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General Motors discussions

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Comments

  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    I suppose Volvo, could become a Chinese made premium brand

    Don't rule it out altogether, or India for that matter.

    Bottom line is, because they need cash, Ford is dumping them, and both countries' auto industries are itching to get over here.


    More than likely the Swedes will buy it back.

    Ford is actually being smart here. They will keep a 20% position in Volvo,which will allow them to continue to share development costs and utilize Volvo's technology.
    At the same time,they can take advantage of Volvo's brand equity.
  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    Ok, so they're not "dumping" it like Jaguar???
    I'd rather see the Sweede's buy it back. I don't like the idea of China or India getting their tentacles in our country.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    right on
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The automakers have tentacles coming and going.

    "SAIC-GM-Wuling, the General Motors mini-vehicle joint venture in Southwestern China, has opened a $266 million engine plant in Guanxi province with an annual capacity of 300,000 engines.

    The venture has been one of GM's better global investments."

    GM and China Partners Invest $266 Million
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well as cooterbfd, said Volvo isn't going stand on it's own and it needs money. Yes it's profitable but wasn't it only like 5-7 years ago it wasn't and then Ford, dumped billion$ in R&D into the brand ????

    -Rocky
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    > People on the coasts already think that GM vehicles are poorly made by UAW workers that are more in it for the money and benefits than the non-union domestic or foreign workers that do it for the sake of excellence (not true of course, but that is the perception!).

    I agree with the sentiment, although I don't know many folks from the coasts other than a few who identify themselves here on Edmunds. And most of us on Edmunds are not typical car owners/buyers.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    > I doubt a strike will happen

    Has what happened with Delphi affected the UAW and its view of what they can gain (keep) in heavy negotiations or an actual strike?

    What about the IUE plants, i.e., Moraine. Are they completely separate in their negotiations and contract end dates?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    The fact is that most of the parkways and expressways in the New York metro area feature short on-ramps that require full acceleration to merge properly.

    Unfortunately most drivers have never visited the last two thirds of their accelerator pedal so they dribble onto the parkways at 35 or 40 endangering themselves and oncoming traffic. :mad:

    True Confession: Perhaps it's because I come from the NY area but I still floor it when merging onto any limited access highway (assuming the ramp is straight enough to see
    if the entry's clear) and it's been quite a few years since I've seen nineteen. ;)

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    I'm from the East Coast and I honestly agree that the domestic plants of foriegn brands do a better job than the UAW shops. They also have higher job satisfaction and better partnership with management.
  • lweisslweiss Member Posts: 342
    I am (obviously) from the East Coast and I agree with the perception about the domestic plants of the Asian manufacturers- but is it the workers that are not as good, or the cars are just not engineered as well, or is the industrial engineering of the Asian makes so much better- that is how the factories are designed to put the cars together. In any case, the Mercedes factory in Alabama had a horrendous reputation for quality, it's not fair to say "foreign". Also most of the Asian factories in North America are way newer than some of the old Big 3 plants, that may make a difference in quality also.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Has what happened with Delphi affected the UAW and its view of what they can gain (keep) in heavy negotiations or an actual strike?

    Yeah of course it has a major effect. The Delphi UAW workers made almost as much as their GM counterparts on the assembly line and when the GM UAWers got the
    shaft (mainly because of the new people that didn't want to strike) it put the GM UAWers in a bad situation with no mommentum. I guess the good thing is the GM UAW workers are mainly made up of veterans of Delphi & GM, and will have the guts to strike if negotiations break down.

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I'm from the East Coast and I honestly agree that the domestic plants of foreign brands do a better job than the UAW shops. They also have higher job satisfaction and better partnership with management.

