General Motors has opened its first new diesel factory in Germany, due to projected growth in the diesel market.

Situated in the town of Kaiserlautern, the new engine facility will build both 118bhp and 148bhp versions of the 1.9-litre common-rail diesel engine, previously made at the Italian Pratola Serra plant. The factory will also build a 98bhp version of the engine, offered in continental Europe only.

The plant will operate for six days a week, running three eight hour shifts over each 24hr period. 100,000 powerplants are expected to roll out of the factory in 2005, with a target of 180,000 in its first full year of operation in 2006.