The United States is a great market for trucks, a fact nobody can easily refute. In fact, even in the course of the pandemic, truck sales have been steady in America for General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Maybe this is the reason why General Motors recently announced that it would pour $76 million worth of investment for two truck plants in the US. These plants will aid in the production of more GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. Out of that $76 million, $70 million will go to the engine plant in Tonawanda, New York; $6 million will proceed to the metal stamping plant in Parma, Ohio.
The investment in the engine plant will encompass the cost needed to enhance the capacity of the engine block machining line. Meanwhile, the Parma plant investment is for the construction of four new metal assembly cells. The latter will elevate the production figures of the said plant.
Overall, the additional money is beneficial for the employees of those two factories. It means more work which in turn means money for them. Tonawanda employs 1,300 people, while Parma has 1,000.
Tonawanda is where the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 engines are built. It builds a plethora of engines for trucks and SUVs such as GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade. It also manufactures the 6.6-liter V8 for the Silverado HD trucks. On the other hand, Parma is responsible for the processing of more than 800 tons of steel on a daily basis.
“GM continues to invest to strengthen our core business and respond to growing customer demand for our full-size pickups,” Phil Kienle said, vice president of GM’S Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “Our Tonawanda and Parma teams are dedicated to building world-class products for our customers, and these investments reflect our confidence in these teams.”
Last November, GM also revealed its plans to reopen its truck plant in Oshawa, Ontario, after it has been closed for two years. The reopening of its Canada plan will take place sometime in January 2022.
