GM to invest $920M to prep Ohio engine plant for future production

General Motors plans to spend $920 million to expand its DMAX engine operation near Dayton, Ohio, and prepare for future production of internal combustion powertrain products for heavy-duty trucks.

The automaker said it will expand the existing 250,000-square-foot Brookville, Ohio, site by building a 1.1 million-square-foot addition and bring in new equipment and technology. GM did not disclose details or timing for the future products.

“This investment furthers our commitment to HD truck market dominance with the Duramax power under the hood that customers love so much,” Mike Trevorrow, GM’s vice president of North America manufacturing, said in a statement. “Additionally, it is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of our DMAX team members in the state of Ohio who build world-class powertrain products.”

DMAX opened as a joint venture between GM and Isuzu Diesel Services of America in 1999 in nearby Moraine, Ohio, building Duramax diesel engines for the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD. Since last year, DMAX has been wholly owned by GM.

The Brookville site opened in 2021 and builds engine components for the Moraine operation. A GM spokesperson told Automotive News that the automaker plans to move current employees at the Moraine facility to Brookville as production there scales up.

“We have no announcements to make at this time beyond the current product for the Moraine plant, but after this engine program builds out the plant may be considered as we evaluate future program allocation,” the spokesperson said.

Carl Kennebrew, international president of the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America, which represents DMAX hourly workers, said in GM’s statement that he looks forward “to what lies ahead” for the Brookville operation.

“This historic investment and expansion announcement is a testament to the work ethic of the IUE-CWA members at this company and I could not be prouder,” Kennebrew said.