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[Critics from China berate proposed HUMMER sale, rekindled automaker could be based in Nashville]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/critics-from-china-berate-proposed-hummer-sale-rekindled-automa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/critics-from-china-berate-proposed-hummer-sale-rekindled-automa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/critics-from-china-berate-proposed-hummer-sale-rekindled-automa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2008 Hummer H2 SUT - Click above for high-res gallery

As Chinese media outlets continue to voice derision over GM's agreement to sell its unwanted HUMMER division to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., there are real questions as to whether or not the Chinese government will even approve of the purchase.

State-run media outlet Xinhua News Agency has suggested that Tengzhong's interest in HUMMER may be little more than a publicity stunt, saying, "It couldn't achieve this result (of raising its profile) even if it spent $100 million on advertising." Commenting on Tengzhong's deal to purchase HUMMER, China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said:
We hope Chinese companies learn more about international market rules and development trends in their industries and make prudent investments.
While none of that sounds particularly promising, it doesn't necessarily mean the deal won't be approved, and HUMMER CEO Jim Taylor is reportedly moving forward with the automaker's future plans as it looks for a new location outside GM's corporate headquarters in the Renaissance Center to call home. According to the Nashville Business Journal, HUMMER could stay in the Detroit area or possibly join Nissan by taking root in Tennessee.


Gallery: 2008 HUMMER H2


[Sources: Autocar, Nashville Business Journal]

Critics from China berate proposed HUMMER sale, rekindled automaker could be based in Nashville originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hummerhummer purchasehummer salehummer sale chinaHummerPurchaseHummerSaleHummerSaleChinasichuan tengzhongsichuan tengzhong heavy industrial machinerysichuan tengzhong heavy industrial machinery cosichuan tengzhong hummerSichuanTengzhongSichuanTengzhongHeavyIndustrialMachinerySichuanTengzhongHeavyIndustrialMachineryCoSichuanTengzhongHummertennesseetennessee hummerTennesseeHummerThu, 25 Jun 2009 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Bid to build new GM small car heats up: Orion reportedly offers $44M]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/bid-to-build-new-gm-small-car-heats-up-orion-offers-44m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/bid-to-build-new-gm-small-car-heats-up-orion-offers-44m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/bid-to-build-new-gm-small-car-heats-up-orion-offers-44m/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Towns in Tennessee, Michigan, and Wisconsin are all vying for a chance to keep their existing plants running by coming up with the most attractive package to woo assembly rights for a future unnamed General Motors small car. In the showdown, the first place plant will win the right to stay open, while the other two will be consigned to history. Last week, officials from Spring Hill, Tennessee said that The General was allegedly looking for over $200 million in upfront cash as part of any deal.

The state of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Growth Authority isn't talking about their GM enticement package, but according to The Detroit News, Orion Township is reportedly chiming in with over $44 million in incentives. The package includes 100% tax free machining costs for up to 12 years, with overall tax forgiveness of $44 million.

The goal for Orion is to preserve the remaining $2.7 million in annual taxes it receives from the plant, along with the additional taxes it receives from the 3,400 employees that work, eat and in many cases live in the area. The township is also offering to build a water treatment facility on-site at the plant, saving GM about $1 million. GM would have to donate the land for the facility, but it would receive an additional tax credit for the appraised value of the land.

GM has said that it would announce the winning facility within the month. The plant is slated to build up to 160,000 vehicles per year and add up to 1,200 jobs.

[Source: Detroit News | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Bid to build new GM small car heats up: Orion reportedly offers $44M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>44mgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmjanesvilleorionorion townshipOrionTownshipsmall carSmallCarspring hillSpringHilltennesseewisconsinMon, 15 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: GM tells TN state officials it needs $200M to keep Spring Hill plant open]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/12/report-gm-tells-tn-state-officials-it-needs-200m-to-keep-sprin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/12/report-gm-tells-tn-state-officials-it-needs-200m-to-keep-sprin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/12/report-gm-tells-tn-state-officials-it-needs-200m-to-keep-sprin/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Provided that it survives bankruptcy, General Motors plans to build a small car somewhere in the US. The General has stated that it is investigating three sites to build the yet unnamed vehicle; Janesville, Wisconsin; Orion, Michigan; and Spring Hill Tennessee. GM previously announced that all three facilities would close, though it subsequently said that one location would ultimately reopen.

