Government Motors

[James48843]

Retail Sales Propel General Motors to 49 Percent Gain in February


�� Year-over-year retail sales gain of 70 percent highest on record
�� Car, Truck and Crossover segment retail sales each rise 59 percent or more
�� GM’s newest vehicles continue to gain customers – retail sales up 119 percent

Chevrolet: Chevrolet dealers delivered 142,919 total vehicles in February, a 43-percent increase versus last year.

Retail sales for Chevrolet rose 69 percent and were propelled by improving Cruze sales, which were 212 percent higher than the compact car it replaces.

Silverado retail sales rose 84 percent, while Equinox posted its best February ever, with retail sales almost doubling, up 98 percent (read more).


�� Buick: Buick reported 15,807 total sales, a 73-percent increase compared to February 2010. This includes a 90-percent surge in year-over-year retail sales, led by Regal (3,541units), Enclave and LaCrosse, which had retail sales 45 and 28 percent higher than last year, respectively. This marks the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year
sales gains for the brand (read more).


�� GMC: GMC reported total sales of 32,534, a 59-percent increase compared to the same month last year. This marks the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases. Retail sales were 61 percent higher than last year, spurred by Sierra, Terrain, Yukon and Acadia – up 87 percent, 76 percent, 63 percent and 25 percent, respectively
(read more).

�� Cadillac: Cadillac reported total sales of 15,768 for February – 70 percent higher than last February, with retail sales increasing 83 percent. February was the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year total and retail sales gains. CTS retail sales rose 159 percent, driven by strong demand for the all-new CTS Coupe and Sedan. SRX retail sales were
up 62 percent compared to a year ago, and the Escalade family saw retail sale rise 27 percent versus February last year (read more).

Nice job, General Motors. The AMERICAN CAR IS BACK!

More: http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/FebruarySales.pdf

 

[burrocrat]

Retail Sales Propel General Motors to 49 Percent Gain in February

yep that +49% is pretty good, only -2% now if you count the 51% taxpayer contributions to the bottom line.

y'all want food stamps with that?

edit: oops, it's called SNAP now and plus you get a free debit card, my bad.

 

[James48843]

Big problem.

Supplier plant making interior plastics for multiple car makers has had a massive fire. Many Auto Plants, including GM, Ford, Mazda, and Chrysler adversely affected and shutting down shifts as a result.

DETROIT – General Motors Co. canceled production shifts at assembly plants in Flint, Mich., and Lordstown, Ohio, and made changes at several others because of a fire at an auto parts plant in Michigan that makes interior components for a number of automakers, the company said Thursday.

Other GM plants affected by Wednesday's fire include Arlington, Texas; Detroit-Hamtramck; Lansing Delta Township in Michigan; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Oshawa Consolidated in Canada. GM said it was running shorter shifts, rescheduling production and changing overtime plans at plants.

GM production in Lordstown, Ohio, which has about 4,150 hourly workers building the Chevrolet Cruze compact car, was suspended indefinitely effective Friday morning. At Flint Assembly, GM said most of the 2,100 employees building Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD trucks will stay home Friday. Production at the Flint plant was expected to resume Monday, GM said. Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC said Thursday they didn't have production issues related to the fire, but were monitoring the situation. Chrysler said the parts plant makes interior components for its Toledo North Assembly Plant in Ohio; and plants in Windsor and Brampton, Ontario.

Magna employees were evacuated when the blaze was discovered, and no injuries were reported. Production was temporarily halted at the 187,000-square-foot plant that employs about 450 and makes dashboards, consoles, door panels and other parts for GM, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan and Mazda vehicles.

I saw the smoke from this fire on Wednesday. The just-in-time way they do things now means a MAJOR problem for many auto plants ahead.

Details:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110304/ap_on_re_us/us_auto_supplier_fire_3

 

[James48843]

Despite problems with securing parts from Japan last month- sales for April were up again overall. GM sales up 26.4% in April, and largest profits in a long, long time.

http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/9352001AprDel.pdf


GM is back- stronger than ever.

Headlines calling it "a blowout quarter" for the first quarter- with $3.2 billion in profits.

http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2011/05/05/GM-Earnings-050511.aspx

And to think- some in Congress wanted to make GM disappear into liquidation and only have foreign cars...

