!NEW! Shanghai GM Norsom Motors Marks 10th Anniversary

GM China joint venture opens Phase III manufacturing plant and produces first all-new Chevrolet Cruze

SGM-Norsom Phase III - Assembly Shop

Shanghai GM Norsom Motors, GM China’s joint venture with SAIC and Shanghai GM in Shenyang, Liaoning, celebrated its tenth anniversary today by opening its Phase III manufacturing facility and producing the first all-new Chevrolet Cruze.

The Phase III plant has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and 450,000 engines. It can produce up to five models on three platforms.

The facility includes press, body, paint, powertrain and general assembly shops. It also has auxiliary powertrain facilities, a distribution center and a high-speed test track. Adjacent to the new plant is a 2.44-square-kilometer automotive parts and components park.

Advanced global manufacturing technology and processes have been adopted throughout the plant. They include an environmentally friendly paint shop featuring a fully automated interior and exterior painting process, a world-class fully automated high-speed press, a decoiling and blanking production line, and Shanghai GM’s first highly automated flexible body manufacturing system. Its 518 robots give the body shop a domestic industry-leading automation rate of 93 percent.

The technology is supported by Shanghai GM’s world-class management and quality systems, which enable agility, flexibility and modularity.

The new Chevrolet Cruze represents Shanghai GM’s newest entry in the midsize compact car segment. It was developed for China on GM’s latest architecture. The new Cruze has a new design and comes with a choice of new 1.4T and 1.5L Ecotec engines. The Phase III powertrain plant is GM's first facility in the world to put the Ecotec engines into volume production.

Shanghai GM Norsom Motors Co., Ltd. was established in 2004. Shanghai GM holds a 50 percent stake and oversees management. GM China and SAIC each hold 25 percent stakes. The joint venture manufactures the Buick GL8 family and the Chevrolet Captiva and Cruze. It has produced about 1.7 million vehicles. With the opening of the Phase III plant, Shanghai GM Norsom Motors has an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles and 450,000 engines.