Comments on: GM “Finds” More Parts to Build ‘Bu’s; Three UAW Locals Threaten Strikes

By: menno

menno — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:48:49 +0000

Perhaps in the interim, GM can simply import some Chevrolet Epica mid-sized six cylinder cars to take up the slack. Sold as Epica pretty much everywhere else in the world.

http://www.globalautoindex.com/bodies.plt?no=4536&ass=&g=Daewoo%20(GM)-Tosca

They could bring in as many or few as they wish, since D-class cars don’t sell in high numbers the rest of the world over.

The engine is designed by Porsche, believe it or not. It’s a little smaller than the Malibu – would not be amiss on American and Canadian roads.

Pretty well would also be GM’s answer to strikes, high cost/money losing US and Canadian operations, too, wouldn’t it?

Wonder if bringing this car in would knock some sense into the UAW at American Axle?

Nah, probably not. They’ll strike themselves out of jobs.

By: Captain Tungsten (of GM)

Captain Tungsten (of GM) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:09:43 +0000

My guess: An area manager (who will be anointed a hero by his/her plant manager) squirreled a rack or two away for just this eventuality.

By: Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:31:23 +0000

Jerome10/Crackers:

Bingo! We used to have a saying: “Measure ‘em until they’re good.” and also “Polish the turd.”

Toyota/Honda would just shut it down and focus their effort/time on something else, but the Big 2.8 just gotta build cars no matter what.

By: jaje

jaje — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:43:28 +0000

The strike is over the UAW agreed layoffs of “non core” jobs. Those plants do not wany any layoffs in order for GM to hire new employees at competitive wages.

Malibu supply must be ok. There’s some 35 new Bu’s sitting on the lot at my local GM dealer lot – seems sales have slowed to retail customers according to the salesguy – their biggest customers are local businesses for company cars – i.e. fleets.

I was in the dealer today for last minute warranty repairs before it expires.

By: 50merc

50merc — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:23:25 +0000

My (charitable) guess: Guy looks at the number of suspension knuckles on hand, finds stock is almost used up. A few days later, a truck arrives with American Axle’s last shipment before the strike.

By: crackers

crackers — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:12:42 +0000

What do want to bet that the parts had marginal tolerances and were fished out of the recycle bin

By: Jerome10

Jerome10 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:32:54 +0000

Happens all the time. You think you are out because you ordered what you could. Supplier says they don’t have any more of it. Push comes to shove, manufacturer gets desperate, calls supplier and begs them to search every last square inch of their facility for any more material, supplier finds material, ships to manufacturer.

I just did this yesterday. Our line was gonna go down because our new supplier wasn’t ready when they said they’d be. Called up old supplier. Was able to buy us 4 more days.

No big deal. Though definitely raises the blood pressure.

By: raast

raast — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:26:11 +0000

I dunno, check the lead content, maybe they say Made in China.

By: CarShark

CarShark — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:14:41 +0000

Where did they “find” more suspension knuckles? Under the couch? In a junk drawer? Up in the attic? How did they “lose” them in the first place?