GM hasn't publicly laid out parameters for picking which plant will produce the new vehicle(s), but the state of Tennessee says that the biggest requirement is money. Governor Phil Bredesen reportedly told The Tennessean that GM has asked for at least $200 million to stay in the game, characterizing talks with the General as "Tell me how big of a check you're going to write." We're not talking tax breaks, either, as Bredesen is quoted in the article as saying:
"They don't care about tax credits and those other kinds of things...it certainly was a new look for me at how they're approaching this thing, which is absolutely, 'Tell me how big of a check you're going to write.'"
GM isn't talking about its specific requirements for the small car plant, saying that the talks are "private discussions." Officials from Michigan and Wisconsin are following suit, but Tennessee is taking a different stance. Bredesen says the state doesn't have the kind of money that GM is asking for, and he told The Tennessean that "this is not a year in which I've got a spare couple of hundred million dollars from the rainy day fund to use for something like this."

GM has not yet come up with a timetable for announcing the winner of the small car facility sweepstakes. Thanks for the tip, JayP!

[Source: The Tennessean]

REPORT: GM tells TN state officials it needs $200M to keep Spring Hill plant open originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bredesengmgovernor bredesenGovernorBredesenjanesvilleorionsmall car plantSmallCarPlantspring hillSpringHilltennesseeFri, 12 Jun 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: New VW mid-size sedan to start at $20,000, arrive in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/report-new-vw-mid-size-sedan-to-start-at-20-000-arrive-in-201/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/report-new-vw-mid-size-sedan-to-start-at-20-000-arrive-in-201/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/27/report-new-vw-mid-size-sedan-to-start-at-20-000-arrive-in-201/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As part of a far-reaching interview with Stefan Jacoby, Volkswagen's North American CEO, Automotive News has fleshed out some new details about the German automaker's forthcoming Chattanooga, Tennessee-built sedan, as well as the potential viability of the Polo subcompact in the States.

In the main, Jacoby allowed that the unnamed Chattanooga-built sedan will hit the market in the spring of 2012, with a targeted price tag of "around $20,000," and the car is tipped to rely on versions of the company's 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines that are already in production. Although the design has not yet been made public, Jacoby notes that the car was finalized over the last few weeks in Wolfsburg, and a rendering of the car (above) leaked out in February.

What else will be made in VW's new Tennessee plant? At the moment, there have been no firm decisions, but up for consideration, says Jacoby, are a compact SUV, a mid-size SUV, or something from "the Polo family."

About the latter - Jacoby says they have polled the company's dealership body in the States, and their response has been that the vehicle is not large enough to succeed in America. That said, VW appears to be considering a next-generation Polo sedan and/or a larger hatchback. While stopping short of confirming a model, VW's CEO did sound quite positive about the chances for a Polo when he said: "We are investigating what model we should start with and when we should start -- in 2011 or 2012."

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req.]

REPORT: New VW mid-size sedan to start at $20,000, arrive in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChattanoogaPassatPoloStefan JacobyStefanJacobyTennesseeTNVolkswagenVWMon, 27 Apr 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Germans? Delay? VW postpones Chattanooga groundbreaking ceremony]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/germans-delay-vw-postpones-chattanooga-groundbreaking-ceremony/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/germans-delay-vw-postpones-chattanooga-groundbreaking-ceremony/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/germans-delay-vw-postpones-chattanooga-groundbreaking-ceremony/#commentsFiled under: ,

When building a new factory, especially one as large and complex as an auto manufacturing plant, there are plenty of elements that can throw things off schedule. Scheduling itself, however, is rarely the problem, especially for a German company. But that's the reason why Volkswagen has delayed the groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to VW spokespersons, the ceremony is being delayed until March due to several members of the company's management board in Wolfsburg wanting to be present, but can't make it any earlier. (And it's not even Oktoberfest yet!)

