Flint Engine contributes to Chevy Cruze sales boosting GM bottom line

The Flint Engine Operations builds the 1.4-liter engine that goes into the Chevrolet Cruze.

Workers at the Flint Engine Operations plant produce the 1.4L engine for the Chevy Cruze.MLive file photo 

FLINT, MI – Good sales of the Chevy Cruze is translating into pride at Flint Engine Operations, where its 1.4-liter powerplant is made.

Sales of the Chevy Cruze helped General Motors achieve its 10th consecutive quarter of record global sales as the compact car recently surpassed 2 million units sold since its launch in 2009.

“The Cruze is a very important product for Flint and we produce the engine here for the car that’s produced in Lordstown, Ohio,” said Tom Wickham, local GM spokesperson.

“It’s a great car and the engine is very fuel efficient. Employees at Flint Engine are proud of what they produce.”

Flint Engine Operations builds the 1.4-liter engine that goes into the Chevrolet Cruze, as well as the engines for the Chevrolet’s Sonic and engine generator for the Volt.

Wickham said that the growth in sales of the Cruze doesn’t directly affect the amount of production needed at the GM plant in Flint because there are multiple engines produced for the vehicle.

“We don’t forecast what the production requirements will be. Everything is based on the market,” he said. “If (customers) select that 1.4 liter engine, we’ll build it for them. If it’s 1.8 (liter engine), we have another facility that supplies that, all a matter of what the customer.”

UAW Local 599 president Dan Reyes agreed with Wickham, saying that he’s proud of the employees at Flint Engine Operations and that they work hard to advance sales.

“We also are proud of the work that our members do. The engine is a big part of the success of any vehicle. If the engine performs well and the car rides well, people will keep buying it,” Reyes said.

“All of our members do a great job and it’s reflected in the sales numbers.”

The automaker announced Tuesday that it sold more than 1.18 million Chevrolet vehicles -- and 2.36 million total GM vehicles -- worldwide in the first quarter of 2013.