell for $33K or less. NO BRAINER!”

I meant “a more utlitarian Orlando model than the Volt….”, but would hold true for the Volt too. At least as long as the $7500 tax rebate lasts.

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JEC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:33 pm

#42 Cab Driver
“It will be very interesting to find out whether the volt really has a single speed fixed reduction gear or whether Lutz’s reference to a very special transmission means that it will have multiple speeds or even a continuously variable ratio.”
======================================================
My best guess is that the “special transmission” that Lutz refers to will be purely software based, which would make it truly unique. I see no reason to add a mechanical transmission (single gearing should be sufficient). The motors will be able to run the entire range of speed.

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kdawg Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:33 pm

Building the engines in Flint may have been a play by GM on local (Michigan) tax incentives and also affect the Fed loans scenario.

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Jeff Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:36 pm

So much info to confuse…nice.

It does give the appearance of actually moving forward. Actually in terms of producing a product, it is moving sideways. Of course, everyone knows the release date…well approximately anyways. I’m sure it takes someone on the Volt project to actually understand the MS Project file contents.

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JEC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

44 Koz
“Sell for $33K or less”
——————————————————————————–
I think you will be lucky if the Volt could be sold near that $33k, even with the rebate.

The EREV application, will not likely be ported to trucks, since trucks are meant to haul big loads. The batteries will drain in short order, under heavy load use.

Now SUVs and mini Vans, may be more suitable, but the simple physics means that battery needs to increase to handle the larger size and less areo vehicle. The ICE also needs to increase, and the motors, and the electronics, and……

Anyway, not that they cannot port the EREV to larger vehicles, in my opinion the most logical application will be in small to mid-sized passenger cars. Maybe as price and size of batteries shrink, you will see more applications towards larger and energy hungry vehicles.

JMHO.

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JEC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

45 (me)

“(single gearing should be sufficient).”
===============================================
ok, before someone says it, yes a single gear is still a transmission, technically (DonC, I think has correctly, pointed this out in the past?). The point is that this is not a complex, expensive, high maintenance item.

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BillR1 Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

#40 Dave G,

The way I see it, each engine from Austria will have to be packaged or crated for shipment. I’m not a geography expert, but I don’t think Austria has a deep water ocean port. That means overland shipping to a seaport, transfer to an ocean-going vessel, shipping to perhaps Lake Huron via the St. Lawrence Seaway, and then another transfer to an overland shipping transport to the Volt assembly line.

With the Flint engine plant, engines are crated and sent overland to the Hamtramck plant in Detroit, in the case of the Volt.

I don’t know the cost differential for this, but I don’t consider it to be “a wash”.

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BillR1 Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

#48 JEC,

I think the market will dictate what vehicles will get the E-REV technology. Micky Bly of GM stated that the Tahoe only needs 30 hp (22 kW) to drive it at highway speed. This is about twice that of the Volt (~200 Wh/mile at 60 mph, or 12 kW).

If the Volt battery pack were fit into a Tahoe, it would get ~ 20 miles AER and about 25 mpg with the ICE. For a 40 mile commute, this equates to 50 mpg!

So image a Voltec Tahoe (limited towing capability) with a drive system at both the front and rear wheels (4WD). Mostly, only the rear drive is used, however, for more acceleration, or 4WD, the front drive is powered up (also gives better regen braking).

Thus we have a full size SUV with 4WD, 300 hp of available power, and gets a 50 mpg EPA sticker.

Reminds me of an old Daffy Duck cartoon where he is a secret agent and delivers a secret package to the embassy. After much ado, he arrives at the embassy and the ambassador opens the secret package and pulls out a can labeled “Instant Woman, just add water”. The ambassador adds water to the can, and out pops a beautiful woman in an evening gown. He explains that he needed a date for the Royal Ball, and he and the woman leave arm in arm.

After they leave, Daffy picks up the can and looks at it and says “Gee, I wonder if there could be a market for this stuff?”

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Jackson Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

For a variety of reasons, I am growing steadily pessimistic that we will see a reasonably-priced, reasonably high-production Volt or Volt variant in anything close to the time frame we all hope for (sorry, TALL PALL, but I think you can stop counting for all but a handful of highly publicized roll-outs).

I’m thinking now of trading while oversupply has car prices down, and hoping that in 6 – 8 more years there will actually be something to see — in a showroom.

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JEC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

51 BillR1
“I think the market will dictate what vehicles will get the E-REV technology. ”
———————————————————————————–
I agree. My point is that, if you are buying a big SUV for power hungry applications, then you really increase the size and cost of the battery and all the other components. The market may support this at some price point, but I do not believe we are there yet, but with improvements we should reach it. That does not mean they will not build an SUV with EREV’s, but if you put pen to paper, I think you would have a hard time justifying it from a pure economic standpoint.

I hope someday all cars are electric. I look forward to elimination of all the grease parts in a modern car, replaced with all electrical. I think the EREV has a place, but I believe ultimately the BEV will become the norm (This is likely many years away, but ultimately it just makes the most sense)

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D Lo Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

#5 Dave G.
#9 Noel Park, Et Al
“Build the engines in an existing plant with available floor space instead of building a new plant? What a concept! Why didn’t we think of that?”

Seriously how many of us reacted to the original announcement with this same sentiment. I am a fan of GM products, but as a company they still have a long way to go in making good, fiscally responsible decisions (at least in the first try). My guess is that they need a car idiot, not Czar, to simply ask “why?” when these gear heads plan things out.

