Ford, Chrysler idling plants

[Capt Caveman]

Chrysler is extending their annual end of year shut-down by 2 weeks while Ford is extending theirs by 1 week. I guess this will extend their cash a little longer til possible government loans can be provided to them.

Chrysler shuts down all production

Ford adds to holiday shutdown at 10 plants

 

[StageLeft]

With sales down 30%+ I'm surprised it's so little, actually.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
With sales down 30%+ I'm surprised it's so little, actually.

My thought exactly.

 

[PricklyPete]

I would think they would want to do more tapered shut-downs with plants producing cars that are selling staying on the normal schedule and plants producing cars few are buying shutting down for a while.

 

[StageLeft]

At this point, honestly, why are they even making any cars? There must be a glut of basically all their lines. If any are selling briskly vs prod, like prickly said, by all means keep them going, but are they really still cranking out dodge rams? Turn those facilites off indefinitely until some inventory can be emptied.

 

[woodie1]

I wouldn't doubt if the WH doesn't hurry up with some money that Chrysler will be shut (or most of it) longer.

 

[Chunkee]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
At this point, honestly, why are they even making any cars? There must be a glut of basically all their lines. If any are selling briskly vs prod, like prickly said, by all means keep them going, but are they really still cranking out dodge rams? Turn those facilites off indefinitely until some inventory can be emptied.

Cuz they know they will get our cash, one way or the other.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
At this point, honestly, why are they even making any cars? There must be a glut of basically all their lines. If any are selling briskly vs prod, like prickly said, by all means keep them going, but are they really still cranking out dodge rams? Turn those facilites off indefinitely until some inventory can be emptied.

I can't think of a Chrysler product that would be selling...maybe the challenger...but I would imagine Ford would be prudent to keep up Focus/Fusion production...but I honestly don't know the sales numbers.

 

[MikeMike]

It is also reported that every vehicle that Chrys will debut as a concept at NAIAS are just smoke and mirrors, everything is screwed, they are basically done....

GM also has announced previously i believe that they will close all plants for all of January.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
It is also reported that every vehicle that Chrys will debut as a concept at NAIAS are just smoke and mirrors, everything is screwed, they are basically done....

GM also has announced previously i believe that they will close all plants for all of January.

Where are you getting this info...definitely would be intersted.

 

[ponyo]

I guess I need to buy the Viper next year.

 

[spidey07]

How about posting how Toyota is extending their shutdowns as well?

-edit-
And I can't help but put a conspiracy hat on and think Chrysler is doing this to make a point to get their handout.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
It is also reported that every vehicle that Chrys will debut as a concept at NAIAS are just smoke and mirrors, everything is screwed, they are basically done....

GM also has announced previously i believe that they will close all plants for all of January.

Where are you getting this info...definitely would be intersted.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/1...f-chryslers-auto-show/

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
It is also reported that every vehicle that Chrys will debut as a concept at NAIAS are just smoke and mirrors, everything is screwed, they are basically done....

GM also has announced previously i believe that they will close all plants for all of January.

Where are you getting this info...definitely would be intersted.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/1...f-chryslers-auto-show/

Sounds extremely heavy on inuendo and very, very weak on actual content, but is interesting nonetheless and has some ring of plausibility, I suppose, but not a big one.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: Chunkee

Originally posted by: Skoorb
At this point, honestly, why are they even making any cars? There must be a glut of basically all their lines. If any are selling briskly vs prod, like prickly said, by all means keep them going, but are they really still cranking out dodge rams? Turn those facilites off indefinitely until some inventory can be emptied.

Cuz they know they will get our cash, one way or the other.

This cannot be emphasized enough. If Congress doesn't help them, the Fed will give them a direct loan themselves. After dropping rates to 0%, the last thing the Fed wants is another (however many people these 3 employ) unemployed.

 

[ericlp]

Who gives a shit? As soon as Bush (and he already said he would) gives them the bail out money it will be 6 figure bonuses for all!!!

 

[marincounty]

GM is also delaying building an engine plant for the Volt.

Text
Attempting to cut costs, GM was halting construction of a plant tied to one of its most important projects, the Volt. Ford also said it will shut down 10 plants for an extra week in January because of sluggish sales.


GM said Wednesday it was delaying construction of a new engine factory in Flint, Mich., in an effort to conserve cash. The plant is to make 1.4-liter engines for the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevy Volt plug-in electric car, two key products in the century-old automaker's plan to turn itself around after relying on highly profitable truck and SUV sales.