However, Volkswagen insists that construction of the $1 billion plant is progressing as planned. This also includes the city's preparations for hosting the factory, refurbishing office buildings downtown, the opening of a new school for the German-speaking children of VW employees, stores and restaurants to cater to the workforce, as well as space for the vendors and suppliers who are expected to come to town to support the factory. In the words of the director of the local development organization, "We're so fortunate that, given the economy and that kind of thing, we have robust employers in downtown." Indeed.

[Source: msnbc.com]

Germans? Delay? VW postpones Chattanooga groundbreaking ceremony originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chattanoogatennesseevolkswagemvolkswagen chattanoogavolkswagen tennesseeVolkswagenChattanoogaVolkswagenTennesseevwvw chattanoogavw tenneseeVwChattanoogaVwTenneseeMon, 05 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen announces plans for factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/volkswagen-announces-plans-for-factory-in-chattanooga-tenn/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/volkswagen-announces-plans-for-factory-in-chattanooga-tenn/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/volkswagen-announces-plans-for-factory-in-chattanooga-tenn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volkswagen announced this morning that it would build a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. where it will build a vehicle specifically for the North American market. The plant will employ 2,000 workers from the tri-state area and is expected to invest $1 billion in the local economy.

The plant is an integral part of Volkswagen's plan for expansion in the N.A. market, with sales expected to crest 800,000 units by 2018. The 1,350-acre site will produce 150,000 vehicles annually - specifically a midsize sedan - in 2011.

Make the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Volkswagen announces plans for factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Volkswagen announces plans for factory in Chattanooga, Tenn. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchattanoogaplanttennesseevolkswagenTue, 15 Jul 2008 10:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Volkswagen Passat could be built Stateside]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/next-volkswagen-passat-could-be-built-stateside/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Following-up on last week's announcement that Volkswagen was looking at Alabama for a new manufacturing facility, the German automaker's management board is expected to make their final recommendation today. Following that announcement, Volkswagen's supervisory board, headed by former VW group CEO Ferdinand Piech, will make its decision by tomorrow. Whether Huntsville, Alabama, or second-choice Chattanooga, Tennessee, gets the nod, the move is key for Volkswagen as they attempt to increase sales in the United States with more targeted, and lower priced, vehicles. In addition to the Volkswagen Jetta (itself being redesigned to better compete with the Honda Civic) the new facility will produce an all-new Passat-sized sedan with a base price of about $20,000. Larger, in order to compete with the Toyota Camry, the new sedan would undercut the current Volkswagen Passat's pricing by about $5,000--a significant margin. The plant would open in late 2010 with an annual production capacity of nearly 250,000 vehicles.

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

Next Volkswagen Passat could be built Stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlabamaAssemblychattanoogaferdinand piechFerdinandPiechHuntsvilleManufacturingPlantTennesseeVolkswagenvolkswagen manufacturingvolkswagen stateside manufacturingvolkswagen united states manufacturingvolkswagen united states plantvolkswagen us plantVolkswagenManufacturingVolkswagenStatesideManufacturingVolkswagenUnitedStatesManufacturingVolkswagenUnitedStatesPlantVolkswagenUsPlantvw us factoryvw us manufacturingvw us plantVwUsFactoryVwUsManufacturingVwUsPlantMon, 14 Jul 2008 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[VW decision on U.S. plant in July, sorry Michigan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/30/vw-decision-on-u-s-plant-in-july-sorry-michigan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/30/vw-decision-on-u-s-plant-in-july-sorry-michigan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/30/vw-decision-on-u-s-plant-in-july-sorry-michigan/#commentsFiled under: ,

The large disparity between the value of the Euro and the U.S. dollar has given European automakers incentive to build plants Stateside. VW has been looking for the location of its next North American plant, and it appears as though we'll have an answer by July 8. Tennessee and Alabama are said to be the two major candidates for the $788 million facility, which could come online as soon as 2011 and produce 300,000 units per year by 2018. Word from Auto Motor Und Sport is that Michigan is completely out of the picture, and considering the state's history with the UAW and Volkswagen's white collar exit from the mitten, the news isn't all that surprising, though certainly disappointing for the depressed state. There is no word at this point which vehicles VW is planning to build at the new plant, though the German automaker will likely creately a flexible manufacturing facility that can build several vehicles on one line.

