GM assembly plant in Oshawa Ontario closing.

Campfire Time wrote:

bucky wrote:
Enjoy your Prius before Toyota kills them. Yes, they are dropping the whole line.

Please cite a credible source.

Chevy is killing the Volt as well. Seems electric cars didn't catch on.

blofgren wrote:
I certainly don’t want to turn this in to a political issue but I think with absolute certainty we can thank Mr. Trump’s tariffs for this decision.

Actually I believe you can thank the market for this decision. They make CARS there. People are NOT buying CARS. They are buying SUVs, and trucks. Ford, and Fiat have already announced, they will no longer be building CARS. Except for Mustang, and Focus. It was only a short time before GM decided the same thing. I work at an axle plant. The demand for GM Ford, and Fiat car axles has slowed to a drip in the past few months.
We are now beginning to make more, and more SUV axles. BMW sales are great, but for SUVs. Ford Explorer axles are being finalized, as well as Transit Vans. but car sales, ALL cars, are in the dumper. So GM needs to make the move quickly to remain competitive.

but you can draw your own conclusions. but I live it every day. People just don't want Passenger Cars anymore. I think that is a shame. While I really like my truck. I LOVE to travel in my Taurus, which Ford is discontinuing as well. Nothing like the ride, and comfort of a full sized car. But you can't carry a pile of kids in one, and soccer Moms want more seats.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Two the union's attitude toward GM, as a union, you cannot dictate to a private entity and expect to get away with it (can't you tell I'm anti-union

So you are saying if your employer gives you a signed employment contract that says you will be paid $45 and hour but on payday they decide to only pay you $10; you say that is perfectly alright with you because they are a private company? The union contract isn't one sided, the Company also agreed to the terms of that contract. I bet if the union decided to change the terms without the company's consent, the company would be all over the union.

So ... anyone want to hijack the thread, change the subject and talk about the cost of beer? :B

Oop! :S Looks like I just did!

housing sales are slowing noticeably in the U.S.
China, the worlds largest car market is seeing a signficant drop in sales year on year.
U.S. vehicle sales are softening.
we are seeing the start of a shift away from peto fueled vehicles
Interest rates are rising
Current quarter GDP growth is likely lower than last quarter
European economies are slowing.

Any wonder why mfg are rethinking what they should be focused on? At least this time GM appears to be investing in the future rather than be caught behind.

Seems like a trend is starting, We've gone a long time historically since the last recession....... another one on the horizon?

There are 5 plants closing and only one in Canada. The Lordstown plant in Ohio is one of the 5. It employees about 1400 employees. Sad.

There are 5 plants closing and only one in Canada. The Lordstown plant in Ohio is one of the 5. It employees about 1400 employees. Sad.

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I see 3 things at work here. One Trudeau's cavalier attitude toward the United States, Two the union's attitude toward GM, as a union, you cannot dictate to a private entity and expect to get away with it (can't you tell I'm anti-union and Three, labor costs per unit produced. GM can move production either offshore or to Mexico and realize a much better cost per unit made.

Best thing Canada could do would be to get a savvy business leader in charge. Not a wet behind the ears kid.,,, and boot the union and their built in labor costs.

Obviously too late for the above. Going to be a lot of unemployed people that will realize the reality of working for much, much less.

mich800 wrote:

Beentherefixedthat wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
They are closing five plants in total. I believe the job loss total is 28,000 souls.

I guess tariffs don't work.

Impala sales in 2012 were ~170,000. In 2017 they were ~75,000.
Cadillac XTS sales in 2013 were ~32,000. In 2017 they were ~16,000.

Tariffs have nothing to do with it.

To say Tariffs have NOTHING to do with this decision is naive. GM or Ford cannot ignore the realities of the supply chain issues brought about by the tariffs and the UNCERTAINTY inherent in them and the way decisions are being made on trade and foreign policy.

Tariffs are a part of the equation for sure. And they most certainly may make an otherwise difficult decision on what may be a "marginal" product much easier to make.

And not taking into account the Trade and tariff component would be negligent for GM management.

The fact is this administration does not understand the global market or Trade and how it intersects with diplomacy nor the importance of the global supply chain to American companies.

What you SHOULD be asking yourselves is: Why are Americans buying fewer small cars and more and more larger SUVs and Crossovers?

This past summer in France I rented a Small Fiat 500XL with the diesel engine that got 50MPG with 4 adults, my dog and all of our luggage in it quite comfortably. Where is THAT car being made in America?

Really, short run taxes/tariffs are closing down billion dollar factories that employ thousands. It is simply a convenient fall guy/excuse to make it seem like it's not our fault (the company's) for the problems they are having. This is only making it easier to sell the idea not the cause of the idea.

I wouldn't hit a dead mule with a Fiat. Butt ugly and butt ugly.