GM's crisis-mode product plan

Some new products are being delayed but others are just too important - or too far along - to hold off on.

Chevrolet Volt

Schedule: On target for late 2010
With the economy crumbling and sales way down, GM announced some drastic steps Friday. Among them were delays in the carmaker's product development plans.

In the auto industry, that's a scary move. Delaying new product means delaying the increased sales that come with them. Not all product programs were put off, however. Some are simply too far along to bother delaying. The investments have been made and it's time to reap some of the benefits.

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GodfatherSHM - 11/10/2008 8:53:10 AM

+4 Boost

honestly, who cares...until the Big 3 tell the UAW where to stick it, they will continue to be money holes...only at these companies can you build an inferior product, have crappy sales, and yet still get pay raises and more days off...

If GM, Ford, and Chrysler want to start fixing things, rip up that union contract, and hire all the people who lost their other jobs at 25% - 30% lower than what they were paying union wages. How can you expect someone who makes $40k a year to afford a car that is being built by someone makine $70k a year?

Unions served their purpose, and have now reached to far. Streamline the product lines, and streamline the factories...then maybe the Big 3 have a chance of turning themselves around...until then, not a CHANCE!!!

holmstar - 11/10/2008 11:04:49 AM

+2 Boost

Breaking the union wouldn't be a simple thing to accomplish.

You would have to either lay-off everyone and shut down production for so long that the union just gives up

or

you would have to fire everyone and then find new people to fill all of the thousands of newly open positions. Sure you will probably get a few union members to cross the lines and take the lower offer, but the majority will hold out, so good luck finding enough people that know how to operate the machines correctly.

And even if you succeed in removing the union, there is nothing to stop the employees from voting to bring a union back in.

hk4site - 11/10/2008 1:40:30 PM

+1 Boost

All GM empolyees should take a pay cut from president to the janitor. Why should the government bailout a bunch of people that are overpaid.

woood - 11/11/2008 1:51:38 AM

+3 Boost

Shut down all factories. All three can afford to since dealer lots a filled to the brim with unsold units. Re-evaluate the union contracts to be similar to the ones Toyota and others have. Reorganize and launch a full assault on Japanese brands with new exciting (if possible) models.