Domestic Auto Industry

[DaveKCMO]

it's been said many times before: either way we pay.

[zonk]

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6491455&page=1

An interesting article from ABC News regarding the actual impact of auto related employment.  While the auto industry continues to claim 13 million people will be effected, the actual number appears to be closer to 2 million.

[construction guy]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472304,00.html

[jimb]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472304,00.html

Interesting article, but the thread title should be More Auto Worker Union Waste.  There is nothing in there about this having anything to do with the execs of the Big Three - although I'm sure they have boondoggles that will make this look lilliputian in comparison.

[construction guy]

Interesting article, but the thread title should be More Auto Worker Union Waste.  There is nothing in there about this having anything to do with the execs of the Big Three - although I'm sure they have boondoggles that will make this look lilliputian in comparison.

That was my point.  There seems to be a popular notion that only Execs are blowing the load.

[FangKC]

Made in the Kansas City GM Fairfax plant, the Chevy Malibu continues to get raves from the auto press, and is among the best-selling cars made in America.

http://www.motortrend.com/showcase/chev ... index.html

[FangKC]

US News and World Report ranks the Malibu among the best midsize cars.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/ca ... et_Malibu/

[FangKC]

• Earlier this year, a third shift was added at GM's assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan., to increase production of the LaCrosse and Chevy Malibu.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100406/B ... rren-plant

[FangKC]

This video demonstrates how well a modern Malibu does against an older car like a 1959 Chevy Bel-Air--diminishing the old argument that one is safer in a big, older car made of a lot of steel.

The modern, and smaller, Malibu survives the wreck with the windshield, cabin, and dashboard intact. The 1959 Bel-Air, despite its' massive steel body, doesn't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g

[FangKC]

Obama presents Saudi King with new Malibu.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-boro ... 11218.html

[FangKC]

KC-Made Fords Drive April Sales Gains

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... a=e_du_pub

[FangKC]

KC-Made Escape, Malibu rank among the top US-made cars.

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/b ... a=e_du_pap

[aknowledgeableperson]

Trouble in the future since Ford is going to move the Escape production and nothing has been announced to take its place.  That's why the gov is trying to get something done with the leg.

[FangKC]

Auto sales of KC-made vehicles continues to climb

Ford:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/s ... a=e_du_pap

GM:

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/s ... a=e_du_pap

[FangKC]

GM sales increased 22 percent in September. Kansas City-built Chevrolet Malibu deliveries jumped 55.4 percent, and Buick LaCrosse deliveries increased 99 percent.  Ford sales jumped 46 percent.

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/s ... a=e_du_pub

Ford’s Kansas City plant produces the Escape, F-series trucks, and the Mercury Mariner.

September sales of the Ford Escape jumped 64.7 percent from the year-ago. Sales of F-Series trucks rose 40 percent. Mercury Mariner sales rose 65.4 percent.

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/s ... a=e_du_pub

[shinatoo]

That's great news. The Economy is trying to come back.

We posted our biggest month in September in the history of our company but are having to hold orders because the banks won't give credit.

My brothers company can't deliver on close to 2 mil in orders because parts suppliers are so far behind.

Loosen up those purse strings you damn banks.

[Highlander]

GM sales increased 22 percent in September. Kansas City-built Chevrolet Malibu deliveries jumped 55.4 percent, and Buick LaCrosse deliveries increased 99 percent.  Ford sales jumped 46 percent.

I wonder how much this is due, not so much to economic recovery, but the bad press that hit Toyota over the last year. 

[FangKC]

I'm sure there is some measurable defection from Toyota products. In addition, the automotive press has been rating some Ford, Chevy, Cadillac, and Buick models higher than Toyota and Lexus in features and price, as well as customer satisfaction and initial quality ratings.  The Ford Fusion, Focus, and Fiesta have been compared favoritably to peer products--as have the Malibu, LaCrosse, and a couple of Cadillac models.

[slimwhitman]

I wonder how much this is due, not so much to economic recovery, but the bad press that hit Toyota over the last year. 

Did someone say "Toyota"?
http://www.youtube.com/user/2011Mediocr ... xJ5-gC9Fmo

[FangKC]

Detroit Big 3 makes gains against imports in youth market

In the 18-to 30-year-old vehicle market, Detroit's Big 3 is now neck-and-neck in consideration with imports for young car buyers.

http://autos.aol.com/article/youth-cons ... -vehicles/