GM’s mexican plant grabs attention

General Motors’ new transmission plant in its Mexico’s Silao complex has been in the news since it began operations last month.

The $660 million plant builds a new six-speed rear-wheel-drive family of gearboxes, which uses 4 percent less fuel compared to regular transmissions in certain applications. 1,500 of them are built everyday which are distributed to other countries, where they will find application in 25 different vehicles.

However, the gearboxes will not be exported to the U.S or neither will they be fitted on vehicles assembled in Silao.

The Silao complex currently employs 3,900 people and the transmission plant will employ 1,100 workers at full production. The Silao complex opened in the year 1995. It assembles the Chevrolet Suburban, Avalanche and Silverado Crew Cab, GMC Sierra Crew Cab and Cadillac Escalade EXT models.