GM Canada commits more funding to R&D

General Motors of Canada Ltd (GMCL) has agreed to invest an additional $290 million in three projects in Oshawa and St Catharines in return for being let off the hook for an early payment provision for federal and provincial assistance to the $2.5-billion Beacon Project (R$, March 9/05). The federal and Ontario governments provided $425 million in R&D assistance for the project. The early payment obligation was triggered with GMCL's controversial decision to close its Oshawa truck facility weeks after the Canadian Auto Workers union successfully concluded a new contract with the auto giant. Money owing under the Beacon Agreement will be paid off as originally scheduled. GMCL will now invest $40 million over five years at its Canadian Engineering Centre in Oshawa to shift its current focus from vehicle program design and development to advanced environmental technology development. Projects to be undertaken include vehicle electrification such as advanced battery technology and fuel efficient technologies such as hybrid systems and lightweight materials. The bulk of the new GMCL funding ($245 million) is for a new flexible manufacturing system for powertrain production….