!NEW! GM Powertrain Europe creating additional jobs and bringing more high-tech equipment to Turin

Dan Ammann, General Motors President visits GMPT-E site, celebrating 10th anniversary

To mark the 10th anniversary of the foundation of GM Powertrain Europe Turin, GM President Dan Ammann (right) visited the engineering site and announced plans to strengthen the collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino. He was welcomed by Pierpaolo Antonioli, GMPT-E Managing Director.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the foundation of GM Powertrain Europe Turin, GM President Dan Ammann visited the engineering site and announced plans to strengthen the collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino, further expanding the engineering development center.

The letter of intent signed today with the Politecnico and the Regione Piemonte reinforces the research collaboration with the university through the growth of projects carried out by Politecnico and GMPT-E Turin as well as a project for the expansion of the area of GMPT-E in the campus of Politecnico named “Cittadella Politecnica”. The new area will measure approximately 2,500 square meters and construction is expected to start at the beginning of 2016. This new building will be fully dedicated to highly specialized labs, offices and powerful computational machines.

GM Powertrain Europe Turin announced plans to strengthen the collaboration with the Politechnico di Torino. From left: GMPT-E Managing Director Pierpaolo Antonioli, GM President Dan Ammann, Vice President Global Powertrain Dan Nicholson and Vice President Powertrain Europe Christian Müller.

Founded in 2005, GM Powertrain Europe is the center of innovation and development for diesel engines and related electronic control of GM globally and designs propulsion systems for Opel/Vauxhall, Chevrolet, and other GM brands. From design to the study of virtual components or tests on the engine benches – everything takes place in the laboratories and test cells of GM Powertrain Europe in Turin.

The site has grown rapidly since its foundation a decade ago: from a temporary office in 2005 to a state-of-the-art facility in the Politecnico campus. The workforce has also grown from the initial 60 people to approximately 650, expressing a highly qualified and international employment with more than 15 nationalities represented, mostly engineers. In 2015, GM plans to create an additional 60 jobs.  

With its state-of-the-art equipment, GM Powertrain Europe Turin represents a strategic asset for GM globally. In Europe, the engineering center provides Opel vehicles with premium diesel technology, like the 1.6 CDTI engine, the quietest diesel in its class that has earned the nickname ‘Whisper Diesel’.

In North America, GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado will be equipped with the new 2.8 liter diesel engine starting from the second half of 2015. These will be the only diesel in the midsize segment, promising excellent fuel economy and torque for maximum towing capability. Diesel engines of the future which are designed in Turin all share common characteristics: high-tech solutions offering moderate fuel consumption and CO2 emissions also thanks to the control system that is completely developed in-house.

“The Turin engineering center and our entire team here plays an important role in our efforts to lead the industry in product and technology” said Ammann. “The team has developed world-class modern diesel engines providing our customers with outstanding performance and efficiency in a fun-to-drive experience.”

“The growth of GMPT-E has demonstrated the importance of the relationship between the industry and the academia. A full generation of young and brilliant engineers took the opportunity to build their future and their career in one of the largest automotive companies. Their energy and strength helped GM to develop a solid diesel line up,” added Pierpaolo Antonioli, GMPT-E Managing Director.

!NEW! Opel is hiring 350 Engineers

ITDC will be enhanced and get additional responsibilities in the global network

Mike Ableson, Vice President Engineering and Member of the Board at press conference 

Opel is hiring 350 engineers in order to support the brand’s ongoing product offensive. 300 of them will be hired to work at the International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim, the Torino Engineering Center is looking for 50 new engineers. New hires at ITDC Rüsselsheim will be in vehicle engineering as well as in powertrain engineering. Therewith Opel strengthens the role of the International Technical Development Center (ITDC) in Rüsselsheim with currently more than 6,000 employees.

At today's press conference Mike Ableson, Vice President Engineering and Member of the Board, announced that Opel is hiring 350 additional engineers. 300 of them will be hired to work at the Internationel Technical Developement Center in Rüsselsheim, the Torino Engineering Center is looking for 50 new engineers

The main areas of hiring are simulation, validation, construction, cost engineering and accessories engineering. For powertrain Opel is mainly looking for experts in the areas of engine and transmission engineering and calibration. The hiring process has already started and will be finalized by the end of the year.

