Tonawanda plant to build engines for two new GM trucks

Following the delay from its 2009 bankruptcy protection, GM on Thursday announced the Chevrolet Silverado 1500and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks for 2014.  

The GM Tonawanda Engine plant will make the engines for those trucks, says launch manager Michael Fonte.

"We'll be making the full family of new EcoTec3 engines for those vehicles ... we're the lead plant," Fonte says.

It follows the announcement about the engines for the C-7-Corvette made back April 2010. The announcement's created a lot of excitement at the plant, he adds.
 
"Knowing that we're putting engines into the Corvette for the first time in 40 years, and the lead plant in all the new engines for the full line of pickup trucks, which is the bread and butter of the corporation," Fonte says.

GM says the EcoTec 3 engines deliver more power, more torque, and improve fuel efficiency.

Plant manager Steve Finch says GM will add 500 new jobs at the plant, including up to 200 positions next year.