GM Just Dropped $888 Million To Keep The V8 Dream Alive

While GM is busy managing a major recall on its current 6.2-liter V8s, it’s not hitting pause. In fact, the company’s already steering full throttle into the next chapter. This week, GM announced a massive $888 million investment into its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in New York to build its upcoming sixth-generation V8 engines—yes, V8s are still very much part of the plan.

This new engine family is headed straight for GM’s heavy-hitters: the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban, along with the GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL. What’s less certain is whether Cadillac will continue offering a V8-powered Escalade, now that the electric Escalade IQ is in the spotlight. Still, Cadillac’s been a bit back-and-forth lately on its EV-only messaging, so the door may not be closed on combustion just yet.

GM isn’t spilling all the specs right now, but they are promising more power, better efficiency, and cleaner emissions across the board. According to the automaker, we can expect “new combustion and thermal management innovations” to help make all that happen.

For context, the current lineup includes a 5.3-liter V8 making 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, and the larger 6.2-liter V8 offers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. Whether the new engines will top those figures remains to be seen, but GM is clearly betting big that there's still a strong market for large, powerful gas engines—even in a world inching toward electrification.

The Tonawanda plant, which has been around for nearly nine decades, will get a serious overhaul with new equipment, machinery, tools, and general renovations to prep for the new powertrain line. Production is expected to kick off in 2027.

GM CEO Mary Barra summed it up by saying the move underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to American manufacturing and to keeping combustion tech relevant—and improving—for years to come.

Worth noting: while Flint, Michigan, was originally announced as the lead production site back in 2023, this Tonawanda investment is now officially GM’s biggest engine plant investment ever. That alone tells you they’re not ready to retire the V8 badge just yet.