"This is not only an evident proof that Opel/Vauxhall is taking the realization of its product offensive seriously. It is also another sign from General Motors that our parent company values German engineering and so the German ITDC is taking on more work in order to support Opel and Europe," said Michael Ableson, Vice President Engineering and Member of the Board. "By doing that we are securing the long-term importance of the ITDC as an integral part of GM's global engineering network."

Mike Ableson, Vice President Engineering and Member of the Board in Opel HQ 

In addition, GM will make more use of synergies between the brands, particularly between Buick and Opel will increase. This will result in further economies of scale that benefit both brands.

The recruitment goes along with the 230 million euro investment that GM announced in April 2013. This investment will be used for building new testing facilities into its European Product Development Center at the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim and at the proving ground in Dudenhofen. New dynamometers for engines and transmissions will replace older equipment to allow for development of the following generation of powertrains for 2020 and beyond. This will be a key enabler for Opel/Vauxhall in the development of next generation engines and compliance with European and global emissions regulations.

The powertrain development work that will be done in Rüsselsheim will translate into engines and transmissions not only for Europe but also for the rest of the world. Dr. Thomas Johnen, Vice President Powertrain Engineering, said: "Two next generation gasoline engine lines, which will be key building blocks to reach the next step of environmentally friendly mobility solutions, will be developed in Rüsselsheim for applications in Europe and worldwide."

Opel and GM are investing heavily into future Opel/Vauxhall products. Four billion euros have been earmarked for future product between 2013 and 2016. Through 2016, Opel is introducing 23 new models and 13 new powertrains.

!NEW! GM to invest 230 Million Euros in Opel / Vauxhall European Product Development Center

• European Product Development Center strengthened as integral part of the global GM development network
• Main investment in new dynamometer lab on Ruesselsheim campus
• Additional new chassis testing capabilities at Dudenhofen proving grounds

GM announced today that it will invest 230 Million Euros for new testing facilities into its European Product Development Center at the Opel headquarters in Ruesselsheim and at the proving ground in Dudenhofen. The investment will be executed in the next three to four years. It only comes two weeks after GM’s Board of Directors visit of the European Opel/Vauxhall operations and a commitment to invest 4 billion Euros for future product between 2013 and 2016.

The announcement is a further step in GM’s efforts to strengthen its European brand Opel/Vauxhall and – at the same time - GM’s global product development resources by enhancing the company’s overall flexibility, speed and efficiency and investing in to global common tools and equipment. Moreover the investment is a key enabler for Opel/Vauxhall in the development of next generation engines and compliance with European and global emission regulations. The investment also includes a new fuel station, audio lab and safety analysis building.

“This significant investment will last for decades and it will secure the future of the European Product Development Center” said Opel CEO and President GM Europe Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “The development done at Ruesselsheim will be on engines and transmissions for Europe and the rest of the world. This move will give us global responsibility in engine development”, added Dr. Neumann.

New dynamometers for engines will replace older equipment to allow for development of the following generation of powertrains for 2020 and beyond. More than that, flexible test cells to enable improved operational efficiencies will be implemented. This state-of-the-art-lab will then be linked to GM’s powertrain facilities in Pontiac and Torino.

As part of the investment, the proving grounds at Dudenhofen will also gain new capabilities, with a soak area, new workshop and vehicle dynamometers for important ultra-low emission testing. This globally common GM-equipment will also allow similar test procedures and comparable data.

On top of that the management board and the works council earlier this week have agreed to more flexible working conditions at the European Product Development Center in Ruesselsheim with more than 6,000 highly qualified employees. This accord is based on the Master Agreement from March 28, 2013.

The investment into Opel’s design, vehicle engineering, powertrain operations and human resources further demonstrates GM’s commitment to enhance the local capability to position Opel and its sister-brand Vauxhall for long-term competitiveness and success.

With the additional technical resources and improvements, Opel and Vauxhall will continue to play an important role in designing, engineering and building new vehicles and powertrains for its own brands as well as other players in GM’s product portfolio.

The investment is still subject to the approval of the Opel Supervisory Board.