General Motors' Latest on Oshawa Plant: \_()_/

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

General Motors CEO and Chairwoman Mary Barra met with Canadian government officials in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, but didn’t reveal any specifics for the automaker’s languishing Oshawa, Ontario plant, according to CTV News.

Barra spoke with Navdeep Bains, Canada’s economic development minister, before she met with new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Bains promoted Oshawa as a place for GM to build cars and develop technology for future cars. The Oshawa plant currently produces several outgoing models including the Cadillac XTS, Buick Regal and several others with uncertain futures including the outgoing Chevrolet Equinox.

Chevrolet built the Camaro in Oshawa before shifting production to Michigan last year, which resulted in 1,000 job cuts.

Bains pressed Barra to consider the Canadian facility for the company’s long-term plans at the economic summit in Davos, but GM appears to be firmly noncommittal.

“We made it very clear that Canada is open for business, that we’re a willing partner in that and as they plan production, as they plan their business plan for the next two to three to five years, that we’re part of that business plan, that we are given serious consideration,” Bains said, according to CTV.

Canadian officials have long pressed GM into committing more to the Oshawa plant, which stayed open during the final crisis, in part, due to the government’s help. Last year, the former mayor of Oshawa, John Gray, told Canadians to boycott GM if the automaker didn’t commit more cars and jobs to the facility:

“Canadian taxpayers bailed out GM Canada, allowing it to survive. Recently, the federal and provincial governments have sold their shares in the company … Now they have no say over the company.

“Canadian taxpayers lost $3 billion on the sales of the shares. And now GM doesn’t plan on having a presence here. That’s a pretty compelling story.”


Aaron Cole
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  • RideHeight RideHeight on Jan 24, 2016

    “We need more passionate, fervent, but LOGICAL & SINCERE debate” Are we voting on something? I never get the effing memo.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Jan 24, 2016

    Lou, do you think this is more posturing by GM to get the Canadian Gov. to kick in some more money to get GM to stay in Oshawa? If so what assurances does the Canadian Gov. have that GM is not going to pull out anyway?

  • ToolGuy "Nothing is greater than the original. Same goes for original Ford Parts. They’re the parts we built to build your Ford. Anything else is imitation."
  • Slavuta I don't know how they calc this. My newest cars are 2017 and 2019, 40 and 45K. Both needed tires at 30K+, OEM tires are now don't last too long. This is $1000 in average (may be less). Brakes DYI, filters, oil, wipers. I would say, under $1500 under 45K miles. But with the new tires that will last 60K, new brakes, this sum could be less in the next 40K miles.
  • BeauCharles I had a 2010 Sportback GTS for 10 years. Most reliable car I ever own. Never once needed to use that super long warranty - nothing ever went wrong. Regular maintenance and tires was all I did. It's styling was great too. Even after all those years it looked better than many current models. Biggest gripe I had was the interior. Cheap (but durable) materials and no sound insulation to speak of. If Mitsubishi had addressed those items I'm sure it would have sold better.
  • Marty S I learned to drive on a Crosley. Also, I had a brand new 75 Buick Riviera and the doors were huge. Bent the inside edge of the hood when opening it while the passenger door was open. Pretty poor assembly quality.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Alan, I was an Apache pilot and after my second back surgery I was medically boarded off of flying status due to vibrations, climbing on and off aircraft, so I was given the choice of getting out or re-branching so I switched to Military Intel. Yes your right if you can’t perform your out doesn’t matter if your at 17 years. Dad always said your just a number, he was a retired command master chief 25 years.
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