 The front of Tonawanda Engine, 1973 | |
| Formation | 1938 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Production of engines for GM |
| Location(s) |
|
| Coordinates | 42°57′54″N 78°54′37″W / 42.965°N 78.910278°W / 42.965; -78.910278 |
Region served | Worldwide |
Parent organization | General Motors |
| Staff | 1735 1 |
Tonawanda Engine (now known as Tonawanda Propulsion) is a General Motors engine factory in Buffalo, New York. The plant consists of three facilities totaling 3.1 million square feet (290,000 m2) and sits upon 190 acres (77 ha). The factory receives cast engine blocks from Defiance Foundry in Defiance, Ohio and Saginaw Metal Casting Operations in Saginaw, Michigan, and received engine block castings and cylinder heads from the former Massena Castings Plant in Massena, New York.
History
The campus houses three different engine plants. Plant #1, located at 2995 River Road in Buffalo, was built in 1938; Plant #4, located at 2390 Kenmore Avenue, was built in 1941; and Plant #5, located at 240 Vulcan Street, was built in 2001.2
Investments
- 2010 $425 million for the next Generation Ecotec 2.0:/2.5L
- 2010 $400 million for a new V-8 small block engine
- 2020 $6.7 million for upgrades to GenV engine program3
- 2025 $888 million for the sixth generation of GM's V-8 engines4
Products
- Ecotec Gen III
- 2.0L Turbo
- 2.5L
- Small-Block Engine GenV
- 4.3L V6 Truck & Marine
- 5.3L V8 Truck
- 6.2L V8 Truck
- 6.2L V8 LT1, LT4, LT2
- 6.6L V8 HD Truck
- Small-Block Engine Gen 6
- Production to begin in 20274
Total engines produced since 1938 – 77 Million as of Summer 20255
On August 5, 2025, Tonawanda Propulsion made its 77 millionth engine, an LT2.
Product applications
- Ecotec Gen III
- Small Block Gen V
- LT1 & LT4
Awards
- Ward's Best Engines 2014 - 6.2L LT1 Small Block GenV6
- Ward's Best Engines 2013 - 2.0L Turbo Ecotec GenII7
- Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce Green Globe Award for being a leader in Green Manufacturing, 2013
- EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Recipient, 2010
- Certificate of Appreciation from WNY Chapter 77 Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter
Employee information
- Hourly: 1,498
- Salary: 237
- Union Local: UAW Local 774
References
References
- "Tonawanda Engine Plant, GM News". GM Media. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
- "Tonawanda Engine Plant".
- "General Motors to invest millions for upgrades to Tonawanda Engine Plant". WKBW 7 News Buffalo. January 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- "GM to invest $888 million in Tonawanda Propulsion plant". news.gm.com. May 27, 2025.
- "Tonawanda Propulsion: 90 years of engines, from fighter planes to V-8s". May 28, 2025.
- "2014 Winner: General Motors 6.2L LT1 OHV DI V-8 | Ward's 10 Best Engines content from WardsAuto". wardsauto.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
- "GM 2.0L Turbocharged I-4 | Vehicles & Technology content from WardsAuto". wardsauto.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013.