Domestic Auto Industry

[kard]

The European Focus is much better looking than the present US model.  But I think most European versions of US models are better looking. I just don't know why they wait so long to bring them over here, or just don't go ahead an introduce them here at the same time.

The same is true with a lot of GM's Holden models in Australia.  They are generally better looking versions of the same models, but under different names.

better looking AND have better performance.  sure, they take premium and i'll pay for it, but sheesh.

i had emailed ford a couple months ago asking when the european focus would make it this way.  their response was "thanks for contacting us!  we can't talk about future models."  so now i'm looking at the smartcar, honda fit, and yaris.

[LenexatoKCMO]

The new Fiat 500 will be Stateside in a year - direct competition to the Mini and Smart. 

[FangKC]

Chevy finally gets serious about the mini-compact car segment.



http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-says-bea ... ction.html

GM says Chevrolet Beat Concept will see production, but Groove still possible

November15

General Motors today announced the next-generation Chevrolet city car for Europe will be based on the popular Beat concept, after 1.9 million online voters elected it their favorite of a trio of minicar styling studies shown at the 2007 New York Auto Show.

...

Recent rumors indicate GM is mulling a plan to import the car to the United States. According to a BusinessWeek report this summer, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner wouldn’t give a firm answer as to whether the vehicle would make it to the U.S. market, but he hinted that he’s keen on selling one here.

Photos:

http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/new ... t-concept/

[kard]

Interesting.  But it's only really news if they sell it in the States.  Gimmie a break, GM.

[LenexatoKCMO]

Way to get a heck of a lot of hype for a car that will sell about three units - Chevy has about as much cache and brand respect in the european market as Lee jeans. 

[ComandanteCero]

is it really necessary to have four seats in every car?  even in mini-cars?

I think the future is in having small commuter cars (i.e that are basically designed for one person, to get them to and from work or random short distance trips), and normal sized all purpose cars (which you would use for longer trips).

[FangKC]

It won't be sold in the European market as a Chevy. It will be rebadged as an Opel or a Vauxhall, the GM brands there.  GM wouldn't be making any money if it weren't for the world market.  They don't turn a profit presently in the USA.  Their fastest growing market is China, where Buick is the top seller.

[dangerboy]

Chevy has about as much cache and brand respect in the european market as Lee jeans. 

Probably because the Chevy brand isn't used in Europe.  GM sells their cars as Vauxhall in the UK and Opel on the continent.  I have a buddy with a Vauxhall sedan that you wouldn't even know was a GM.  It's comparable to any European car, including its 45 mpg.

[bbqboy]

It won't be sold in the European market as a Chevy. It will be rebadged as an Opel or a Vauxhall, the GM brands there.  GM wouldn't be making any money if it weren't for the world market.  They don't turn a profit presently in the USA.  Their fastest growing market is China, where Buick is the top seller.

Does Tiger do ads in China  ?

[mean]

Man, put a highly efficient 2L or larger turbo motor in there and I might just switch back to domestic cars.

[FangKC]

Or one of those gas hybrid engines where you can drive 40 miles on the battery.

[mean]

As long as it puts out 200+ HP and gets over 35mpg I don't care how it gets to the wheels.

[FangKC]

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/c ... 2709990004

Chevy Malibu, Mazda CX-9 Pick Up Honors

By DEE-ANN DURBIN,AP
Posted: 2008-01-13 10:27:18

DETROIT (AP) - The Chevrolet Malibu and the Mazda CX-9 were chosen as the car and truck of the year at the North American International Auto Show.
...

Bob Lutz, General Motors Corp.'s vice chairman of product development, said GM is rapidly trying to add more production capacity to keep up with demand for the Malibu.

"It's gone way beyond our expectations," he said.

Four of the six finalists for the awards were GM products.

The Malibu, Cadillac CTS and Honda Accord were finalists for car of the year, while the CX-9, the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid were finalists for truck of the year.

[FangKC]

Strong demand for the newly-revamped, and popular, Chevrolet Malibu is resulting in the addition of 300 jobs at the Fairfax GM plant this spring.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/444707.html

Mon, Jan. 14, 2008

GM’s Fairfax plant is gaining 300 jobs

By RANDOLPH HEASTER
The Kansas City Star

Strong demand for the new Chevrolet Malibu has fueled plans to add about 300 jobs at the General Motors Corp.’s Fairfax plant this spring.

Production-line speed will increase from the current 47 vehicles an hour to 59 in April, said Jeff Manning, president of United Auto Workers Local 31.

That will create about 300 positions on the production line, virtually all of which will be filled by transfers from closed GM or Delphi Corp. plants, said John Melton, Local 31 bargaining chairman.

The midsized car has been selling well in a sluggish auto market amid positive industry reviews.

On Sunday, the Malibu was crowned “Car of the Year” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Last year, the Saturn Aura, which also is built at the Fairfax plant, was bestowed the top honor. The award is given by a committee of automotive journalists.

...

Fang Note: KC-produced cars received "Car of the Year" awards two years in a row.

When combined with the salaried workforce, the Fairfax plant will have about 2,900 employees, said Linda Heater, a Fairfax plant spokeswoman. Plant employment has ranged between 2,000 and 2,300 in recent years.

Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager, said the goal with the new Malibu was to compete with the top sellers among midsize cars.

...

The auto show award is validation for GM as it tries to assert itself in the midsize passenger-car market, which has been dominated for years by the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

“It’s a great deal,” Manning said. “A lot of hard work went into the new Malibu, and we were able to match what we did last year with the Aura.”

The Malibu is “easily as good as anything near its price and better than most,” said Gary Witzenburg, a freelance automotive journalist and one of the award’s jurors.