Take a look at the Camaro website, which highlights the history and noting the following under the year 1982:
“4-cylinder engine available in the Sport Coupe. It was a more fuel efficient response to the fuel shortage”. The fuel shortage of 1979, that is. Of course even after having bought themselves a few more years the 2010 camaro is going to have an over-sized engine and in 2014 when GM decides to right-size the power plant, perhaps with a turbo charger or electric (in response to the fuel costs of 2008) we’ll all be asking “why didn’t I think of that”.

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koz Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 10:05 pm

JEC #48

What size do you think the Orlando is? As far as price, I was speaking of the 2nd generation Voltec. Perhaps you were too, but I’m not sure what the reticence to believe costs can be brought down stems from. So much of the technology to be implemented in the Volt is new to large scale production and batteries are undergoing continual improvements.

I was not speaking to large vehicles and I agree they are not the best choice for gen 1 voltec. I do believe they will become practical enough (good enough) in gen 2.

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DonC Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 11:02 pm

Retooling loans are only available if you use an existing factory. If GM built a new factory it wouldn’t be able to use the low cost loans to build it, whereas GM can get the loans if it uses an existing facility. It’s the same reason Tesla canceled its new factory plans and will retool an existing facility.

#13 “the glass is ALWAYS half empty” statik says “They aren’t going to have any production Volts rolling off in November 2010.”

Actually it’s likely to be the opposite. I doubt GM is going to miss the November roll out — too much on the line. The cars may have a few loose ends but they’ll be out. Also, remember that production would start in July, so a December start of the engine plant would signify a many month delay.

I’d suggest that the reason is that they plan on making more Cruze and Volts, not fewer. If your production is limited you can import. But if you want to make 100K units you’re better off with the factory not being a continent away.

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Jimmy Hodges Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

This is very good news. Good for workers, good for Michigan, good for America! The president, our Commander in Chief spoke tonight of American plug-in hybrid cars. He said the batteries should not be made in Korea but right here in the United States, by American workers! He is right on the money! America must build the fuel efficient cars of the future!

God Bless America!

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TALLPALL Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pm

Jackson #52

Thanks for the heads up! But i am gonna keep score all the same.

I’m with Don C #56

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Spin Says:
February 24th, 2009 at 11:29 pm

BYD will be building their engines in China where there is no UAW

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Dave K. =D~ Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 1:41 am

Jimmy Hodges #57,

“…batteries should not be made in Korea…here in the United States”

___________________________

Is this a decision for Washington D.C. or decision for GM? It’s very easy to say, “This should be, and that should be”. If President Obama wants job creation and American jobs then he needs to take 1% of the total TARP (about $1,000,000,000) and start an American automotive battery manufacturing program. Until this is done, it simply is not his business.

=D~

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Jake Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 2:16 am

The Orlando is the closest thing to what I want in a new car of all Chevy’s recent concepts. A nice clean diesel with a 6 speed manual would be great. Voltec is also attractive of course. However, in my perfect world the Orlando would be a bit less van, more wagon. That would help aesthetically and probably in terms of aerodynamics. That’s just me, though. Can’t argue with the huge cargo area of a high-roofed vehicle.

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RB Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 7:30 am

#56 DonC quotes statik and says
#13 “the glass is ALWAYS half empty” statik says “They aren’t going to have any production Volts rolling off in November 2010.”
Actually it’s likely to be the opposite. I doubt GM is going to miss the November roll out — too much on the line. The cars may have a few loose ends but they’ll be out. Also, remember that production would start in July, so a December start of the engine plant would signify a many month delay.

In support of DonC (sort of) I think GM will make 2 Volts to sell in November 2010, announce success with great fanfare, and then wait until engines come off the Michigan line to make any more It will be like the huge fleet of mules they “currently” have.

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Shawn Marshall Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 8:51 am

How’s an engine plant in Flint gonna compete long term when our tax funds are no longer available to bolster GM’s effort?.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

It’s probably a tactical ploy for government money to locate there as many have noted but in the long term it will be a strategic mistake as #59 has noted.

We have an inalienable right to work that does not belong to the government.
Hope Statik is wrong about no Volts in November; crushing humiliation for GM if they flub it.

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Shawn Marshall Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 8:59 am

#42 Cabdriver Good post – Thanks.

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noel park Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am

#54 D Lo:

Yeah, many months ago I suggested on the Fastlane blog that the next generation Corvette could be a mid-engined, Lotus Elise (Tesla?) size and weight car, using the turbo 4 out of the Cobalt SS. Super fast, spectacular handling, and 35+ mpg.

Man, the flames almost came right out of the monitor screen!

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N Riley Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Build the engines in an existing plant for the time being seems a very good idea. It has got to be much cheaper than starting from a raw piece of land and building a complete factory. Some day, maybe, they can do that, but for now, this was the best decision.

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Bob G Says:
February 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

#60 Dave K said, “… President Obama … it simply is not his business…”

GM accepted money from the government, so now I expect the government to watch closely over GM’s business and make sure my tax dollars are spent wisely.

If Ford wants to buy batteries from Korea, they can do it with private funds. In that case, the government has no reason to get involved.

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Dave K. =D~ Says:
February 26th, 2009 at 5:24 am

hi Bob G #67,

“GM accepted money from the government”

_______________________

I think you’re mistaken. GM asked for a loan and it was granted. We’re going to call it “a loan” until it’s payed back or GM reorganizes. How can the government force GM to do things their way and then hold a gun to GM to pay the loan back?

If WaMu gave a loan to Ford could they demand that Ford use Japanese tires?

=D~

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Chevrolet HHR SS and Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe SS get axe - Page 3 - GM Inside News Forum Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 9:58 am

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