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

VW decision on U.S. plant in July, sorry Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alabamanew VW plantNewVwPlanttennesseeVolkswagenVWMon, 30 Jun 2008 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Tennessee cracking down on Tail of the Dragon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/tennessee-cracking-down-on-tail-of-the-dragon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/tennessee-cracking-down-on-tail-of-the-dragon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/tennessee-cracking-down-on-tail-of-the-dragon/#commentsFiled under:



For those who don't know, the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap in Tennessee is one of, if not the greatest, driving roads in the world. Containing 318 curves in an 11-mile stretch, the Tail is visited by both car enthusiasts and motor cyclists from all over the globe. While it brings a healthy amount of tourist dollars to the region, the curvy two-lane road that runs on US-129 has effectively been shut down by an overbearing Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Apparently the governor of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, has instituted a program to reduce traffic deaths and accidents on US 129, and so the 11-mile stretch known as the Tail of the Dragon has been saturated with Tennessee Highway Patrol officers writing tickets at a hand-cramping rate. The situation has gotten so bad, US 129 is now being called Tennessee's newest toll road. The Tail of the Dragon website is keeping a running list of tickets that have been issued and why, and the reasons are rather ridiculous. Cars and motorcycles are being ticketed for literally just touching the double yellow line that indicates no passing allowed. Tickets for going 5 mph above the posted 30 mph limit are also supposedly common. And then there are reports of blatant harrassment, with THP officers caught tailgating drivers for miles and threatening arrest for minor violations.

Enthusiasts and those invested in the health of the region are trying to fight the crackdown, even keeping an ongoing photo archive of THP cruisers breaking the law themselves. Alas, authorities have not relented and will reportedly be watching the Dragon like a hawk for at least the next month.

[Source: Tail of the Dragon]

Tennessee cracking down on Tail of the Dragon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crackdowntail of the dragonTailOfTheDragontennesseetennessee highway patrolTennesseeHighwayPatrolTHPFri, 24 Aug 2007 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan offering buyouts to 775 Tennessee workers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/nissan-offering-buyouts-to-775-tennesse-workers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/nissan-offering-buyouts-to-775-tennesse-workers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/nissan-offering-buyouts-to-775-tennesse-workers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seems like few automakers are immune to downsizing these days, and Nissan is no exception. Today the automaker announced it's reducing its workforce in Tennessee by 12.5%, which equates to 775 heads. The reduction come via way of voluntary buyouts that include a $45,000 cash payment and additional $500 for every year worked. All the workers come from Nissan's two assembly plants in Tennessee, one in Smyrna where the Altima and Maxima, Pathfinder and Xterra are built, and the other in Decherd, which builds the engines to supply the Smyrna plant, as well as Nissan's assembly plant in Canton, Miss. Fortunately, 303 workers were reportedly eligible for retirment anyway and happy to take the buyout.

[Source: Automotive News]

Nissan offering buyouts to 775 Tennessee workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assembly plantAssemblyPlantbuyoutdecherdretiresmyrnatennesseeFri, 23 Mar 2007 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan offering voluntary buyouts to all Tennessee plant workers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/nissan-offering-voluntary-buyouts-to-all-tennessee-plant-workers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/nissan-offering-voluntary-buyouts-to-all-tennessee-plant-workers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/20/nissan-offering-voluntary-buyouts-to-all-tennessee-plant-workers/#commentsFiled under: ,