    Do you or a loved one work in one of those transplants ???? Making an assumption like that is pretty bold when their are ex employees that will go on the record and tell you something different. Also their is a great deal of current employees that will go on the record but will remain anonymous that will tell you the opposite of what you are saying. :confuse:

    -Rocky
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    Nope. I'm only going on what I've read from reputable sources
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    Sounds like the speed limits are too high to support the on ramps. You guys should holler at your local reps to lower the speed limits. ;)

    Like that will happen. :)
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    If the UAW, was to go out on strike at GM, which isn't likely as it seems negotiations haven't broken down and are going better than some expected. What I'm getting at is Delphi, wouldn't be as affected as it would of been in years past. My step-dads plant here in Wyoming, Mi. has gotten so diversified and so much business from company's like toyota, and other car company's it's basically strike proof to a certain extent. I might not of said those words five years ago but with Delphi, winning so many new contracts in recent years and known future contracts they have said GM, will only account for about 30% of their business I believe they said by 2010. It's almost crazy......Just 10 years ago GM, accounted for roughly 70% of Delphi's business and in under a decade those tides have sure turned. :surprise:

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Loren,

    You must be out driving the wheels off your Accord, before the weather gets cold (60 degrees). :P

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Jae,

    Step-dad thinks after these folks get called back from the Coopersville, Mi. Delphi plant that closed he thinks they are going to hire again to have enough folks to build all the new products their plant has contracts for.

    I handed in a resume last week but I just modified it and listed all my relatives that once worked at the plant less than a mile from my house here in Wyoming, Mi. ;) I came up with a total of 12 relatives that worked at that plant or another GM/Delphi, plant in the past. I have only 1 GM, relative (a cousin) left and 2 Delphi, relatives my father's sister (My aunt) and my step-dad who are active/current employees of Delphi Corp. I hope if all else fails career wise, I will one day be a UAW-Delphi employee and my goal would be to get in the skill-trades as a apprentice. ;)

    Well I need to get some sleep as I've been awake job hunting this early morning through the help wanted classifieds in the newspaper and applying for jobs that are below me but "a mans gotta do, what a mans gotta do" well for the time being. :sick:

    -Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Shoot, I'm hardly a Saab or Volvo fan, but I'd rather see the Swedes buy them back rather than let them fall into the clutches of the Chinese or Indians. Saab and Volvo would be no better than the cheap appliances you see at Wal-Mart and Target. Does it make a difference whether that toaster is a General Electric, Rival, or Sunbeam? Their all the same junk made by the same slave labor force in the same sweatshop factory.

    Saab and Volvo, once known for their great strides in the advancement of automotive safety, will be indifferently manufactured conveyences of greatly diminished quality that would compromise the safety of the driver and other occupants. I can see a Chinese-made Volvo in an accident with a Chevrolet Aveo. The Aveo driver will walk away with a few bruises while the driver of the Volvo, who at one time would've emerged unscathed, will look like somebody vomited all over the interior - identifiable only by a few teeth and his DNA.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    I had a tour of the GM Moraine plant making SUVs last winter. I didn't see discontented employees, other than a few with bad body language (email me and I'll explicitly describe them which will explain) and I don't credit that to anything about work conditions. I saw people working all the time but not overly rushed. I saw people backing off and checking their installation and it crept down the line on its skillet. I saw people stop the line temporarily when a problem of some sort presented itself.

    Later I checked into visiting the Camry assembly plant in Georgetown where some dissatisfaction from the workers there with no union and easy dismissals has presented itself in the national news. The plant tour video on Toyota's own site for the plant showed workers moving at very quick paces; so fast they make wonder if they can keep it up for an 8-hour shift.

    As for the Georgetown plant and its partnership with management, I wonder if that's true when they have many part time people and the number is increasing. I'm not wanting to counter gsemike's comments but I want to question if there's a media-induced image that's not true or never true. I notice in re some of the public Camry problems now Toyota threw in the "we're constantly improving our product" mantra as a part of the PR. Perhaps it's in this link
    link title

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    We are slightly off the subject here but the bottom line is that small car companies with middle of the road pricing cannot make it in today's world by themselves.

