Who made the Chevy Cruze diesel?
The Chevy Cruze Diesel was built by General Motors. Its powerplant is a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel Duramax engine developed by GM with Isuzu collaboration, and the Cruze itself was assembled by GM in North America, most notably at the Lordstown, Ohio plant for the U.S. market.
To understand this question in depth, it's helpful to separate the story into two parts: the engine that powers the Cruze Diesel and the manufacturing path of the car itself. GM’s Duramax line has long involved collaboration with Isuzu, and the Cruze Diesel was a North American-focused variant produced during the mid-2010s. This article breaks down those elements, detailing who designed the engine, who built the car, and where production took place, along with the model’s status today.
Engine origin and design
Before diving into specifics, it helps to frame the Duramax engine that powers the Cruze Diesel. The 2.0-liter turbo-diesel I4 is a member of GM’s Duramax family, a line built for efficiency and torque. The Cruze’s diesel variant is notable for bringing diesel technology to a compact car in the U.S. market during its run from 2014 onward.
Duramax lineage and collaboration
- 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel inline-4 powering the Cruze Diesel
- Engine developed by General Motors’ powertrain team, with collaboration from Isuzu
- Common-rail direct fuel injection and turbocharging for improved efficiency and torque
- Power output roughly 148 horsepower and about 258 lb-ft of torque (in US-spec Cruze Diesel)
- Transmission options included a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic paired with the diesel engine
In summary, the Cruze Diesel’s engine is a Duramax developed by GM with Isuzu’s technical input, designed specifically to deliver strong mid-range torque and better highway efficiency for a compact car audience.
Manufacturing and assembly
Now turning to the manufacturing side, the Cruze itself was produced within GM’s North American manufacturing network, with the best-known U.S. production site for the model being Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio. The diesel variant followed the same assembly line practices as other Cruze versions, benefiting from GM’s global supply chain for engines and subsystems.
- Chevrolet Cruze (including the diesel variant) was produced by General Motors for the North American market
- The 2.0L Duramax diesel engine was manufactured within GM’s powertrain network, built to meet U.S. market specifications
- Key production years for the Cruze Diesel in the United States were in the mid-2010s (introduced for the 2014 model year)
- GM announced the Cruze end of production in North America around 2019 as the Lordstown plant underwent changes
Viewed together, the Cruze Diesel represents GM’s effort to bring diesel efficiency to a compact car in the U.S., using a Duramax engine developed with Isuzu and assembled at GM’s North American plants for the U.S. market.
Historical context and current status
Since its introduction, the Cruze Diesel has become a reference point in discussions about American diesel passenger cars. The model years 2014–2019 marked the period when Chevrolet offered a diesel option in the Cruze lineup. The Lordstown plant, which produced many of the Cruze sedans for U.S. buyers, has since undergone restructuring, and the Cruze lineup itself was discontinued as GM reorganized its lineup and plants.
Today, the Cruze Diesel remains of interest to enthusiasts and used-car buyers as a relatively rare example of a modern diesel compact from an American automaker. The Duramax engine’s legacy within GM’s lineup continues in other platforms, while the Cruze’s own production history reflects broader changes in GM’s manufacturing footprint.
Summary
In short, the Chevy Cruze Diesel is a GM product powered by a Duramax 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine developed in collaboration with Isuzu, with the car assembled by General Motors in North America, most notably at Lordstown, Ohio. The diesel variant represented GM’s push to blend efficiency with the practical appeal of a compact sedan, a story that sits at the intersection of engineering collaboration and U.S. manufacturing history. The Cruze Diesel’s tale also mirrors GM’s broader strategic shifts, including plant reorganizations and the eventual discontinuation of the model.
