GM cuts shifts, output at three plants
It's hardly unexpected given recent gloomy sales numbers, but General Motors announced today that they will be cutting shifts at several North American plants. Unfortunately, nearly 2,000 workers will lose their jobs in the process as GM eliminates its third shift to slow production and ease the backlog of vehicles sitting on dealer lots. The affected plants are Orion, Michigan; Oshawa, Ontario; and Lordstown, Ohio (these plants manufacture the Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Pontiac G5). The news comes on top of the previously announced idling of the Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City mid-January. That plant makes the Saturn Aura and also the Chevrolet Malibu.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David 5:58PM (12/05/2008)
This market looks bleak and not for just the US auto makers. Watch this and you will see that if every auto maker stops making cars today there is about a two year glut sitting on the docks. Incredible.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7764066.stm
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BigMcLargeHuge 6:05PM (12/05/2008)
"ease the backlog of vehicles sitting on dealer lots."
"these plants manufacture the Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Pontiac G5"
Fact:
Unemployment is going to either trickle slowly or cascade quickly. Either way, the same number of people will end up not working building cars.
Time to shed some dead weight in terms of production volume. That does not mean 'go under'.
Seriously, stop panicking. You'll spook the cattle.
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AkulaX1 6:21PM (12/05/2008)
Dude AB enough is enough. You don't have any other cool car news to report so you milking crisis to your advantage? I mean once or twice is fine but every other news???
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Michael Harley 6:51PM (12/05/2008)
This is important industry news... and it just happens to be dominating the headlines these days.
- Mike
thebigthreesuck 6:22PM (12/05/2008)
NOw there is a BIG surprise. Let them go banko, even if it hurts the economy for a couple of years in the long run it make the economy stronger. All the people with their grade 10 will now have to go to school just like the rest of the world in order to make the kinda money they do right now. Why is it you dont hear honda and toyota asking for money?
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david 6:49PM (12/05/2008)
It's only a matter of time.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081205/bs_nm/us_motor_racing_honda_2
happy_penguin 7:05PM (12/05/2008)
I heard that on the radio today, about Honda. It's bad all over and could be only a matter of time before the rest of the automakers, including those which appear to be safe now, are in the crapper. Bailout for the big three could be moot as this could be even bigger than anyone believes so far.
AkulaX1 7:07PM (12/05/2008)
Because honduh and toyota already got their money from government.