GM engine plant opens in Santa Catarina

General Motors (GM) is today the official opening of its engine plant in Joinville (SC), a venture that received investments of r $ 350 million to give breath to the automaker's goal of increasing its production of a 100 thousand units per year.
At full capacity, the new unit will produce 120 thousand engines annually and 200 thousand heads. The motors will supply the GM plant in Gravataí (RS) to equip the Onix, compact hatch that started the year as the fifth best-selling car in the country. Also at the factory, the engines will be used in the manufacture of the new sedan version of Prism, Onix, launched yesterday by Chevrolet.
In addition, part of the headstocks produced in Joinville-about 80 thousand pieces-will be exported to the GM plant in Argentina. The Santa Catarina unit started to operate in October, but only today it turns out its inauguration of the official form, with the presence of local authorities as the Governor of Santa Catarina Raimundo Colombo (PSD), and the Mayor of the municipality, Udo Dohler (PMDB).
At the time, the production lines are undergoing acceleration and should reach full capacity within 30 to 60 days, according to Jaime Ardila, who since December has been the automaker's command in South America with the President of the subsidiary in Brazil.
The Executive says that the factory of Joinville is complementary to the engines in GM's industrial complex in Sao Jose dos Campos (SP), where the company has a tumultuous relationship with the local Union, but pledged to invest $ 500 million after closing last month an agreement to make labor relations. "There is no impact to St. Joseph. The Joinville factory corresponds to additional production we need, since we'll produce 100 thousand cars more [per year]. "
On the other hand, follows suspended the plan of building, also in Joinville, a transmission factory, a project of more than $ 700 million that was shelved because of the crisis in Europe, where would a good part of the production.
Ardila said the automaker will take longer to announce a new program of investments in Brazil, before expected early this year. "Let's not have this now. Will get more for half the year. We still have much to discuss. "
Already about the succession in the Presidency of GM in the country-after the u.s. Grace Lieblein leaves office at the end of last year, he said he will continue piling up the function and is not looking for an Executive to the command of the Brazilian subsidiary. "I'm not looking for anyone. I'm comfortable with the two functions. "