© General Motors
OKEMOS, Mich. – Recently, General Motors’ Flint Engine Operations manufactured its millionth 1.4L
engine, but will transition production to an all-new Ecotec small gas engine for the Chevrolet
Volt and Cruze by year’s end.
Production of the 1.4L engine began in 2001 for the current Volt, Cruze,
and Sonic. Flint Engine opened in 2002 to bolster production, and
will receive $200 million in upgrades to manufacture the replacement Ecotec
engine.
By 2017, GM expects to produce 2.5 million Ecotec engines a year in
eight engine plants, including Flint Engine, across six countries. For now the
Volt and Cruze are the only vehicles GM has announced to receive the
Flint-built engine.
In 2013, Flint Engine employees formed a launch team that
spent months collaborating with GM engineers and employees in Michigan, Mexico,
and Japan to develop the Ecotec engine. It was the first instance hourly and
salaried GM employees collaborated as a team for the powertrain
pre-production process.
While the launch team developed the new Ecotec engine, construction
crews installed new equipment and prepared Flint Engine for the impending
production shift set for fall 2015. As 1.4L engine production comes to final
halt at the beginning of September 2015, the plant will finish installing and
testing the necessary equipment for production of the new engine.
GM will ship the first batch of engines to its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant for the Chevrolet Cruze by year’s end. Volt production will begin later in 2016.
GM will ship the first batch of engines to its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant for the Chevrolet Cruze by year’s end. Volt production will begin later in 2016.
Although Flint Engine Operations manufactured its millionth 1.4L engine and will transition to
the Ecotec engine, the plant will
continue to produce the 3.6L engine while production shifts. The
plant manufactures the 3.6L engine for the Chevrolet Colorado and Traverse, GMC
Canyon and Acadia, and Buick Enclave.
As a Williamston area Chevrolet dealer housing a large inventory of new and used Chevy's for sale, we're excited to see this transition come to fruition. We're confident the new Ecotec engine will carry the Volt and Cruze, and subsequently chosen vehicles, to new heights,
Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you –– simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!
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