[d0ubled0wn]

Consumer Reports hasn't been kind in their reviews of GM cars, only a handful of cars made their recommendations list. But look at Honda and Toyota, almost every one of their models are recommended. GM needs to start with producing more reliable cars if they're going to turn things around.

[spacefreak]

Originally Posted by Railroader

The numerous brands do not add cost to GM's bottom line. ll of the similar cars are built on the same assembly line by the same workers. As the car goes by, they simply look at the order and grap the appropriate car part and put it on the car. The thing that amazes me, is the people who say that GMC trucks are so much better built and designed than Chevrolet trucks. They are build on the same line and designed by the exact same people.

The numerous brands do add cost to GM's bottom line. Why develop advertising and marketing strategies for 7 different brands when you only need to do it for 4?

GMC does have a better reputation for trucks than Chevy, just as Lincoln has a better reputation than Ford for sedans. Similar models are built upon the same platform, but there is a definite difference. Drive an Envoy, then drive a Trailblazer. The difference is quite noticeable.

[gypsygirl5]

Originally Posted by Railroader

Ontario should be very worried. That is probably the largest closing GM is announcing. And that only lists the hourly people affected, not the salary. Plus, you have to figure the non-GM jobs. There's shipping, parts suppliers, local companies that serve the employees, like bars and convience stores. Office supply companies and janitorial supply companies. Heck, there's usually a restaurant inside each plant that is independently owned. I am not sure about the 7:1 ratio, but it will afect a lot of people.

I work at GM Oshawa. The cutbacks won't affect me or my family members (we all have enough seniority to weather them), but here is the take on what folks in Oshawa think will probably happen: 3rd shift will definitely go in 2006. It will be easy to get enough workers to retire (2200 are eligible) to allow the younger ones to keep working. So-called Beacon project ($2.5B) investment is on track to retool Car plant #1 for "flex manufacturing"...the ability to switch quickly to build whatever model is selling well. Car plant #1 and #2 are two actually two lines sharing the same building (like Springhill). Once flex comes in, #1 may increase capacity by expanding onto the defunct plant#2 and may even reinstate the 3rd shift. So the job loss may not be the almost 4000 the media announced. Beacon is supposed to create 1000 jobs.

It makes no sense to close a profitable plant that is #1 in quality, #4 in productivity and costs only $125/ vehicle in health care. According to the union, GM's Canadian operations actually made $500 million last year, but we are lumped in with the rest of North America.

Jane