The new Malibu began production in mid-October and didn’t reach dealer showrooms until November. In December, when the overall industry saw a sales decline, GM sold 12,172 Malibus, nearly 7 percent more than it did in the same month in 2006.

...

Although foreign automakers continue to enjoy the reputation for building quality vehicles, industry analysts have observed that domestic car companies are closing the gap. Being presented car of the year awards at the Detroit auto show in consecutive years reinforces that belief for GM.

[FangKC]

Strong demand for the newly-revamped, and popular, Chevrolet Malibu is resulting in the addition of 300 jobs at the Fairfax GM plant this spring.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/444707.html

Mon, Jan. 14, 2008

GM’s Fairfax plant is gaining 300 jobs

By RANDOLPH HEASTER
The Kansas City Star

Strong demand for the new Chevrolet Malibu has fueled plans to add about 300 jobs at the General Motors Corp.’s Fairfax plant this spring.

Production-line speed will increase from the current 47 vehicles an hour to 59 in April, said Jeff Manning, president of United Auto Workers Local 31.

That will create about 300 positions on the production line, virtually all of which will be filled by transfers from closed GM or Delphi Corp. plants, said John Melton, Local 31 bargaining chairman.

The midsized car has been selling well in a sluggish auto market amid positive industry reviews.

On Sunday, the Malibu was crowned “Car of the Year” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Last year, the Saturn Aura, which also is built at the Fairfax plant, was bestowed the top honor. The award is given by a committee of automotive journalists.

...

Fang Note: KC-produced cars received "Car of the Year" awards two years in a row.

When combined with the salaried workforce, the Fairfax plant will have about 2,900 employees, said Linda Heater, a Fairfax plant spokeswoman. Plant employment has ranged between 2,000 and 2,300 in recent years.

Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager, said the goal with the new Malibu was to compete with the top sellers among midsize cars.

...

The auto show award is validation for GM as it tries to assert itself in the midsize passenger-car market, which has been dominated for years by the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

“It’s a great deal,” Manning said. “A lot of hard work went into the new Malibu, and we were able to match what we did last year with the Aura.”

The Malibu is “easily as good as anything near its price and better than most,” said Gary Witzenburg, a freelance automotive journalist and one of the award’s jurors.

The new Malibu began production in mid-October and didn’t reach dealer showrooms until November. In December, when the overall industry saw a sales decline, GM sold 12,172 Malibus, nearly 7 percent more than it did in the same month in 2006.

...

Although foreign automakers continue to enjoy the reputation for building quality vehicles, industry analysts have observed that domestic car companies are closing the gap. Being presented car of the year awards at the Detroit auto show in consecutive years reinforces that belief for GM.

[FangKC]

The popularity of the Ford F-150 keeps workers busy at Claycomo.

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/444459.html


Mon, Jan. 14, 2008

Redesigned Ford F-150 could keep KC economy truckin’

By RANDOLPH HEASTER
The Kansas City Star

Frank Bair of Lee’s Summit drives a Ford F-150 pickup truck, as do his brothers. He said he probably would take a look at the redesigned F-150, which is being made at the Claycomo plant and is due out later this year. 

When the families of Frank Bair and his brother get together for visits, six Ford F-150 pickups usually are parked in front of the house.

“We always joke that it looks like a Ford used-car lot out there,” said Bair, of Lee’s Summit.

...

“They’re just the best work-truck around,” said Bautista, also a member of Plumbers Local 8. “They pull a lot of weight, and they’re very reliable with no mechanical problems.”

Such experiences have created a loyalty that few brands of any product will ever achieve. It has made Ford Motor Co.’s F-series truck the top-selling U.S. vehicle for 26 consecutive years. Still, the sales gap between the F-series pickup and its competitors has narrowed significantly in recent years, including in 2007, even as the truck market has shrunk.

...

Its success also is of particular importance to the local economy. The Ford Claycomo plant, which so far has been spared in Ford’s restructuring, builds the F-150. The redesigned version of the pickup, which Ford unveiled Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, will begin production here in July and will arrive in showrooms by the fall.

Preparation to build the new vehicle at the Claycomo plant began in 2006 and will continue through the July launch, said Ken Ward, the plant manager. Tooling is being upgraded, and new robotics will be added....

“There’s a lot of pride in building the No. 1-selling vehicle in the country, and the work force here is very excited about this program,” Ward said. “The plant here is committed not only to keeping our productivity levels, but we’re also going to challenge (industry studies) for ‘best in class’ from a quality standpoint.”

Ford has about 4,300 hourly employees at the Claycomo plant, about half of whom build the pickup while half build the Escape/Mariner sport utility vehicle. Ford committed to building the new F-150 (along with a redesigned Escape sport utility vehicle in a few years) at Claycomo after the hourly work force agreed to concessions in late 2006.

[Tosspot]

Regarding those concept renderings of the Camaro and Impala...

For as long as I can remember GM has shown off cool concept cars, but they always seem to really fall short when they actually come off the assembly line. The design and aesthetics of say, Chevy and Pontiac really don't age gracefully at all.

Pretty soon you'll probably start seeing Chevy Cobalts fulfilling their destiny of being hoopty ass ghetto cruisers available on trashy used car lot financing emporiums.

[ShowME]

Pretty soon you'll probably start seeing Chevy Cobalts fulfilling their destiny of being hoopty ass ghetto cruisers available on trashy used car lot financing emporiums.

Oh I'm sure that's already happening.  The Cobalt is essentially still a Chevy Cavalier.  Why would they even roll that piece of crap out to the general public is beyond me.

[ShowME]

For the record the only GM I've really been impressed with the past few years has been the Colorado midsized pickup truck.  They really took a cue from the Japanese on style and quality on that vehicle.

[shinatoo]

So should the government step in or should they have to do a structured bankruptcy.