Read it and weap.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Yeah, too bad we're gonna lose money on the TARP funds GM received...

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

Yeah, too bad we're gonna lose money on the TARP funds GM received...

I don't know, you might be able to recoup your share by buying some discounted shares when they go up for sale here soon. The only problem is, if Government Motors goes bankrupt again, you'll lose your investment. The Obama administration doesn't care about shareholders.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

I don't know, you might be able to recoup your share by buying some discounted shares when they go up for sale here soon. The only problem is, if Government Motors goes bankrupt again, you'll lose your investment again.

We all will, as we are all taxpayers (well, I assume all of us here at least)

 

[James48843]

One of the remarkable new technology GM cars for 2012: New technologies combine to create a semi-hybred called an "e-Assist" vehicle, boosting mileage significantly.

Buick LaCrosse with e-Assist- E85 capable too.

 

[Scrappy]

One of the remarkable new technology GM cars for 2012: New technologies combine to create a semi-hybred called an "e-Assist" vehicle, boosting mileage significantly.

Buick LaCrosse with e-Assist- E85 capable too.

I like Buicks and this new LaCrosse......but "remarkable new technology", "boosting mileage significantly"?

I know they are in no class comparison, but 20 years ago a person could buy a GEO that got over 50 MPG for one fourth the price of a Prius or this new Buick.

I know someone who bought a GEO that now has 475,000 miles and is still running that has required no maintenance other than break jobs and timing belts.

In 1991, I could get 29 MPG with an Oldsmobile 98 Touring Elite, 6 cylinder and much bigger car than this Buick.

Remarkable gimmick marketing!

 

[Mapper]

Wow, GM is starting to make appealing cars and folks are deriding the company? God forbid they could move a product w/out taking a loss on it.
Well maybe GM should go back and focus more on big trucks and low-grade small cars. Would we all be happier then?

There's a whole host of reasons early Geos and lightweight small cars are no longer practical vehicles for moving families. The most obvious reason is parked in front or your own home OR half of your neighbors homes...a big guzzling truck from the good-ole GM and good-ole Ford. The highway is a battlefield.

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

Wow, GM is starting to make appealing cars and folks are deriding the company? God forbid they could move a product w/out taking a loss on it.
Well maybe GM should go back and focus more on big trucks and low-grade small cars. Would we all be happier then?

There's a whole host of reasons early Geos and lightweight small cars are no longer practical vehicles for moving families. The most obvious reason is parked in front or your own home OR half of your neighbors homes...a big guzzling truck from the good-ole GM and good-ole Ford. The highway is a battlefield.

I still like my '06 Toyota Corolla. I get about 35 MPG. I'd get better gas mileage if I didn't drive like I was in the Cannonball Run.

 

[Wrngway]

I know they are in no class comparison, but 20 years ago a person could buy a GEO that got over 50 MPG for one fourth the price of a Prius or this new Buick.

I know someone who bought a GEO that now has 475,000 miles and is still running that has required no maintenance other than break jobs and timing belts.

In 1991, I could get 29 MPG with an Oldsmobile 98 Touring Elite, 6 cylinder and much bigger car than this Buick.

Remarkable gimmick marketing!

You can't compare milage ratings from '91 with those of 2012. The last revision was in 2008 and incorporated faster speeds & acceleration, use of air conditioning, and colder weather. In short, the newer ratings are more demanding.

You're right, the Geo isn't in the same class. It has a 1.0L engine and manual transmission and is an economy car to boot. No air bags, no beefed up structural reinforcement, jazzy sound system, bluetooth, heated/cooled seats, etc..

As for the Olds 98 you mentioned, the revised ratings are 16 city/24 hwy. Sure you were able to get more, but if you're going to compare cars, you need to compare them being driven under the same circumstances. Thus "your mileage may vary". I'd say the e-assist blows the '91 olds out of the water milage wise. It's a 3,800 lb car...37 mpg on the highway is outstanding.

Now you may not care about mileage as much, so there's a 300 hp V6 available. Last years model, without direct injection, still beats your olds in mileage, not to mention at the stoplight.

 

[Scrappy]

You can't compare milage ratings from '91 with those of 2012. The last revision was in 2008 and incorporated faster speeds & acceleration, use of air conditioning, and colder weather. In short, the newer ratings are more demanding.