    That is why Saab/Volvo got bought in the first place. Now a company like Porsche can do it because they sell in the high dollars and there is enough profit because of a lack of real competition up there.

    I do not think that Saab or Volvo can ever make it on their own. And no current OEM (sorry, talking current major brands like MB, BMW, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,Honda) is going to buy them. Perhaps Nissan/Renault would buy Volvo??
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Hang in there, Rock. I remember doing a lot of work that was way below me and a lot of 70-80 hour weeks just to get by when I was out of work. I worked in mail processing, tedious electronic component assembly, and even drove a cab. Within a year I escaped this drudgery and was on my way. Just beware of the scams like MLMs or Kirby Vacuum sales.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Geeze, Volvo at least used to do well on it's own. If GM didn't buy Saab, I don't think it would still be around as it seemed to appeal to only a handful of iconclasts. Sad world we live in these days! There's no reason why any company would want to buy them. I thought, maybe Hyundai, but they've already got Kia and I'm not so sure they're yet out of the financial woods.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Oh, sure. You should see some of the creative on and off ramps the Garden State Parkway has come up with.

    The original design of the Parkway was fine, but it was built for a state with the half the population of today's New Jersey.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    Saw the 08 CTS commercials this weekend during football games. They caught my attention, so that has got to be a good thing.

    I really do like the car. I haven't seen one in person yet, but on paper and on my monitor it looks really nice.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Actually,Volvo has been profitable since the early 1990's.

    Ford has gotten billions worth of R&D out of Volvo,not the other way around.
    What Volvo recieved was a way to spread development costs around.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Ok, so they're not "dumping" it like Jaguar???

    No, Volvo has never cost Ford a dime to operate,unlike Jag which has lost Ford well over a billion dollars.

    I'd rather see the Sweede's buy it back. I don't like the idea of China or India getting their tentacles in our country.

    Unlike Jag,Ford wants real money for Volvo. Something like $8 BILLION. i doubt that any Chinese or Indian auto company has that kind of dough.
    Remember, they could have picked up Aston Martin for a billion and didn't.
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Don't forget that Ford will maintain an equity position in Volvo,like they have w/ Mazda.
    This mitigates some of the risk.
  • nvbankernvbanker Member Posts: 7,239
    We're definitely in a consolidation mode in the world now. Volvo used to make it on their own before Ford acquired them. But in today's world, it's unlikely they could. Someone bigger will need to buy them. Ford has benefitted greatly from Volvo technology. At least on of their platforms, and 3 cars are built totally on a Volvo platform. But Volvo quality and style improved under Ford's ownership too, IMO. The Volvo of today is far more competitive than the pre-Ford ones. Though they certainly had their allure, character and technology....
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...Ford pretty much saved Jaguar from extinction, but Jaguar is like an ungrateful freeloader you saved from suicide. You offer to help him out until he is back on his feet and he can repay you when he gets work. However, it is months later and the freeloader is camped out on your couch watching Jerry Springer as you're on your way to work to support his indolent lifestyle.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    Man,

    Hang in there. When I was laid off last time (4 months) I did like Lemko; just didn't place resumes for jobs I really wanted. I applied at any / all places for jobs I had skills for, like parts stores, Home Depots, mail rooms, anywhere. I finally landed a gig at a gen-set place; we used GM Vortec engines and Cat/Perkins engines for generator sets. Hopefully something will pop soon.

