General Motors Co. (GM) said its Duramax diesel-engine joint
venture with Isuzu Motors Ltd. (ISUZY, 7202.TO) plans to spend $60
million for design changes to meet future emissions standards.
The U.S. auto maker has a 60% stake in the venture that produces
diesel-engines for heavy-duty pickup trucks, while Japan-based
Isuzu has the remaining 40% stake.
A number of auto makers have been investing in efforts to
improve fuel-efficiency and reduce vehicle emissions to meet more
stringent regulations. Environmental Protection Agency standards
will force full-size trucks to get upward of 30 miles per gallon in
10 years, up from 20 today.
The GM-Isuzu venture, called Dmax Ltd., has spent $760 million
on the Ohio plant since it opened in 2000 and has produced nearly
1.6 million engines during that period.
Dmax produces the Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engine used in the
Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickup trucks and is
available for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size
vans.
Write to Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
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