Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Saab dealers 'running out of cars']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/report-saab-dealers-running-out-of-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/report-saab-dealers-running-out-of-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/report-saab-dealers-running-out-of-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

With new vehicle production at a trickle, and its dealer network slashed by a third, retailers of the Saab brand are finding inventory shrinking to drought levels. Some of the remaining dealers may even run out of new vehicles before replacements arrive.

Point the blame towards the pending sale of Saab to Koenigsegg Automotive AB, and the fact that an all-new Saab 9-5 model is still sitting on the horizon. With the transaction still not complete, financial limitations have kept new vehicle production low. In addition, the Swedish assembly plant tasked to build the new 9-5 sedan is in the process of retooling. "When we close the deal and change owners we can start producing again for real as we then will have financing," Eric Geers, a Saab spokesman told Bloomberg.

Even if the deal with Koenigsegg closes as planned, the 2010 Saab 9-5 (the company's first all-new car in seven years) won't hit European showrooms until early next year. U.S. dealers will likely have to wait even longer, starving as the last of their dwindling inventory rolls away.


Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5


[Source: Bloomberg]

REPORT: Saab dealers 'running out of cars' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Saab2010 saab 9-52010Saab2010Saab9-59-5dealer networkDealerNetworkdealersinventorykoenigseggkoenigsegg saabKoenigseggSaabpendingplant closurePlantClosureProductionretoolingSaab 9-5Saab9-5saleSwedishTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[AP says General Motors to announce 14 plant closures on Monday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/ap-says-general-motors-to-announce-14-plant-closures-on-monday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/ap-says-general-motors-to-announce-14-plant-closures-on-monday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/28/ap-says-general-motors-to-announce-14-plant-closures-on-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

According to a source at The Associated Press, General Motors will announce the closure of 14 factories on Monday morning. The shutterings will reportedly occur by the end of 2010, and are being viewed as part of GM's widely anticipated plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The move would not be completely unexpected, as GM had previously announced that it expects to have to close 16 plans by the end of next year, resulting in some 21,000 pink slipped workers. As GM has already announced that an engine plant in Massena, New York and a stamping plant in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area will be shutting down, this would bring the full tally to 16.

According to the AP report, factory-level union leaders are unaware of which plants will be axed, but the plan is said to include four assembly facilities, along with stamping, engine, and transmission operations.



[Source: Associated Press (via Chron) | Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty]

AP says General Motors to announce 14 plant closures on Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreakingnewsGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMplant closurePlantClosureUAWUnionThu, 28 May 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/merry-christmas-envoy-trailblazer-9-7x-plant-closing-dec-23r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Looks like that Moraine, Ohio plant that was going to be shut down next year is actually going to be shuttered on December 23rd, just in time for Christmas. This is the plant responsible for production of the GMC Envoy, Chevy Trailblazer and Saab 9-7X. The General had already slowed the plant to just one shift as SUV sales, particularly sales of old SUVs like these, continue to tumble, but the plant was expected to remain open until at least early next year. On Friday the remaining 1,100 workers were gathered and told of the revised plan.

The closure isn't a total surprise, as General Motors had already announced that the Dayton-suburb plant would be closed so the company could focus more on production of small cars. That initial announcement seemed to indicate a 2010 closure, but the company has continually revised the closing date until this most recent word came. Moraine is one of four GM plants that are going to be shut down. When Janesville, Wis.; Oshawa, Ontario; and Toluca, Mexico join Moraine in closure, a total of 8,350 workers will be looking for new jobs.

[Source: Detroit News]

Merry Christmas: Envoy, Trailblazer, 9-7X plant closing Dec. 23rd originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy trailblazerChevyTrailblazergmc envoyGmcEnvoyMoraine OHMoraineOhplant closingplant closurePlantClosingPlantClosuresaab 9-7saab 9-7xsaab9-7saab9-7xMon, 06 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi set to close Australian plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/05/mitsubishi-set-to-close-australian-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/05/mitsubishi-set-to-close-australian-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/05/mitsubishi-set-to-close-australian-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Australia's automotive manufacturing industry has taken a blow as Mitsubishi announced it will be closing its Adelaide plant, the facility that builds the 380 sedan. The news means approximately 1,000 workers will soon be out of a job. In fact soon means very soon, as March 31st marks the plant's final day. It will certainly be a quick and painful process; so much that counseling will be offered to outgoing employees. The Australian government even previously offered the Japanese automaker assistance in order to keep their local operations alive. However, the extra funds couldn't account for the 380's dismal sales. It is well known that Australians like their V8s and the 3.8L V6 engine powering the sedan was not enough to overcome the competition.

[Source: Live News]

Mitsubishi set to close Australian plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdelaideMitsubishi 380Mitsubishi AustraliaMitsubishi380MitsubishiAustraliaPlant ClosurePlantClosureTue, 05 Feb 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[GM investing $225 million to save ex-Saturn plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/gm-investing-225-million-to-save-ex-saturn-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/gm-investing-225-million-to-save-ex-saturn-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/12/gm-investing-225-million-to-save-ex-saturn-plant/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We're not sure what's going to be produced there, but GM is investing $225 million in their Spring Hill, Tennessee Saturn plant. The Ion and Vue are currently built in Spring Hill, but production of those vehicles will be ceasing in March 2007. Once the plant is cleared of vehicles, the paint shop will go under the knife and be renovated for future vehicle production. The goal of the paint shop upgrades is to accomodate any size vehicle GM plans to build. These plans hinge on GM securing incentives from Tennessee, but it's a great vote of confidence in the UAW workforce and building cars in America. Hey, our Toyotas and Hondas are built here, so why should we buy GMs built elsewhere? Saturn is looking quite promising, with a raft of new, and very good, vehicles. It's unclear how drastic the refit of the plant will be, and whether it will be building multiple platforms at a time, or if it'll be limited to a single platform. With Saturn vehicles sharing corporate architecture, it bodes well for offering some flexibility and capacity to GM's manufacturing muscle across the brands. Let's hope they continue to focus on quality before quantity, though. You'll only be able to use that capacity if the cars are good enough to make people want them.

Press release after the jump

[Source: GM]


Continue reading GM investing $225 million to save ex-Saturn plant

GM investing $225 million to save ex-Saturn plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buildingcar manufacturingCarBuildingCarManufacturingGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMManufacturingPlantPlant closurePlantClosureSaturnSpring HillSpring Hill TenneseeSpringHillSpringHillTenneseeTennesseeUAWTue, 12 Dec 2006 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Peugeot nixes 206 factory in UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/19/peugeot-nixes-206-factory-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/19/peugeot-nixes-206-factory-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/19/peugeot-nixes-206-factory-in-uk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Peugeot is shuttering its Rynton plant in Coventry, where it builds its popular 206. Idling the British factory next year will mean that 2,300 will find themselves out of work.

The word came down as PSA Peugeot Citroen executives met with union officials, who expected bad news, but apparently weren't prepared for an outright closure.

Officials are saying that the plant is being axed due to high logistical and production costs, arguing that the cost of retooling for future vehicles cannot be justified as a result.

[Source: UK Telegraph]

Peugeot nixes 206 factory in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BritainBritish manufacturingBritishManufacturingCitroenCoventrylayoffPeugeotplant closurePlantClosurePSARyntonUKWed, 19 Apr 2006 09:03:00 EST