Word has just come across the wire that Nissan will be offering a "voluntary transition program" to all of its hourly employees working in either its Smyrna or Dechard manufacturing plants in Tennessee. These are effectively buyouts, which can net an hourly worker a lump sum of $45,000 and a bonus $500 for each year of service. It's certainly not the sweet deal offered to members of the UAW who work for General Motors and Ford, but the offer could help Nissan reduce the rank and file of its relatively young and non-union work force in North America. For whatever reason, the offer is only being made to employees at these two plants in Tennessee. The Smyrna plant employs about 6,700 people, though some are surely salaried, and produces the Altima, Frontier, Maxima, Xterra and Pathfinder. The Dechard plant only employs 1,400 people and produces many of Nissan's engines, including the glorious VQ 3.5L V6. This news is pretty fresh, so we'll keep our ears peeled for reaction from the auto pundits.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Nissan offering voluntary buyouts to all Tennessee plant workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyoutCarlos GhosnCarlosGhosnGhosnhourly workersHourlyWorkerslayoffNissanplantTennesseeworkersTue, 20 Feb 2007 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota poised to build plant number eight in US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/toyota-poised-to-build-plant-number-eight-in-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/toyota-poised-to-build-plant-number-eight-in-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/toyota-poised-to-build-plant-number-eight-in-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Toyota is in the process of scouting locations and performing feasibility studies on opening another plant in the U.S.

The addition of another manufacturing center within the States would make the total number of ToMoCo plants rise to eight, further shoring up production capacity in one of its most prosperous markets.

According to sources cited by the WSJ, Toyota has five locations in mind, all of which are in the southern U.S., and currently include Chattanooga, TN and Marion, AR. Back in mid-December, the SouthernAutoCorridor.com reported that sites in North Carolina and Southwest Virginia were being reconed as well.

There may be an announcement about Toyota's intentions later this month and according to the WSJ's sources, the plant will likely produce Highlander SUVs to the tune of about 200k per year, when the plant opens in 2009.

[Source: Drive.com.au, Wall Street Journal, SouthernAutoCorridor.com]

Toyota poised to build plant number eight in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After GM's mercy killing of its slow-selling minivans, the heads of the General are working towards filling the seven-passenger, non-SUV gap that will soon exist in their lineup.

Crossovers have been the favored saviors of the people mover segment, and as such, General Motors has decided that the former Saturn-only plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. would be the beneficiary of a thorough overhaul to meet the expected demand. In a plan that will invest over $700 million into the aging production line, GM will outfit the plant with more up-to-date manufacturing equipment that has the potential to produce up to 350,000 vehicles per year.

General Motors' front-wheel-drive, Lambda-based crossovers currently include the new Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, all of which are possible products that could roll off the line in Spring Hill.

[Source: Automotive News -- Sub. Req.]

GM to drop $700m on crossover plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buickcrossoverenclavegeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgmcacadiaminivanoutlooksaturnspring hillSpringHilltennesseeMon, 18 Dec 2006 06:57:00 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.

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You don't want to commit a crime in the city of Germantown, Tennessee. Ever. Otherwise, you could find yourself facing the ultimate in armored personnel carriers.

According to SWAT team commander Rodney Bright, the $184,000 military vehicle, known as the "BearCat", puts Germantown, already one of the safest cities in the U.S., at the 'forefront of preparedness' and offers it to other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area if they are in of need assistance.

The BearCat was purchased using a grant from Homeland Security.

Preparedness? Assistance? What exactly is going down in Tennessee?

Related:
Don't try this at home: SUV with remote-operated shotguns
One big Hummer H2 [SEMA]

[Source: Associated Press via WMCTV]

Armored personnel carrier puts Germantown in state of readiness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armored personnel carrierBearCatGermantownHomeland SecuritySWATTennesseeThu, 10 Aug 2006 13:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Truant Tennessee teens won't get shot at free Chevy Cobalt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/04/truant-tennessee-teens-won-t-get-shot-at-free-chevy-cobalt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



When I was in high school, I got a plastic trophy for four years perfect attendance. In Tennessee this year, five high school seniors with rock solid immune systems who have also resisted the temptations of truancy will be the recipients of a free Chevy Cobalt through a new incentive program called "The Chevy Drive for Perfection." The program blankets 26 Middle Tennessee counties and will track the number of absent-free seniors throughout the school year. Come next June, those with perfect attendance will be entered into a drawing and five will drive off to college in a brand new Cobalt. And all I got was a stinkin' trophy.