    Back to Delphi:
    I still don't like that deal about the bonuses. I think that's some BULL-SHUCKS. Reward those that cause the issues in the first place. But I guess since they "made the numbers" it's all gravy baby. I do like the diversification though.
  • chuckhoychuckhoy Member Posts: 420
    But, isn't that Ford's fault too? They bought them, but haven't turned them around. As a brand, Jaguar should probably go completely upscale and forget about trying to horn in on BMW 3-series sales.
  • jae5jae5 Member Posts: 1,206
    So you must really dislike the Chrysler / Chery deal and other rumblings from the automakers...
  • volvomaxvolvomax Member Posts: 5,238
    Alot of it IS Fords fault.
    Back in the mid 90's Jaguar was flying high.
    Sales were ok,profits were there. The cars even had good build quality.
    what happened was that someone at Ford or PAG decided that Jaguar needed to be a full range brand,like BMW, Mercedes,Audi etc.
    Jag had no history of doing this.
    Also, there was no money to develop unique products for Jag.
    Hence the S Type that was co-developed with Lincoln,and the X-Type that was a badge engineered Mondeo.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Lemko, does have a point !!!! Volvo, which has always been known for their safety will have steel that is as brittle as the Titanic, if the Chinese get their paws on that brand. :mad:

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I've never been surprised what the media, like to protray in a story. It basically boils down that some in the media, have some anti-american bones and the grass is so much greener on the other side mentality. What amazes even me is just how long this brain washed mentality has survived. I guess I really shouldn't be surprised because just looking at who we elect for leaders in this country tells a unfortunate story by it's self. ;)

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Perhaps Nissan/Renault would buy Volvo??

    That is the only company, I could see buying them outside of the chinese. However a Volvo, is a close enough competitor to Infiniti, right ? I guess Infiniti, couldbe more like BMW, while Volvo, is more like Lexus ?????

    I think volvo, actually would work very well for chrysler, since they lack a premium brand and they are one company that couldfit volvo, in their portfolio and make chrysler, become more Buick-ish, Lincoln-ish, what do y'all think ?????

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    diesel, gotta go check one out at a Caddy, dealer to really realize just how cool they are pal. :shades:

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well I recall Ford, dumping billionS into one of their premium brands a few years ago. Maybe I'm thinking of Jaguar, but I thought it was Volvo ?????

    The bottom line is I think Saab, will be a healthier company than Volvo, because Ford is going to focus it's attention on it's core brands to get them turned arouned and I'm afraid Volvo, might get neglected. The current S60 and S40 really need to be re done to keep up with the times. Just my $0.02...........

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Well who has $8 billion to give ????? I think they will get half of that if they are lucky. I think the only company that might be able to risk that kinda of capital and have a need for the brand like that is Chrysler. ;)

    I suppose GM, could buy them and have barges like Chevy Impala, Five-Hundred/Montego like vehicles out of the S80 :P :P :P :P

    -Rocky
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    diesel, gotta go check one out at a Caddy, dealer to really realize just how cool they are pal.

    Hey Rock, I will when I get the chance. I figure I'll wait another week our two to make sure my local dealer has several in stock.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I appreciate the advice guys. I'm at that point now where I gotta take anything. I have a interview Wednesday and it's going to be a $9.00 job to start through a temp agency with Perrigo Company. I worked through this temp agency back in 99' for $8.00 and got full-time status a month later at $9.93 which would now goup to $12.60 an hour.
    The biggest obstacle is my ex-wife to be has destroyed my credit making those jobs requiring credit checks well lost oppertunity's even though my national security clearance is still current until November. I guess they do not look any further to find out the reason why ?????? :cry:

    I probably don't have the skills, education, and work experience like both of you guys. Going on 7 years I've carried firearms for my bread and butter and that's my specialty. I however would be happy getting a job like at Delphi, if I could get an apprenticeship. A college education with a major like in "business administration" doesn't pay squat like it did in years past unfortunately.

    The Delphi, bonuses are a bunch of crap. :mad: They just got some last year as $78 million was distributed around at the top. I guess the top dogs are still eating well while the small fry are getting scraps. :cry:

    -Rocky
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    On a cold blustery day a while ago, General Motors assembled
    a group of auto writers in a heated tent under extremely tight security.

    We signed many papers, and all of them had lots of fine print, pledging we
    would not utter a word of what was going on here, for fear of eternal
    damnation. GM was in the middle of its fiscal problems, and someone in PR
    had the bright idea of giving journalists a view of the top-secret future
    (car) model-wise through the year 2010 and beyond. If they could do it, it
    appeared that the General had a future.

