GM engine plant is inaugurated from r $ 350 million in Joinville

General Motors yesterday opened its first factory devoted solely to engines in Brazil, in Joinville (SC). The plant is already operating on one shift and, in April, the automaker will inaugurate the second round.
The result of r $ 350 million investment, the factory has an annual capacity to produce 120 thousand and 200 thousand engines cylinder heads. In all, the unit created 500 direct jobs and about a thousand indirect jobs. After the inauguration of the second round, will be produced 200 thousand engines per year, according to the President of GM South America, Jaime Ardila.
The engines produced in Joinville are both SPE/4 family, with 1.0 and 1.4 litre. They equip the Onix, released at the end of last year, and the new generation of the Prism, which arrived at dealerships this week.
"The goal is not to vent our other engines-factory in São José dos Campos (SP), which also has a production line of vehicles, because these products are for new cars," said Ardila. The thrusters 1.0 and 1.4 are unique to the internal market. In the case of aluminum heads, 40% will be exported to Argentina and 60% will be in the country.
The new complex occupies an area of 200 thousand square meters, but only 30 thousand are intended for the building that houses the plant and offices. The automaker will raise this ground also a factory of transmissions, which was postponed because of the economic crisis.
"At first, these changes would be intended only for export to Europe, and only then would be used in Brazil," said Ardila. "We are waiting for the recovery of the European market to decide when we will erect the factory."
The inauguration of the factory marks the beginning of the expansion of the automobile industry in the North of Santa Catarina. In 2014, the BMW will start operations on its first plant in Brazil, Araquari, city near Joinville.
The city already had entered the match to receive the GM factory opened in the country in early 2000, but in Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul, won the Crown.
Prism. The beginning of sales of the new Prism will make GM operate in three shifts from April in Gravataí. There are also produced the Onix and Celta. "The annual production capacity will now 350 thousand vehicles," said Ardila. Before, 225 thousand copies were manufactured cars per year in the unit. The new round also generated 1.5 million jobs.
The new Prism is the last model developed within the investment plan of $ 5.3 billion by GM 2009 applied to 2012. In the second half, will be announced a new investment plan, done with the Brazilian subsidiary's own resources.