General Motors announced today that it was making a $69 million dollar investment in its DMAX plant in Moraine, Ohio. There it will manufacture a new Duramax 6.6-liter V-8 turbo diesel engine that will meet new more stringent emissions standards for 2010. DMAX Limited is a joint venture between GM and Isuzu Motors Limited and was established as a diesel engine company in 1998.

Now with Isuzu out of the picture (the company pulled out of the U.S. market last year) GM can focus the plant to build it’s new line of engines for it’s trucks. The investment includes renovations to the plant, new machinery and tooling to support manufacturing of the new diesel engine. Renovations are expected to begin immediately and as a result of the investment, the DMAX plant will retain over 1,000 jobs.

John Buttermore, GM Powertrain vice president of global manufacturing had this to say; “GM is committed to continuing to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across its portfolio and around the world. The 2010 Duramax diesel is an integral part of that transformation, as well as a component of GM’s strategy to diversify vehicle energy sources”. He then stated, “This new investment demonstrates GM’s commitment to continue to invest in technologies that reduce the impact of our vehicles on the environment, while maintaining performance attributes required by customers in the areas of towing and hauling loads.”

With the ever demanding new emissions standards needed to help our environmental situation it’s good to know that an investment like this is being made. It shows General Motor’s commitment to the cause. Hopefully it ends up paying off for all of us in the long run.