GM Boosting Production Of Gas Guzzlers By 60,000 Units Annually Because Of Consumer Demand

General Motors Co is boosting production of its highly profitable large SUVs and trucks to a pace that could result in 48,000 to 60,000 additional vehicles for the 2016 model year, in a bid to capitalize on rising demand, sources told Reuters.

GM's Arlington, Texas, plant that makes full-sized sport utility vehicles including the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Suburban added Saturday overtime shifts beginning on Aug. 1, a GM spokesman confirmed on Thursday. GM is also expected to boost output of pickup trucks, other people familiar with the company's plans said, but it was not clear how that would be done.

The Arlington plant is capable of making 400 big SUVs per shift, or about 1,200 in a full day's production, barring any planned or unplanned maintenance, said the sources, who wished to remain anonymous because GM has not announced its plans.

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MDarringer - 8/14/2015 10:45:15 AM

-2 Boost

The free market is not bad. Let people buy what they want.

wcbrown - 8/14/2015 11:28:30 AM

+8 Boost

That title couldn't be more biased and negative! What about that HIDEOUS gas guzzler Lexus just unveiled? See my point? Ridiculous. By the way, those who have the money and buy large, luxury SUVs are not concerned about fuel consumption.

TheSteve - 8/14/2015 2:06:34 PM

+2 Boost

I believe you should not protect an adult from the consequences of their decisions. Their freedom to choose leads them to experiences that just *might* be an opportunity for them to change their thinking.

I remember not too long ago when gas prices were at an all-time high, and some people were crying about how painful (in the wallet) it was to fuel up. Some of them expressed the belief that the government should do something about it. People who drove fuel-efficient vehicles were very much underrepresented in these groups.

My guess is that gas prices won't stay low for ever. In a year or two, they'll return to their previous highs, and possibly go beyond. Folks buying gas guzzlers today are either unconcerned about fuel cost due to deep pockets (and that's totally fine), or they're extremely short-sighted and not thinking beyond the end of their nose (and that's fine, too). I won't have any sympathy them when the price at the pumps goes up.

TomM - 8/14/2015 3:09:46 PM

+2 Boost

GM is in a competition with Ford right now - and it is GM that is gaining market share - plus they dominate the arena of 4x4 truck based SUVs. Gm closed so many production facilities - that they literally have shortages of vehicles that people WANT - and taking advantage of that is what they are in business for. While they may not be the most fuel efficient vehicles on the road - they are FAR more efficient than they were 20 years ago.

I do not think that oil will return anywhere near it former highs in the next 5 years - with all of the oil available - plus add in more Iraqi oil - and oil from Iran - and Saudi Arabia pumping at record levels - plus the availability of oil from fracking - it might not set a new high in my lifetime. There is simply NO shortage of oil - and as prices do rise - more fracking oil come online - so the GLUT of oil continues.

W124E320 - 8/14/2015 3:59:41 PM

+1 Boost

The reason folks were belly aching about the price of gas was it didn't need to be that high. These idiots running the country want wind power, fart power, any power that makes them feel good about themselves except ones that make the country work and prosper. Electric cars run on electricity, which is made in electric plants... run by: Coal, hydro electric, fill in the blank. Never hear about Nuclear power anymore, France gets I think 80% of all their power from Nuclear. If the idiot French can do it safely why can't we? Our Navy has been fueled by Nuclear power for over 50 years. Folks were paying insane prices for gas due to politics not supply and demand...

MrEE - 8/14/2015 6:36:32 PM

+1 Boost

Problem with short sited buyers of these vehicles is they will end up getting rid of them once the warranty runs out then move on to their next gas guzzler. The after market will keep them on the road with cheap resale prices which buyers use to justify the high operational cost. There is a need to regulate vehicles just like energy use of TV's and water use by toilets, to protect society as a whole. CAFE not effective in this regard.