WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement upon General Motors' announcement that it will create approximately 80 jobs at the Defiance Plant through investments in the Ecotec engine.

"This means that Northwest Ohio workers will help manufacture the automobiles of the 21st century," Brown said. "Ohio's skilled workforce has made our state a leader in auto component manufacturing. I'm glad Defiance workers will help build the fuel-efficient engines for the next generation of American cars."

General Motors announced today that it will invest nearly $500 million in three U.S. plants, including Defiance, to produce the Ecotec engine. In Defiance, GM will invest $59 million to support precision casting. This will result in approximately 80 new jobs at the facility, which already employs more than 1,300 hourly and salaried employees.

Brown was a leading proponent of using funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to assist the U.S. auto industry. More than 440,000 Ohio jobs directly or indirectly depend on the auto industry.

###