!NEW! Diesel Jubilee in Opel Kaiserslautern

• Factory produced the one millionth of the current two liter engine series   
• Overall, more than nine million engines from the West Palatinate since 1980

Millionth copy of the latest two liter diesel engine series from belt. From left: Elvira Tölkes (Director Opel plant Kaiserslautern), Peter Thom (Production Director), Marc Schiff (Executive Director, Manufacturing) and Ralph Görig (Area Manager engine manufacturing plant Kaiserslautern).

Great day for Opel Kaiserslautern: The factory in the West Palatinate ran today in the presence of manufacturing director Peter Thom the millionth copy of the latest two liter diesel engine series from belt. The "millionaire" is a 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI. The high-tech engine produces the Opel Insignia 195 hp (143 kW) and torque of 400 Newton meters and consumes only 4.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The Insignia is one of the most powerful and also most economical diesel cars in its class. The 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo in the Insignia, Astra and since January 2013, in the Zafira Tourer used. Opel has it the fastest seven-seat compact MPV Diesel in the program.

Factory Director Elvira Tölkes: "We are delighted about the anniversary - this is a number to which we can be proud. The two liter diesel engine is a real piece of innovative and fuel efficient advanced technology from Kaiserslautern. And I especially thank all of our employees, which with their commitment every day to ensure that this top quality off the assembly line. Not least thanks to our engines Opel cars are like the Insignia in independent quality ratings for years at the top "production director Peter Thom." I congratulate the experienced and dedicated Kaiserslautern team on this success. The work of Kaiserslautern is a reliable partner for its customers in the Group's production network. "

The plant in Kaiserslautern is in the Opel / Vauxhall manufacturing network as a hub for engines and for body and chassis components. In 1980 the plant produced the first engine, a 1.6 liter gasoline engine. Since then, in Kaiserslautern total more than nine million engines have been produced.

The production of diesel engines for the first time acquired the factory in 1982. With the establishment of the new diesel engine plant in 1996, production was expanded. In 2005, then left the first engine of the current engine family, at that time with 1.9 liters of displacement, the work. Today, the foundation Kaiserslautern the 2.0 liter diesel engine in 32 different variants.

Opel GM Kaiserslautern plant

The engines from the Palatinate are not only in the European Opel plants in Rüsselsheim, Bochum, Ellesmere Port (United Kingdom) and Gliwice (Poland) installed in vehicles - they are also used throughout the group within GM. Kaiserslautern provides, for example, in the USA and Korea, where the engines are used in the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevrolet Malibu used.

The Jubilee Motor 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI with 143 kW/195 hp and 400 Nm was designed for a particularly agile, responsive, fast response and superb power development. Highlights of the four cylinder common-rail engine, the sequential, two stage turbocharging and the use of two intercoolers.

The smaller turbo is at low engine speeds very quickly up to speed. This leads to an instantaneous reaction of the engine to accelerate commands and avoids the undesirable "turbo lag". In the mid-range work both turbochargers, the larger the intake air precompressed before it is then compressed in the smaller charger on. The result is a consistently powerful acceleration with a simultaneous fuel economy.

General Motors Enters New Era in Russia

Breaks ground for St. Petersburg plant expansion

General Motors broke ground today for the expansion of GM Auto, its wholly owned manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. It will more than double GM Auto’s annual production capacity from the current 98,000 vehicles to 230,000 vehicles by 2015.

The project is the most significant development for GM’s Russian operations since GM Auto opened in 2008.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson greets workers at GM Auto in St. Petersburg, Russia

GM Auto’s expansion is part of an historic partnership formed last year with the Russian Federal Ministry of Economic Development that will lead to GM investing US $1 billion in its Russian operations over the next five years. The investment will also support the increase of production at the GM-AVTOVAZ joint venture in Togliatti, Russia, resulting in combined annual Russian production capacity for GM of 350,000 vehicles.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson (on left) greets former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul (on right)

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson, Russian Federal Deputy Minister Alexey Rakhmanov, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger joined senior representatives from GM Russia and GM Auto employees at today’s celebration.

When the expansion is complete, employment at the facility will increase from 2,500 to 4,000 people. They will manufacture Chevrolet and Opel models for the Russian market. Among the additional vehicles that will be produced at GM Auto is the new Opel Astra sedan, which will make its worldwide debut at the Moscow International Motor Show in August.

“General Motors is embarking on a new era in Russia, one of the world’s fastest-growing vehicle markets, as part of our strategy to build where we sell,” said Akerson. “The global vehicles that we produce and the manufacturing systems that we are putting in place are creating long-term benefits for Russia’s automotive industry, its supply base and its economy.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson on Friday, June 22, 2012, before the groundbreaking for the expansion of GM Auto, its wholly owned manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg, Russia

“Our growing investment is the strongest possible endorsement by General Motors of our intent to make Russia a significant part of our international operations. Our vision in Russia, as in all of the other markets where we do business, is to design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles,” he said.

During his three-day visit to Russia, Akerson also addressed business leaders and media at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 22. He discussed the importance of investing first in products and technology, being well-positioned for profitable growth and building strong brands that connect with customers worldwide.