Embattled Oshawa plant to get GM hybrid truck production, will still close in 2009
GM's Oshawa Truck plant has been slated for closure in 2009, but GM has announced that the embattled plant will still build the Silverado Two-Mode hybrid beginning later this year. The move was well received by the CAW, which hasn't exactly been playing nice with the General since it got word of the plant's closure. The CAW threw up a blockade of GM's Canadian headquarters from June 4-15 in response to the General's announcement that it would close the facility. There has been some talk about perhaps switching the plant to car production, but GM has made no announcements and CEO Rick Wagoner didn't sound too optimistic about the plant's future when he announced the closing. At least the hybrid Silverado will help ensure that the plant has steady production for the near-term, but it'll likely have to be a lot more popular than the Tahoe hybrid if it's going to help Oshawa Truck stay open. Thanks for the tip, LIP!
[Source: CBC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Someone 8:28AM (6/26/2008)
Riddled with errors sadly. GM is adding additional closings to the plant, it will be closed for an extra week in July and several more weeks in the Fall (a total of 7). The Oshawa plant is not GETTING the Hybrid, it always had it, they will just keep building it until it closes in 2009. But there have never been any rumours of a car in there, it would cost $750m or more for a new paintshop and at least another $300m or so to convert it into some sort of flex plant that will allow anything more than trucks.
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Dude 8:52AM (6/26/2008)
After the stunt the CAW pulled. GM should not only close the plant, but sell the building for scrap metal and convert the land into a park dedicated to Non-Union Workers.
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Goat Law 9:43AM (6/26/2008)
Fantastic idea
TJ 10:09AM (6/26/2008)
+1
Gardiner Westbound 9:59AM (6/26/2008)
The market has largely rejected GM's wares. General Motors is looking for more free taxpayer money to compensate for Oshawa's uncompetitive labor costs. Taxpayers are certain to punish the provincial government if it throws good money after bad.
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Rocketboy 10:13AM (6/26/2008)
No they won't... I'm still waiting for the huge backlash against the GST.
Still setting your taxes based on the size of your yogurt containers?
Dave 10:28AM (6/26/2008)
Exactly and who wants a car or truck built by someone who is going to be out of a job soon
dave 10:37AM (6/26/2008)
Seems strange that some people on the line in Oshawa new weeks before the official annoucement of the truck plant closing that this was going to happen Think Buzz is just leading the cows to slaughter shall we say
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Jules Mounteer 11:52AM (6/26/2008)
So that's maybe 10 or less hybrid Silverado's a day at the current sale rate. Not much work for a whole factory.
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The Luigiian 2:06PM (6/26/2008)
This might just be proof that GM is going to get out of the hybrid market. Give hybrid production to a closing plant, because you know the trucks won't sell, then use that as evidence that hybrids won't sell.
Either that, or they'll just move production to another plant. Who knows? You pick.
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