You're right, the Geo isn't in the same class. It has a 1.0L engine and manual transmission and is an economy car to boot. No air bags, no beefed up structural reinforcement, jazzy sound system, bluetooth, heated/cooled seats, etc..

As for the Olds 98 you mentioned, the revised ratings are 16 city/24 hwy. Sure you were able to get more, but if you're going to compare cars, you need to compare them being driven under the same circumstances. Thus "your mileage may vary". I'd say the e-assist blows the '91 olds out of the water milage wise. It's a 3,800 lb car...37 mpg on the highway is outstanding.

Now you may not care about mileage as much, so there's a 300 hp V6 available. Last years model, without direct injection, still beats your olds in mileage, not to mention at the stoplight.

Wrngway,

all valid and good info. My interest and bewilderment is primarily in the technology and a little in the marketing.

I am puzzled as to why any automaker can't get much if any better economy than they could 20 years ago. (Regardless of demanding ratings) The "gadgetry" and safety aspects of new cars is impressive and drastically changed from 20 years ago but it almost seems as if no progress has been made on a car/engine to get incredible gas mileage like say 60-70 MPG. (Which I would have guessed in 1991 that we would be getting in 2012.)
Then when they market a car that has a new technology like this LaCrosse to get 7 MPG more than the std version it takes 10 years or more to compensate for the extra initial cost????

The marketing aspect of cars now days reminds me of Golf club infomercials and cell phone advertisement.
5G baby! Gotta get 5G...........

 

[Mapper]

Wrngway,

all valid and good info. My interest and bewilderment is primarily in the technology and a little in the marketing.

I am puzzled as to why any automaker can't get much if any better economy than they could 20 years ago. (Regardless of demanding ratings) The "gadgetry" and safety aspects of new cars is impressive and drastically changed from 20 years ago but it almost seems as if no progress has been made on a car/engine to get incredible gas mileage like say 60-70 MPG. (Which I would have guessed in 1991 that we would be getting in 2012.)
Then when they market a car that has a new technology like this LaCrosse to get 7 MPG more than the std version it takes 10 years or more to compensate for the extra initial cost????

The marketing aspect of cars now days reminds me of Golf club infomercials and cell phone advertisement.
5G baby! Gotta get 5G...........

The gadgetry and, more specifically safety aspects, make cars notably heavier...thus negating much of the combustion efficiency gains. Which is why driving an economy car from the 80s is a scary prospect on the modern highway.

That said, it would be nice if we could see much better efficiency gains. Reducing weight would help a lot, sadly there are a whole lot of +7,000 lb hunks of steel hurdling down the freeway near you. I still drive an actual car, I hate the feel of trucks. I'd love the efficiency of an early Geo or Honda but you wont catch me getting behind the wheel.

Plus, as stated earlier, the LaCrosse is much bigger car than anything in the past getting +35 MPG...again, weight.

 

[Wrngway]

It wasn't until recently that fuel economy was at the forefront of buying decisions, and the development time for a new model generally takes about 4 years. It's an incredibly complicated process. If you like a good read, check out "All Corvettes Are Red". It chronicles the on-again off-again process to get the '97 Corvette to market. It's probably a bit dated now, but you can see some of the things that led GM to the state its in as well as the engineering and business challenges.

Concerning weight, it's all about trade-offs. Safety & structural rigidity vs. performance vs. cost. Target performance vs. business case. You can make a car incredibly light using certain expensive materials and price it out of the market you're trying to hit. Add to that trying to develop a chassis that will meet safety requirements in a variety of markets around the world and you can begin to appreciate the challenges.

I would say that a lot of GM's newer products are competitive and class leading in many areas, especially in the area of fuel efficiency. It's promising to see the back to basics focus on product. I try to make the D.C. auto show every year. One area I paid attention to was the interiors. It wasn't until two years ago when I started to actually see the U.S. brands start to meet their competitors on appearance and material quality. This year it's clear they've exceeded many. Check out a Malibu or Equinox and compare it with one of their older models, the Impala which is a fleet queen and the change is evident. I was surprised when I got into one of the new Camry's to find that they were falling behind the curve despite their reputation.

When compared to competitors, Ford & GM are right in the thick of things. Chrysler's crash program improvements over the last year have helped, but it's still a laggard, stuck with platforms designed in an era of cheaper gas.

