cars news 10: GM Spends $148 Million to Boost Production of V-8 Engines for Trucks

General Motors will spend $148 million to enable the production of V-8 engines at its Spring Hill manufacturing plant in Tennessee. With the investment, the automaker can build more 6.2-liter V-8 engines for high-end trucks and SUVs.

The automaker will start producing the Small Block 6.2-liter V-8 at the plant during the fourth quarter of this year. The engine is currently available in the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab; and GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon Denali, and Yukon XL Denali. Two other GM sites also make the engine: Tonawanda, N.Y., and St. Catharines, Ontario.

Typically, it would take GM two or three years to add a new engine line, but flexible machining at the Spring Hill plant will help add capacity more quickly.

“This investment will position GM and its workforce to promptly respond to consumer demand for this engine in the popular truck and SUV segment,” said GM North America Manufacturing Manager Arvin Jones in a recent statement. Sales for GM trucks and crossovers were generally strong last year, with double digit gains for the Silverado and other models.

The Spring Hill plant currently makes small Ecotec four-cylinder engines. In spring 2016, GM will also build the 2017 Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia at the facility.

Source: GM