The plant's engines will extend the range of the rechargeable Volt, GM's high-profile next-generation vehicle that will be able to travel 40 miles on electricity alone. They will also power the Cruze, GM's new small car that is supposed to get around 40 miles per gallon.

GM announced plans in September for the new engine plant, but the company is delaying the purchase of big-ticket items needed to build the factory, such as structural steel, GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said.

Basel said Volt and Cruze development will continue as scheduled and the company still plans to bring them to showrooms in 2010.

 

[ProfJohn]

This is all just a charade.

We all know that once Obama is in office with an expanded Democrat majority the big 3 will get their bailout.

The fact that the UAW killed the last bailout by not taking a pay cut implies that they expect a better deal to come down the pike.

 

[soccerballtux]

Bah, they are so behind the times...they should have been researching this thing back in 2000 like Toyota was in '97. Bad timing all around on their part. They should be delaying the plant because oil is cheap, not because they "don't have funds". Toyota just cancelled their 90% complete Prius plant. GM reaks of bad decisions, management, needs to die.

 

[umbrella39]

I think Ford's sales for the month of December will be a surprise to some people. They insist they don't need the money (but it's nice to know it's there kind of thing) and have enough cash and credit to make it until 2010. Their market share also went up 1.5% in November. The reports of Ford's demise are greatly exaggerated imbo.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This is all just a charade.

We all know that once Obama is in office with an expanded Democrat majority the big 3 will get their bailout.

The fact that the UAW killed the last bailout by not taking a pay cut implies that they expect a better deal to come down the pike.

That bailout did NOT fail because of the UAW, get that out of your mind... The bailout failed because the southern republicans viewed it as a way to kill the UAW, which in turn will allow for lower wages for foreign manufs

btw, GM and Chrysler are back in Merger Talks

 

[boomerang]

Here's confirmation or just about everything here plus a few more tidbits.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200..._ge/meltdown_autos_142

Let me know if the link doesn't work.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: marincounty
GM is also delaying building an engine plant for the Volt.

Text
Attempting to cut costs, GM was halting construction of a plant tied to one of its most important projects, the Volt. Ford also said it will shut down 10 plants for an extra week in January because of sluggish sales.


GM said Wednesday it was delaying construction of a new engine factory in Flint, Mich., in an effort to conserve cash. The plant is to make 1.4-liter engines for the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevy Volt plug-in electric car, two key products in the century-old automaker's plan to turn itself around after relying on highly profitable truck and SUV sales.

The plant's engines will extend the range of the rechargeable Volt, GM's high-profile next-generation vehicle that will be able to travel 40 miles on electricity alone. They will also power the Cruze, GM's new small car that is supposed to get around 40 miles per gallon.

GM announced plans in September for the new engine plant, but the company is delaying the purchase of big-ticket items needed to build the factory, such as structural steel, GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said.

Basel said Volt and Cruze development will continue as scheduled and the company still plans to bring them to showrooms in 2010.

Bad news for the volt. Out of the original $25B for "alternative tech" they cannot even muster the funds to continue planned production of the Volt.

The reports of Ford's demise are greatly exaggerated imbo.

Seems so.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Bad news for the volt.

Did anyone honestly believe GM, Ford or Chrysler would mass produce electic vehicles?

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: marincounty
GM is also delaying building an engine plant for the Volt.

Text
Attempting to cut costs, GM was halting construction of a plant tied to one of its most important projects, the Volt. Ford also said it will shut down 10 plants for an extra week in January because of sluggish sales.


GM said Wednesday it was delaying construction of a new engine factory in Flint, Mich., in an effort to conserve cash. The plant is to make 1.4-liter engines for the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevy Volt plug-in electric car, two key products in the century-old automaker's plan to turn itself around after relying on highly profitable truck and SUV sales.

The plant's engines will extend the range of the rechargeable Volt, GM's high-profile next-generation vehicle that will be able to travel 40 miles on electricity alone. They will also power the Cruze, GM's new small car that is supposed to get around 40 miles per gallon.

GM announced plans in September for the new engine plant, but the company is delaying the purchase of big-ticket items needed to build the factory, such as structural steel, GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said.

Basel said Volt and Cruze development will continue as scheduled and the company still plans to bring them to showrooms in 2010.

Bad news for the volt. Out of the original $25B for "alternative tech" they cannot even muster the funds to continue planned production of the Volt.

I thought they've yet to receive a penny from that money. Did they finally get it?