    Now some of those vehicles are, as promised, coming to market, and at GM, a
    new era might just be dawning. GM shares were recently upgraded to "buy" by
    an analyst at Citi. Further, the company surprised the auto world by
    posting a sales gain in August – when everyone was expecting a decline.

    We think CEO Rick Wagoner has done an outstanding job in trying to turn the
    big auto firm around. If he can secure a favorable health care deal with
    the United Auto Workers in the ongoing contract talks, and keep GM on the
    road to new and better products, we think he will become one of the top, if
    not THE top, auto industry execs in the world. Not to mention the person
    who saved a few thousand jobs.

    Wagoner's on a roll, and if the bottom line continues to improve for GM and
    its shareholders, he should be considered in the same hero spotlight
    afforded Carlos Ghosn in recent years. Perhaps more so, because righting
    the big ship GM is a heck of a lot harder task than turning around Renault
    and Nissan.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I finally do believe in Richard G. Wagoner. He is by far the best GM, CEO of all time. Perhaps someday we as a nation will protect our company's and workers and GM, will be able to build everything they sell here. I know that is wishful thinking but I hope I get to live long enough to see that day and it be like 1955 or 1965 like y'all say was the golden era of GM. :)

    -Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070913/wi_delphi_plant_closing.html?.v=2

    This just breaks my heart. :sick: :cry: :mad:

    -Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Did you ever think about becoming a police officer? Of course that credit thing might be a problem there. Not only do we have to do something about the outsourcing of manufacturing in this country, but some serious revision of the current divorce laws. I've seen too many men's lives destroyed by vindictive ex-wives. :mad: This is definately the reason I remain unmarried. My girlfriend pressures me sometimes until I cite the sad statistics.:cry:
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Well, I'd say that title belongs to Alfred Sloan. Of course, the worst CEO they ever had was Roger Smith. They should draft him into the Army and use him to detect mines.
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    We think CEO Rick Wagoner has done an outstanding job in trying to turn the
    big auto firm around. If he can secure a favorable health care deal with
    the United Auto Workers in the ongoing contract talks, and keep GM on the
    road to new and better products, we think he will become one of the top, if
    not THE top, auto industry execs in the world.


    He and GM are gradually shifting vehicle design and production out of the U.S. If I recall correctly, quantity of U.S. GM workers and union members are going down year after year. GM may be in better position in next contract talks to dictate to the Union.

    Also, health benefits may not be an issue when next contract talk cycle comes up (after 2007). If American voters elect Clinton, no one will ever have to worry about health care in the U.S. She said that she learned a lot from her 1993 experience on health programs and has the correct approach today.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    no one will ever have to worry about health care in the U.S

    Oh sure, no worries at all!!LOL
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    He and GM are gradually shifting vehicle design and production out of the U.S.

    Can you tell us which production went out of the US since Wagoner took over? The only one I can think of the Astra which is not even here yet. Oh , yea the GTO which is now gone.

    The other plants in Canada and Mexico were already there. There is a new plant in Mexico but it will sell mostly Mexican bound compact/subcompact cars and supposedly none will come here. And it will only build about 50,000 cars per year.

    I can agree on the vehicle design but there is still a heck of a lot here. Maybe 20% went to the other engineering centers.
  • lweisslweiss Member Posts: 342
    A turnaround in GM's fortunes over the next few years would be incredible. But even a stabilizing of their market share in North America would be impressive. But remember that GM has a reputation of declaring victory way too early and then making excuses for it. GM is getting some issues like cost of goods sold (labor/materials) and better design. But then again, Ford and Chrysler, the Asians, and the Europeans will not sit idly by and let GM take their market share. I look at the future as a wonderful time to be a buyer of vehicles- everybody will have to come out with better products or they won't survive.
This discussion has been closed.