liabilities

Recently, the UAW decided to look at the unusual step of taking over heathcare liabilities from the Big Three. The reason being that pension fund costs for future retirees is adding a terrific sum to the expense sheet every year -- GM's costs alone were $4.8 billion in 2006, and combined costs ...

As many of you know (and have commented prolifically on), the Big 3 carry an enormous burden that import competitors like Honda and Toyota don't: unionized retiree health care costs. GM, for example, had $81 billion in salaried and hourly retiree health care obligations at the end of 2005. Chrysler ...

According to Graeme Maxton of Autopolis, General Motors may consider selling off its Australian Holden brand.The reason, interestingly, is Holden's profitability. Maxton points out that GM is desperate to make money to pay off its enormous--and fixed-- liabilities. It has already sold its Subaru ...