GM To Build Small Cars in US

[Krootie]

GM To Build Small Cars in US

washingtonpost.com

By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 29, 2009; 1:09 PM

General Motors announced this morning that it will build a new, fuel-efficient small car in the United States in the next few years, bucking a longtime industry trend to manufacture such vehicles overseas.

Most of the small cars sold in the U.S. are built overseas, partly because the vehicles' prices are too low to adequately cover domestic production costs. The new plant --the location of which was not disclosed -- will produce cars that are smaller than the Chevrolet Cobalt or the Honda Civic. . . . .

(Now that's one ugly car lined up next to a )

[forestacademy]

But some folks find anything with a chevy logo on it Beautifull. ANd if it gets then to downsize because Bubba built it then all the better.

[BigWarpGuy]

That is what I call creating jobs in the US. I did a Google on 'GM to build small cars in US'. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some might think the Smart car is ugly (hard to believe but true). I do not think the car above is ugly; just not as good looking as the Smart (then again, what is? ).

[piglith]

Nothing more then "Keep beating a dead horse."
The only fix for GM is to go Chapter 11. Dump the Union, Lower the employee wage, get rid of 3/4 of the executives. No more damn extravagant bonuses.
Start producing cars at $5000 cheaper per unit. Decrease product models, focus on a few great cars.

Employees on a production line making 50+k a year, close to more then I make and I work a high qualification job.

[Krootie]

Am thrilled that the US will finally build some economical autos and put Americans to work. But we need some engineers that can create some "beauty" in green designs. That ability has been on the back burner for too many decades. Any US car looks almost like another. (Exception that Cube looks interesting and belongs in the new millenium.) Then again, I grew up in the 50s and 60s - remembering tail fins and all those extras. LOL BTW, my Dad only purchased Chevys - don't want to go back to that time - but am looking forward with our youngsters given the chance to use their abilities. The greedy oldsters have had the power for too long.

[Duckhunter]

Originally Posted by piglith

Nothing more then "Keep beating a dead horse."
The only fix for GM is to go Chapter 11. Dump the Union, Lower the employee wage, get rid of 3/4 of the executives. No more damn extravagant bonuses.
Start producing cars at $5000 cheaper per unit. Decrease product models, focus on a few great cars.

Employees on a production line making 50+k a year, close to more then I make and I work a high qualification job.

They should work 12 hours a day 6 days a week for minimum wage with no benefits or hire more part timers to get aound that full time employee thing. That should cut some of the cost. Or we could just move some plants to China. Oh yah thats right that is what we are competing against, must keep costs as low as them. We can no longer afford middle class salaries here as we are competing with low wage countries with government run health care.

I do agree they need to cut models, lines and dealers. Mayber transform some dealers to just service centers. The unions have already agreed to massive concessions and the number of union employees is whay down and they now start at $14 an hour with fewer benifits. Like to see if the white collar employees have taken these same cuts?

[piglith]

After they go bankrupt they will be laid off. When the company starts to try and get back on their feet. What do you think they are going to do? They are going to re-hire people. I think getting re-hired at a lower wage rather then be un-employed would be a better option. Given there are many that will not be re-hired. Hopefully the excessive executives.

Minimum wage at $6.55 + is better then nothing.
There are many companies that do not have Unions, have health care and benefits and are thriving. I'm sorry but don't see it. How much is union dues just to be in the union? If the company is greedy and not taking care of its employees on its own then karma will return on that company.

46 hour work weeks are average for most. Anything more then the company needs to have different shifts and run the plants 24/7. There is so many people that can actually work in a factory at a given time.

Outsourced jobs and part time for the most part is what we have now. Welcome to America. Seems that being persuaded by a union to vote for elected officials has gotten us in this predicament. Outsourced work only effects us in the long run. Enough of the greed. By the time the rich get to spend their money there won't be a USA left.

Don' bark at a honest hard working person. Seems this has been something coming for some time and upper management screwed it long ago. When a company gets so big its is only a matter of time before it falls. Happens every time.

[Duckhunter]

After they go bankrupt they will be laid off. When the company starts to try and get back on their feet. What do you think they are going to do? They are going to re-hire people. I think getting re-hired at a lower wage rather then be un-employed would be a better option. Given there are many that will not be re-hired. Hopefully the excessive executives.

Hate to say this but most of the new hires will be Mexico or overseas, They have been closing plants here for years. I grew up in Lansing, Mi - home of Oldsmobile. Agree they need to also get rid of excessive executives. They can get engineers from India under H1B.

Minimum wage at $6.55 + is better then nothing.
There are many companies that do not have Unions, have health care and benefits and are thriving. I'm sorry but don't see it. How much is union dues just to be in the union? If the company is greedy and not taking care of its employees on its own then karma will return on that company.

Hate to try and raise a family on minimum wage, but I think it has gone up once in the last 10 or so years.

Name some of those employers with great benefits and are thriving please.

I agree with you on union dues.

Karma seems to have come to the auto companies as for years they have fought higher fuel efficiancy and last year bit them in the ass.

Outsourced jobs and part time for the most part is what we have now. Welcome to America. Seems that being persuaded by a union to vote for elected officials has gotten us in this predicament. Outsourced work only effects us in the long run. Enough of the greed. By the time the rich get to spend their money there won't be a USA left.

Does not make it right. Will not go into the fact that the other party had control of congress and the presidency for 6 of the last 8 years. All I will say about that as it is on the line of politics and should not be discussed here.

Don' bark at a honest hard working person. Seems this has been something coming for some time and upper management screwed it long ago.

I am not, I have put my 20 years in the military and am still working full time for less than I could make as a contractor.

[Duckhunter]

One plant in the US is better than none. Still wonder how many will be moved overseas. I think this is more to counteract the bad publicity they have been getting over building in China.

[forestacademy]

Wow Get me some popcorn for this thread.