GM Opens Diesel Engine Plant in Thailand
Executive Summary
The first engines to be built at the new Rayong facility are destined for the all-new Chevrolet Colorado pickup, to be produced in the province.
General Motors opens its first diesel engine plant in Southeast Asia, with the $200-million facility in Rayong province, Thailand, representing its most significant powertrain investment in the region.
GM says the 584,211 sq.-ft. (54,273 sq.-m) plant is the first to produce its all-new family of Duramax 4-cyl. diesel engines. They feature overhead cams, turbocharging and durable aluminum cylinder heads.
Tested in extreme conditions in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, the engines meet the advanced Euro 4 emission standard and can be used in front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive applications.
The plant has a staff of 500 and annual production capacity of 120,000 engines destined for vehicles built both in Thailand and elsewhere. The mill can quickly be switched between production of 2.5L and 2.8L variants as market demand changes.
Construction of the plant takes GM’s spending in Thailand to $1.3 billion since 1998. The auto maker says it expects to source $94 million worth of Thai-built components for the engines by 2012.
The first engines to be built at the plant are destined for the all-new Chevrolet Colorado pickup to be produced in Rayong after engineering development work and retooling of the vehicle assembly line.
The auto maker says the new powertrain facility is a key component of its strategy aimed at becoming a leading manufacturer of vehicles and engines throughout the region.
“GM is committed to growing our footprint and business throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia,” GM Southeast Asia President Martin Apfel says in a statement.
“Our engine plant will enable us to deliver on our promise of bringing cleaner, more efficient and higher-performance diesel engine technology to our customers.”
