Diesel engine joint venture marks 10-year manufacturing milestone

DMAX Ltd., a 60-40 joint venture between General Motors Company and Isuzu Motors Ltd., on August 20 celebrated 10 years of making award-winning diesel engines.

In ceremonies in Dayton, Ohio, attended by community and government leaders, company officials marked cumulative production of 1.2 million engines since July 2000. DMAX is the exclusive manufacturer of the award-winning Duramax diesel engine that powers Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups and Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full size vans.

“Over our company’s 10-year history, the Duramax diesel engine has become a success story and the pride of loyal Duramax owners around the world,” said Maho Mitsuya, DMAX chief executive officer. “We’re proud of the role we’ve played in producing the leading reputation for quality, reliability and durability in the heavy-duty truck market.”

A panel of experts recently selected the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4-ton heavy-duty and the Sierra one-ton heavy-duty, both powered by the new Duramax, as best overall diesel-powered trucks in the 2010 Heavy-Duty Shootout conducted by pickuptrucks.com.

DMAX today also announced a major environmental commitment for the facility – establishing it as a landfill-free operation by October 1. The operation will join 69 GM facilities globally whose manufacturing wastes are recycled, reused or converted to energy. No waste from normal plant operations is sent to a landfill.

“Many manufacturing plants generate waste along with their products, but at the DMAX plant, diesel engines with fewer emissions are our only output,” Mitsuya said. “All manufacturing wastes generated at our facility will be recycled or reused in some way.”

GM announced in 2008 that it intended to convert half of its major manufacturing facilities worldwide into landfill-free operations by the end of 2010. GM is currently 95 percent toward delivering on that commitment.

GM was among the first organizations – and to date is the only auto manufacturer – inducted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise Hall of Fame, recognizing ongoing outstanding waste reduction and recycling efforts.

The all-new Duramax engine design contributes to the environmental accomplishments while featuring significantly more torque and higher horsepower, 11 percent better highway fuel economy and substantially reduced emissions.

“The 2011 Duramax engine produces 63 percent fewer emissions than the previous model and also can run on B20 biodiesel fuel,” said Rick Spina, GM vehicle line executive for full-size trucks. “Reduced vehicle emissions, combined with the DMAX plant's certification as a landfill-free facility, provide evidence as to GM's ongoing commitment to reducing our impact on the environment.”

The Duramax engine is a benchmark for reliability and durability as well as competitive horsepower, torque and quietness within the heavy-duty diesel pickup industry.

“The bottom line is that the DMAX engine plant built more than 1.2 million engines in 10 years with a track record of quality that sets them apart from other manufacturers,” Spina said. “Many of our loyal Duramax owners have hundreds of thousands of miles on their engines today.”

About DMAX Ltd.
General Motors established the DMAX joint venture with Isuzu Motors Limited in 1998. The first diesel engine, jointly designed by the companies, was produced at the plant in July 2000. The 584,000-square-foot DMAX plant currently employs 532 hourly and salary employees.

2011 Duramax Diesel 6.6L V-8 Turbo (LML) with 2011 Allison 1000 (MW7) Six Speed RWD Automatic Transmission for GMC Sierra HD