General Motors closes its door soon !

[Friday on my mind]

GM will eventually declare bankruptcy so they can tear up their ridiculously bloated union contracts and thusly cut their production costs greatly. They will also cut the Buick and possibly the GMC lines. Pontiac may not be safe either.

But even if they eventually die, Americans will still buy cars and they will demand that they be built in America. But US factory workers are going to have to kiss elaborate benefits and job guarantees goodbye if they want to complete. The days when U.S. unions held huge bargaining power are over.

I am surprised you see it that way.You know the unions have already made many concessions and I would add got spit on by the management at times when they did.Like back in the 80s when they made concessions and the management went to the board of directors and said hey we all deserve big bonuses for getting this from the workers and got millions in bonuses.
The management is way more responsible IMO for the problems at GM than the workers.One example I will give is unlike the japs who built their newer factories with flexibility to change which vehicle they could build GM spent billions on a factory dedicated to just one type of car and when that car didn't sell well were faced with eithier billions more to re-tool or operate the plant at about 50% capacity.Poor management
Health care costs which yes the unions bargained for good health care is something the Big 3 have a big problem with.But that is more a function of our "for profit" out of control heealth care system than the car companies themselves.The other car companies of the world do not have that as a cost.

 

[LBP 76]

I never stated or wished to infer that unions were the cause of GM's problems. They are not. The blame lies entirely with GM management.

I was merely expressing what I thought GM (and Ford btw) will do and how their employees had better get used to less benefits then they used to and still presently enjoy if they want to keep their jobs.

 

[Member2019]

what exactly proves that? That is the perception of much of the general public, and may have even been true at one time, but I think the playing field has been leveled in the past decade.

Truth.

Many of Honda's models have changed for the worse, although they still have a few, solid models.
Their sales, and resell value, are largely based on that past perception.

My last two (2) American cars went over 150,000 miles and over ten (10) years without any unscheduled maintenance.
The key is actually read up on the quality reports and purchase late, not early -- i.e., wait until the new models come out.

There are good, solid American models out there, plenty of 4-cylinder vehicles that are not "tiny economy" models that get 30mpg+.
Just turn off the TV ads and pick a car based on the technical views, not how the commercials make you feel.

Toyota has also shown it's possible to produce cars in the US that are fuel efficient and last.
Toyota has avoided "closed shop states" which prevents "force collective bargaining."

Now if the Big 3 would "get with the program" and stop their non-sense, they too could make changes.
Until then, there are still a number of models from the Big 3 that aren't bad at all.

Just avoid the non-sense ones.

 

[tubuler]

Japanese cars are better than any American car

Not really true. That is the perception of many Americans but that perception isn't based on any kind of reality.

Few people know this, but the most reliable automobile engine ever is the Buick 3800 V6, otherwise known as the"fireball" or simply, the "3800". The 3800 was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines of the 20th century list, and is one of the most-produced engines in history. To date, over 25 million have been produced.

American car companies problems are not rooted in poor reliability or design. They are rooted in poor business practices, poor marketing, and a lack of progressivity and innovation.

Let's not forget that GM, Ford and Chrysler have produced some of the greatest and iconic automobiles of all time. (Including my '87 Buick Grand National)

 

[LBP 76]

btw I own an '07 Chevy Cobalt and it does everything GM said it would; and I despise it. It's not a car, it's a widget. The Honda Civic is far superior in styling, handling, ergonomics and fun.
GM makes big trucks, luxury cars and fast cars as good as anyone (especially on the bang-for-the-buck scale). But most of their other cars have no soul. The Civic has a soul.

 

[shayd]

The Big Three didn't learn a fucking thing from the Seventies.

So damn true. And it's sad that it looks like they're all headed for a repeat.

 

[Facetious]

Who's gonna build our military vehicles ?


Ohh that's right . . .china

So, how do yall like this slow death ?

Just live like there's no tomorrow ! booze up drug up get grabby with the women and eventually OD ! I sure won't put my ass up in the air for anybody or anything !! Particular Commy bastids :thefinger

What an embarrassment this populace has become ! A bunch of effeminate, cowardice, pro nanny state goons who only cast the critical upon their grandpapa's generation ! (who fought so fervently to preserve it for you . . . childless "men". You deserve to go !

That's the culture !

 

[lovejoy]

US Army used to order MIAI tanks built in Warren, Michigan in 1980-1990's but switched to Ohio.

The Army version of Hummer was first built in South Bend, Indiana then switched to Franklin, Ohio. (There are no concrete evidence any US Army military vehicles are built in China but I do not doubt some of the parts may be made in China and rounded up part of US military vehicles)

GM's assembly line is NOW multi-purpose used and can switch to different models but the conversion still lacks behind the ***.