[Source: The Tennessean]

Truant Tennessee teens won't get shot at free Chevy Cobalt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cobalthigh schoolHighSchoolperfect attendancePerfectAttendanceteensTennesseetruancytruantFri, 04 Aug 2006 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota to join the fun in Tennessee?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/toyota-to-join-the-fun-in-tennessee/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/toyota-to-join-the-fun-in-tennessee/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/toyota-to-join-the-fun-in-tennessee/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen says that Toyota is considering two Tennessee locations for its eighth North American vehicle assembly plant. The Guv says that the automaker is considering Chattanooga and Alamo, though Toyota has yet to narrow it down that far publicly. The plant will be Toyota's next investment after the Toyota truck plant opens up in San Antonio, Texas later this year and an engine plant opens up shop in Woodstock, Ontario in 2007. Though he says his state is on the short list, Bredesen says that Toyota hasn't given him a timeline for when its execs will make a decision.

[Source: Associated Press via the Boston Globe]

Toyota to join the fun in Tennessee? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>manufacturingnorth american plantNorthAmericanPlanttennesseetoyotaTue, 20 Jun 2006 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan breaks ground in Tennessee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/16/nissan-breaks-ground-in-tennessee/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/16/nissan-breaks-ground-in-tennessee/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/16/nissan-breaks-ground-in-tennessee/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn picked a busy time to move his company to suburban Nashville, what with a huge new lineup of vehicles, quality problems that need mending and 57-percent of his workforce sticking around California and all. But as Ghosn mentioned, there's really never a good time for a move, is there?

I guess we'll find out. Nissan offically broke ground yesterday on its Franklin, Tenn. corporate headquarters, where 43 percent of Nissan's workforce (and around just 20 percent of its upper-level management) will emigrate to support the company in its time of need. It might take two or three years to gain momentum after such a disruption, but Ghosn asserts that it will prove to be delayed gratification in the sweetest sense.

Among the improvements Ghosn promised include sales of 4.2 million units, hitting margins of eight percent and getting a 20-percent return on invested capital.

[Source: ThCarConnection]

 

 

Nissan breaks ground in Tennessee originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carlos ghosnCarlosGhosnnashvillenissantennesseeFri, 16 Jun 2006 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan's P.R. and design firms contemplating move to Nashville with automaker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/nissans-p-r-and-design-firms-mulling-move-to-nashville-as-well/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/nissans-p-r-and-design-firms-mulling-move-to-nashville-as-well/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/nissans-p-r-and-design-firms-mulling-move-to-nashville-as-well/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan's move from the West Coast to the Bible Belt has had its share of detractors, but it would appear that at least a few people are up to the move from California to Tennessee. Among them, a cadre of the company's external creative forces: design, public relations, advertising, and event-marketing firms are all looking at relocating.

Among them, advertising house TBWA/Chiat/Day, and Edelman P.R. plans to move employees to keep the transplanted automaker's business.

[Source: Nashville Business Journal; NissanNews.com]

Nissan's P.R. and design firms contemplating move to Nashville with automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bible BeltBibleBeltCaliforniaEdelmanNissanTBWATennesseeTue, 25 Apr 2006 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan receives 13,000 applications for jobs at new Nashville headquarters]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/09/nissan-receives-13-000-applications-for-jobs-at-new-nashville-he/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/09/nissan-receives-13-000-applications-for-jobs-at-new-nashville-he/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/09/nissan-receives-13-000-applications-for-jobs-at-new-nashville-he/#commentsFiled under:

If you've already sent in your resume to Nissan for a job in their new Nashville headquarters, congratulations-- you're one in 13,000.

The automaker's soon-to-be-transplanted nerve center has had Tennesseans clamoring for virtual applications on the company's web site. Nobody appears to know how many positions will be available, but there are 158 postings presently listed-- an increase of 20 over the week prior. Nissan expects to have 1,300 employees at the facility, but many workers are making the pilgrimage from Los Angeles with the company, meaning that thousands of applicants are going to be hard-pressed to net an interview, let alone a position.

Regardless of the CV glut, Nissan is still requesting applications from interested parties.

[Source: Fairview Observer]

Nissan receives 13,000 applications for jobs at new Nashville headquarters originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HeadquartersHQNissanTennesseeThu, 09 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST