General Motors still develops diesels in Europe

After having sold Opel, Vauxhall and the European financial structure of GM to French carmaker PSA in 2017, one could think that this was the end of European automotive development for General Motors. However, GM is still present in Europe, through GM Powertrain Europe, based in Turin, Italy.

The diesel engine business being important for General Motors, the mother company decided not to sell the Turin centre alongside the rest of the European GM companies. GM Powertrain Europe is responsible for GM’s ‘Global Propulsion Systems’ and develops diesel engines for the group. The company counts 750 employees, 900 including contractors, and is situated inside the campus of the Turin Polytechnic University.

Diesel engines remain important for GM’s global strategy despite the lesser interest for this type of engines in Europe, and the Turin centre is the only one in the world developing diesel and diesel competence for General Motors. The General Motors diesel engines are not destined for the European market but for the Americas, Thailand, Korea and India. The engineering hub in Turin develops diesel competency for the whole group, and designed four out of the five diesel engine families GM actually uses. The centre now concentrates on the development of a new generation of big diesel engines. It also develops a replacement for the Opel 1.6-liter diesel that is still used in certain GM-models.

GM still believes in a global 20% diesel market share for cars and light commercial vehicles, taking into account a decrease in pure diesels but an increase in hybrid diesel powertrains.

Source: Automotive News Europe

Photo: GM, The Chevrolet Silverado gets a new 3.0-liter diesel developed in Turin