hotdram

GM to close 3 plants

30,000 jobs will be lost
The plant closings will occur next year and 2008.
What a crappy time of the year to find out you are losing your job.

~Rob

67HotRod

I think its just the start of more to come. GM won't be the only one...

farmer dave

I heard that they were closing 9 factories, but not sure. This will be a huge blow to these local economies.

Shovelhead

Maybe if they hurry they can bring back the Vega and the X-body cars to help with their missing small car lineup.

I imaging the corporate Big Wig offices are all in an undecided tizzy.
"Should we "winter" in the Bahamas?......or Hawaii, maybe Austrailia,.....or maybe tone it down a wee bit and just go to Cancun?

67HotRod

I think GM messed up when they got rid of the Camaro. On the flip side; Ford can't make the Mustangs fast enough. Not a Ford guy, but have to admit the mustang is a nice looking car.

Mexstan

Perhaps when the big three learn to build cars that the customer wants, priced reasonably and also build cars that are attractive to the eye, then just maybe they will build back their cutomer base. I have never understood why the American manufacturers for decades have failed to grasp the reason the Oriental cars are such a strong seller in the states.
For example, I used to own an Infiniti which has one of the 10 best engines in the world. I would take the Infiniti over ANY American luxury car. Never a problem with service or warranty. In fact I loved the service on this car because it is part of the Infiniti policy that when it goes in for service that the dealer automatically provide a free car for the duration of the time it takes to get mine back.
Another example: years ago I needed a daily runner for work and back, a daily drive of about 100 miles. Looked at many cars, including every US made small and mid sized car. Finally settled on a new Hyundai. This model was not available in the states but was the forerunner to the present day Sonata, a 2 liter, 5 speed, rear wheel drive. That car was fast and very peppy. I drove the snot out of it and it never gave a any trouble. When I bought it, every equivalent US made car was at least C$4,000 more expensive and was considerably noisier at highway speeds. Traded it with almost 300,000 kms on a new Dakota.
Am I surprised that GM, Ford and Chrysler are having problems selling their US products? Not at all. Expect them to have a lot more problems.

HOHN

I'm not sick and twisted, but I'm HAPPY to see that GM is suffering. It means that capitalism is WORKING.

This can only be good for the consumer and the economy as a whole.

If GM goes bankrupt, the effect on the economy will be minimal, long term. People still need vehicles. People don't just stop buying new cars and trucks because GM's not around.

Those unfortunate employees will probably be lucky enough to get a job working for some OTHER American automaker, like Honda, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, or Hyundai--- yes, all these companies make cars right here in the US of A.


If said it before, and I'll say it again: GM needs to BUILD its way out of its dilemma, instead of trying to MARKET its way out, using stupid employee pricing gimmicks and such.

You don't see Toyota or Honda trying these stunts, because they don't have to.


Who would have thought that an "American" car was the new "Jap Crap"??

jh

OilBrn

Just what I've been saying for a year now.

BigBlue

The camaro wasn't selling, that's why GM discontinued it. The total amount of V6/Z28 camaro sales equaled the total amount of just V6 mustang sales. That's pretty sad. I loved the camaro but they were a pain in the behind to drive. You couldn't see over the dash, they started squeaking and rattling after 30K miles or so, they just weren't built real well. Now, they were fast as all get out (at least the Z28's were) and it took a cobra to beat them but still. They were old and outdated and weren't selling. I just want to see if GM brings them back out. Hopefully they take a clue from ford and retro style them.

hovisimo

wow, GM really can't do anything right.

Shovelhead

That's not entirely true.

They seem to be doing a VERY good job of running a multi-Billion dollar corporation into bankruptcy.

FiverBob

I try to be a loyal American and buy from an American company - - I really fought it for a while before buying the Dodge. However, until American auto companies quit producing junk, they will not succeed. Why cannot they build a car like a Toyota - - how long does it take to get the message. The Japanese can take a tin can, put an engine in it and some seats and make it run for 200,000 miles without problems. Then, they start making that tin can look pretty nice and ride good, and still run 200K without problems. So can the American companies. When they do, I will support them all the way over any foreign company. There are some good American vehicles that are as good as foreign, mostly in the SUV's and heavy trucks. But, that is sad you can't go further.
Bob

MikeyB

Fiverbob,
They can but they won't. At least with the bean counters running the show. They want the product to last just long enough until the warranty runs out. They just want to maximize the profits with no concerns for the customer.

MikeyB

apache

We proved we can make trucks last, look at all the big rigs. The big 3 choose to build preplanned failures so we can all buy parts. the`ll will never learn will they? Greed . so how much did the GM CEO get last year??
Are the new GM products that bad?? aside from fugly mostly? Are they any worst than the other 2. I have 0 experiance with anything GM built from about 85 on. Hum,guess that answers my own question