The problem is as most pointed out "GM can not close its door" because the Congress will bail them out. That's why we as taxpayers will once again bail out GM if they file for bankrupty.

Many of the passenger cars are made in cooperation with the Japs or the Japs just made two different models, one for the BIG THREE and the other for Madza, Toyota, etc.

GM is betting on 2010 to turn around with all new electric cars rolling out assembly line.

Our company actually had ordered electric car/van from Ford and one drop of water ruined the almosts million dollar electric car made by Ford. The Ford electric car is sitting idle rusting.

Most state and local government still order BIG THREE cars/vans/trucks but these will not increase the sales until a new technology is coming out.

GM, Ford, Honda and Toyoto are fighting hard for electric cars but will take next 4-5 years before a reliable electric car can reach the market. It may be too late and GM is already on the chopping board and may have very little impact on the overall sales of cars/trucks in N. America !

 

[historylover]

This has been going on since 1994. GM/Ford/Chrysler have been either 2 steps behind or they turned left when the industry leaders (The Japanese and Germans) went right.

I've always felt that, for the most part, American quality has been better-than-reputation goes but American design is actually worse than the reputation goes. There is not a single decent car in the American portfolio that isn't being clowned by 3 or 4 competitor products. Only the Corvette and the Mustang can "hold their own" in the marketplace. Every other American car is a distant 4th or 5th option in the marketplace.

In "Big Picture" terms...GM/Ford/Chrysler will all declare bankruptcy before they sell out to the Euros or the Japanese. The Big 3 will go to Congress with tears in their eyes and empty pockets flapping in the wind and ask for a bailout. The precedent for American bailouts has been set with Bear Stearns, it's being drawn up now for Bank of America/Countrywide and the rest of the Mortgage Lenders, the Airlines are apparently calling in their lobbyists to float the idea of a bailout in 2009....it only makes sense that the Big 3 Auto companies will now decide "it's safe" to go on their knees to Congress.

What's Congress going to do? Turn their backs on American business and Capitalism? Not likely to happen.

Congress will agree to a bailout on a few conditions..namely, the cease/desist of all SUV production in 2009, the closure of Buick/Pontiac/Mercury/Lincoln...and an industry agreement on the development of some new alternative fuel system. The American Auto industry is going to have to work a little more like a gov't funded Oligopoly...

:bowdown:

 

[titsrock]

Nobody in a white collar shirt who works in GM HQ read this thread because, sadly or stubbornly, GM did not decide to shutter me-too, slow selling brands like Buick/Pontiac/Saturn. They are just going to lay off more people and stop SUV production, I think to 300,000 units next year, which is about 300,000 too many.

As I understand things, both GM and Ford have "European" market cars which are smaller and more fuel efficient but for some tax reason--they can't be brought to this market. Now there's a tax cut, if I were in Congress or the president, I'd make right now. The company could actually use it and the products would benefit American consumers...

 

[lovejoy]

GM, Ford, and Chrysler will probably file for bankruptcy soon !!


http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/06/news/companies/big_three_woes/index.htm?cnn=yes

 

[Supafly]

General Motors has stamped onward through the jungle for the last decades and pretty much ignored the sign o' the times that european and japanese recognized years before.

Gas-guzzlers are tombstones of the american nation, and I hope the new owners will set sails to help this great company

 

[lovejoy]

GM WILL FILE BANKRUPTCY MONDAY MORNING !

What a wondfulful Thanksgiving turkey dinner we get !

 

[Will E Worm]

GM WILL FILE BANKRUPTCY MONDAY MORNING !

What a wondfulful Thanksgiving turkey dinner we get !

That's not good.

Have a nice Thanksgiving. :hatsoff:

 

[Skyraider22]

Well goodbye Chevy

 

[lovejoy]

GM will send notice to 40% of the dealerships today to formally close their relationship (closes its door), sells Opel, Saturn and more.

It is a sad day for thousands and thousands of empolyees who work 6 days a week selling GM cars at their dealerships but mechanics, secretaries, and even general labours who wash the new GM cars and the truck drivers who deliver the new cars are affected.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost in few weeks !

(Remember, GM will partially close its door not just file bankrupty)

 

[lovejoy]

General Motors closes its Canadian truck operation yesterday and say goodbye!

It is not Chapter 11 but closes its door competely shut in many plants in next 6 months !

 

[lovejoy]

The most painful story in the chapter of GM is slowing emerging:


http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/15/news/companies/gm_dealers/index.htm?postversion=2009051509

 

[Elwood70]

I don't think GM will die nor disappear, they have already strong selling models. Anyone claiming that Buick or Pontiac are going to disappear is wrong.

Lots of wrong people then.......

 

[Mauser98k]

i love my Firebird. i'm gonna miss Pontiac.