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GM News, New Models and Market Share

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#2939 of 8510 by m4d_cow Dec 25, 2008 (1:37 am)
I just wish to use this opportunity to say Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and happy holidays to those who don't. We don't always get along, and our views may contradict with each other. But nevertheless, it's holiday season. Have fun, guys
#2940 of 8510 Why Wait for the Volt Part II by torque_r Dec 25, 2008 (1:55 am)
Lexus has announced a new hybrid-only sedan called Lexus HS, to be shown at Detroit Auto Show. The 2010 Lexus HS250h will go on sale during 2009, or at least one full year before the Volt, and will be priced about similarly. Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 25, 2008 7:03 am)
#2941 of 8510 Re: Why Wait for the Volt Part II [torque_r] by gagrice Dec 25, 2008 (7:03 am)
Replying to: torque_r (Dec 25, 2008 1:55 am) The 2010 Lexus HS250h will go on sale during 2009, or at least one full year before the Volt, and will be priced about similarly.   The HS250h will just be a re-badge of the Camry Hybrid. It better get better mileage or the Fusion/Milan hybrid will cut into the sales. Unlike the Volt none of these are Plug-in Hybrids. Until they actually go on sale the Volt will be GM vaporware. The key being new battery technology that is virtually untested in any vehicles. Li-Ion or whatever the latest combination to be tried, has NO longevity history. Even the Prius with NiMH battery, has not reached its expected life cycle of 10 years.   As far as GM and hybrids go they are a farce. I owned one for a short time and the only thing it offered that was practical was a heavy duty 110 volt AC supply for running power tools or emergency power. I hated the auto stop feature as it would stop going around a corner and then surge when you tried to accelerate. Bad in the rain. Glad I was able to get a decent price selling it.
#2942 of 8510 Re: Why wait for the Volt? [gagrice] by uplanderguy Dec 25, 2008 (7:39 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 24, 2008 6:07 am) That the Fusion is built in Mexico is enough to keep me from considering it. Ford seems to build more cars (probably can't say that about trucks) in Mexico than GM does; not sure why.   Bill Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 25, 2008 8:39 am)
#2943 of 8510 Re: Why wait for the Volt? [uplanderguy] by gagrice Dec 25, 2008 (8:39 am)
Replying to: uplanderguy (Dec 25, 2008 7:39 am) My favorite vehicle to date was my 1998/99 Chevy Suburban. It was assembled in Mexico. I kept it 7 years, and should not have sold it to buy a 2005 GMC hybrid PU truck. The fit and finish on the Mexican built Suburban was better than the US-UAW built GMC Sierra PU truck. The 3 previous GM PU trucks were built in Canada and Mexico. All were better than the last GM truck. So when I see reports that GM is improving I question which vehicles. GM sure did not improve from 1998 to 2005 building PU trucks.   So two reasons Ford may build more in Mexico. Cost of labor and quality of workmanship. I would bet you get less complaining out of Mexican workers also. They are Union in Mexico. So that should please Rock & DD.   That's not to say Detroit isn't already saving a bundle by moving to Mexico. Mexican assembly workers average just $3.50 an hour plus benefits, compared with about $27 hourly plus benefits at a GM or Ford plant in the U.S.   http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_15/b4029081.htm
#2944 of 8510 Well... by iluvmysephia1 Dec 25, 2008 (9:04 am)
then, that explains it then.   That's not to say Detroit isn't already saving a bundle by moving to Mexico. Mexican assembly workers average just $3.50 an hour plus benefits, compared with about $27 hourly plus benefits at a GM or Ford plant in the U.S.   Look at the savings Ford realizes by having their vehicles built there! The benefits are added to that $3.50/hr., true, but how much could the bene's be? Interesting and telling bit of data there. Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 25, 2008 10:02 am) 62vetteefp (Dec 25, 2008 7:06 pm)
#2945 of 8510 Re: Well... [iluvmysephia1] by gagrice Dec 25, 2008 (10:02 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 25, 2008 9:04 am) I really don't mind helping our neighbors to the South. I would imagine that $3.50 per hour is decent pay down there. Not like $30 in Flint would be. But a good living wage. Unless the Big 3 can shed their high costs up here they will have to do more in other countries. With the open borders to trucking why not Mexico and to a lesser degree Canada. Here is a question. In 2007 Congress allocated $25 billion for upgrading 20 year or older factories and for use on alternative energy research. I don't think a penny of that has been spent. Shows you how interested the B3 is in upgrading their US factories. They just keep shutting more down. Replies to this message: 62vetteefp (Dec 25, 2008 7:06 pm)
#2946 of 8510 gagrice... by iluvmysephia1 Dec 25, 2008 (4:37 pm)
where is GM planning on building the Chevy Volt, BTW? Cananada? Misspelling on purpose!   Or by my new dentist friend in Sonora, Mexico? Replies to this message: cooterbfd (Dec 25, 2008 4:58 pm)
#2947 of 8510 Re: gagrice... [iluvmysephia1] by cooterbfd Dec 25, 2008 (4:58 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 25, 2008 4:37 pm) The (not sure of spelling) Hammtramck plant in Michigan.
#2948 of 8510 Re: Well... [gagrice] by 62vetteefp Dec 25, 2008 (7:06 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 25, 2008 10:02 am) In 2007 Congress allocated $25 billion for upgrading 20 year or older factories and for use on alternative energy research. I don't think a penny of that has been spent. Shows you how interested the B3 is in upgrading their US factories. They just keep shutting more down.   Actually the government has not yet decided how the money will be distributed. Once they figure it out the automakers can then put in proposals and ask for it. But perhaps we are talking something different. The $25 billion for alternative energy research, etc. was not approved until September of this year. I do not know of, and could not find anything from 2007 pertaining to this.   http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/09/auto_industry_to_receive_25_bi.html   And as far as shutting down plants we will see more of it. GM up to this year had to keep plants open due to the fact that even if they closed a plant they still had to pay the workers even if they were sitting home. This last contract allowed massive hourly buy outs and the elimination of job banks.

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