American manufacturer GM and its subsidiary GM do Brasil have announced today the opening of the new, expanded, research center in Sao Caetano do Sul in the Greater Sao Paulo. Together with the expansion, the center now totals 323,000 square feet, double the initial size, just-auto.com reported.
According to the manufacturer, the Brazilian center is the most technologically advanced of the five GM facilities world wide. By 2010, it will employ around 1,300 engineers, in charge with design, styling and manufacturing.
The center has been designed to develop, alongside the products for the South American market, a new mid-sized pick-up truck to replace the Colorado in 2011 or 2012. Currently, the center is supplying modeling and tooling for some roof and rear sections of the future Chevrolet Volt.
The Brazilian center was in charge with the design and development of the Chevrolet Agile. It was the first model to be entirely designed here and comes to complete the Chevrolet line in the region which currently comprises of Spark, Corsa, Aveo, Astra, Vectra and Meriva. For the Agile, GM will invest $400 million for the development and production of the car, set to be launched in October in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The addition of new facilities to the site will allow GM do Brasil to further create its own vehicles, starting with rendering and ending with tooling and final assembly.
Today, the center employs some 8,000 people and is the oldest GM facility in Brazil. It produces the Vectra, Astra and Corsa for the local market.
According to the manufacturer, the Brazilian center is the most technologically advanced of the five GM facilities world wide. By 2010, it will employ around 1,300 engineers, in charge with design, styling and manufacturing.
The center has been designed to develop, alongside the products for the South American market, a new mid-sized pick-up truck to replace the Colorado in 2011 or 2012. Currently, the center is supplying modeling and tooling for some roof and rear sections of the future Chevrolet Volt.
The Brazilian center was in charge with the design and development of the Chevrolet Agile. It was the first model to be entirely designed here and comes to complete the Chevrolet line in the region which currently comprises of Spark, Corsa, Aveo, Astra, Vectra and Meriva. For the Agile, GM will invest $400 million for the development and production of the car, set to be launched in October in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The addition of new facilities to the site will allow GM do Brasil to further create its own vehicles, starting with rendering and ending with tooling and final assembly.
Today, the center employs some 8,000 people and is the oldest GM facility in Brazil. It produces the Vectra, Astra and Corsa for the local market.