I've also been following JD Power and associates vehicle quality studies. Looking at initial and long term quality studies over the past 10 years, there's been a consistently narrowing difference between leaders and laggards. The difference between the top and bottom brands in the 2011 dependability study are 1.1 to 2.2 problems per car after 3 years. That means in 2011 they were testing 2008 cars. It's almost a dead heat now. Here are other recent studies, I think they tweaked their rating methodology around 2003.

2000: Industry Avg 4.5(can't find entire study for '00 to '02)
2001: Industry Avg 3.8
2002: Industry Avg 3.6
2003: 1.6 to 5.1
2004: 1.6 to 4.7
2005: 1.4 to 4.0
2006: 1.4 to 4.4
2008: 1.2 to 3.4
2009: 1.2 to 2.6
2010: 1.1 to 2.6

For 2011 U.S. brands led for the first time in the initial quality study. Not the final word for sure, but promising for the future.

Perception follows reality and from what I can see things are turning around for the better. Sorry for the long-winded post. I enjoy following the auto industry if you can't tell. :embarrest:

 

[James48843]

Chrysler moving jobs from Mexico to Michigan:

The Pentastar V6 is made in a newly built plant in Trenton MI. Certain components of the engine are made in Mexico but Chrysler announced they will be reopening the old Trenton plant in order to build those parts. Basically they're moving about 250 jobs from Mexico to the United States.

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...d-plant-active

 

[nnuut]

I can imagine Bill Clinton is really pissed off!

 

[Buster]

Chrysler moving jobs from Mexico to Michigan:









The Pentastar V6 is made in a newly built plant in Trenton MI. Certain components of the engine are made in Mexico but Chrysler announced they will be reopening the old Trenton plant in order to build those parts. Basically they're moving about 250 jobs from Mexico to the United States.

[URL="http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...d-plant-active"]http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...d-plant-active[/URL]

Awesome! Now if only the FLRB and the Washington State unions would get off of Boeing's ass..maybe we will get a couple more thousand jobs in SC.

 

[James48843]

GM just issued July sales results.

While the Cruze sales continued a brisk pace, other models didn't do so well. Silverado sales were nearly flat, a Impala sales took a dive. That Impala slump was not at all predicted. Impala sales down by 47%, Cadillac sales off 25%.
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/70300JulDel.pdf

http://investor.gm.com/sales-production/


Overall, sales were up by 8%, but looking deeper at the numbers, it looks terrible to me- sales of the more profitable cars were not good at all.

http://media.gm.com/content/media/u...tml/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Aug/gmsales


I think the economy is skidding backwards now. We're in a world of hurt.

 

[James48843]

Much better news in the GM sales figures released today.

Sales jumped significantly in August.

After only climbing 8% in July, the market improved considerably in August, and GM sold 18% MORE CARS in August than they did in the same month last year. GM sold a total of 218,479 vehciles in August.

See
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/gmcom/investor/2011/62179AugDel.pdf

The figures jumped, EVEN WITH the last few days of the month being sidetracked in many east coast markets by Hurricane Irene, which interrupted sales in some states. Still, GM had health gains in many models.

Finally, one more piece of good news. The Chevy Sonic, a new subcompact car, began production in Michigan in August with the first 280 Sonics produced in the USA being delivered. Full scale production should begin within the next 60 days as they train new employees in building the Sonic. The Sonic is expected to be a high-volume small car, alnoth not quite at the volume of cars like the Cruze (which sold over 21,000 last month- four times the rate of the Colbaslt it reaplced)



the Sonic, a new American built small car to replace the Korean built Chevy Aveo, is the first really small car added to a production line anywhere in the USA in years.

Good news for jobs for American auto workers. Two tier GM wages are in place at the Lake Orion Sonic production plant, with about half the work force earning the tradiotional UAW wage of $28 an hour, and half the work force being paid half that. $14/hour. A third group of line support workers, contractors not employed by GM directly, are being hired and trained as well, at a wage rate of $10.10 a hour to build the Sonic.



The starting base MSRP price of the new American made Chevy Sonic is just $13,735.


Sonic 4 door Sedan, from $13,735

Also available as a 2 door hatchback version.

Here is the interior shot: