Visto che il tema delle collaborazioni mi pare molto caldo che ne dite di questo (non male anche quella dei diesel VW alla Mitsubishi).
Visto che i m-jet non glieli danno...
GM Daewoo and VM Motori Sign Long-Term Diesel Agreement
Andrew Charles
AutoReport
Seoul/Zürich; GM Daewoo has signed an agreement with Italian diesel engine maker VM Motori to manufacture a series of 1.5 and 2.0-liter diesel engines. They will be built at a new diesel engine plant alongside GM Daewoo's auto-making facility in Kunsan, South Korea. According to Nick Reilly, president and CEO of GM Daewoo, total investment including engineering development for the new engine will be close to 475 billion Korean Won (over €320 million) over the life of the program.
Production of the new engines is due to begin in early 2006 with annual capacity expected to reach 250,000 units. The diesel engines produced at the 19,200 square-meter facility will power a full range of GM Daewoo vehicles, the first of which will be a new crossover SUV based on GM's light-weight Theta architecture. The engines will be tuned to optimize the unique characteristics and requirements of each vehicle. They will feature common-rail technology and meet the Euro IV emission standard. Selected applications, including the new SUV, will feature a diesel particulate filter.
"With their growing popularity around the world, diesel vehicles will play a key role in our future growth," said president and CEO Nick Reilly. "By leveraging VM Motori's expertise and the expertise of GM Powertrain to develop additional features and key components, we expect to produce diesels that are among the best and the most efficient and that provide the highest value in the industry."
DaimlerChrysler subsidiary VM Motori SpA previously licenced production of the 3-cylinder R315 and 4-cylinder R420 to Hyundai in 1999, but further developments in direct injection technology have enabled increases in output and refinement. While GM Daewoo will leverage GM Powertrain's diesel experience with Fiat-GM Powertrain and GMI Diesel Engineering for future development the deal highlights some weaknesses in GM's powertrain alliances, as existing Fiat-GM and GMI diesels closely match the performance of the VM Motori engines.
Construction of the engine plant is due to begin in June 2004 and finish in April 2005. GM Daewoo will hire over 250 new employees to staff the engine plant. The plant's machine line will be 90% automated and its engine assembly line 40% automated. The entire plant will be flexible in order to accommodate future engine products.