[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

As sales slump, Toyota cuts bonuses and vehicle production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nearly 4,000 employees of the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Vance, Alabama, are being offered buyouts in advance of another expected round of production cuts at the facility in January. The Vance plant produces the M-Class sport utility, R-Class crossover and GL-Class full-sized sport utility for the Mercedes-Benz lineup. In July, Mercedes slowed production for the first time in more than a decade of U.S. production as rising gas prices in June drastically cut sales. Although the buyout packages are being offered to all employees, Mercedes spokespersons are quick to point out that these are not to be considered layoffs. In fact, the automaker will only hand out an undisclosed limited number of buyout packages as it makes changes to the plant to bring production back in line with demand.

Alabama has been hard hit this year by the global auto industry slump. The state's automotive industry is 134,000 workers strong, and the sobering news from Mercedes-Benz only adds to earlier production cuts from Honda and slowdowns from Hyundai, two other automakers with assembly plants in the Heart of Dixie.

[Source: AL.com]

Mercedes offers buyouts to all Alabama workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A 15-percent drop in Sonata sales since the beginning of 2008 is one reason Hyundai will idle its Alabama plant for 11 days between now and the end of the year (the near-2-percent drop in Santa Fe sales didn't help either). According to Hyundai Motor Company officials, the current sales slump and future sales projections of both models warrant the assembly slowdown. To limit the financial impact on the plant's workers, Hyundai will schedule the days on Fridays, and around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Hyundai also added, "We will continue to monitor the situation closely and hope that the economic conditions affecting our industry will soon normalize and allow us to return to a full production schedule as soon as possible." You and everybody else.

Gallery: Hyundai Santa Fe Limited (UK)

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai to slow production of Santa Fe, Sonata originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Corvette ZR1

It's been more than a decade since the "recession-proof" Chevrolet Corvette had to endure a production cut due to excess dealer inventory, but that's apparently the case once again. Citing slow sales related to the ongoing automotive recession, GM will turn off the Corvette's factory lights during the week of October 6th. When Vette assembly resumes the following week, production will be scaled back to 15 cars per hour (normal speed is 18.5 cars per hour). Unfortunately, GM says layoffs will accompany the new schedule at the Bowling Green facility, with up to 75 workers losing their jobs. While surprising, the news isn't entirely unexpected. Corvette sales were down 8.5 percent for the year through August of 2008. They only rebounded after GM included the model in its employee pricing sale... and we all know a shot in the arm like that won't hold out over time.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Corvette Z06

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1

Chevy to temporarily halt Vette production due to economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As consumer demand for thirsty vehicles continues to wane, Mercedes-Benz is being forced to slow production at the Alabama plant which manufactures their GL- and ML-Class SUVs and the R-Class crossover. Sales of Mercedes domestic trucks fell to 5,090 vehicles in June, representing an 11.9 percent decline from the same period last year. The move marks the first time in more than a decade of U.S. production, that the German automaker has reduced output due to market and economic conditions. The cuts will affect more than 4,000 of the plant's employees, and unfortunately will trickle-down to hurt the countless other companies who provide just-in-time components to support Mercedes production.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Mercedes cutting production in Alabama originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.