Tonawanda Engine


Tonawanda Engine is a General Motors engine factory in Buffalo, New York. The plant consists of three facilities totaling and sits upon. 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.

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 program
  • 2025 $888 million for the sixth generation of GM's V-8 engines

Products

Total engines produced since 1938 – 77 Million as of Summer 2025
On August 5, 2025, Tonawanda Propulsion made its 77 millionth engine, an LT2.

Product applications

Awards

  • Ward's Best Engines 2014 - 6.2L LT1 Small Block GenV
  • Ward's Best Engines 2013 - 2.0L Turbo Ecotec GenII
  • 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