Restructured GM to build more cars overseas

[Don]

CNN (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30636895/) has the story.

The U.S. government is pouring billions into General Motors in hopes of reviving the domestic economy, but when the automaker completes its restructuring plan, many of the company's new jobs will be filled by workers overseas.


Essentially in control of the company, the president's autos task force faces an awkward choice: It can either require General Motors to keep more jobs at home, potentially raising labor costs at a company already beset with financial woes, or it can risk political fury by allowing the automaker to expand operations at lower-cost manufacturing locations.

So that's how globalization works. :rolleyes:

[Robert Toy]

Car assemby is NOT a green job

[Williebee]

Car assemby is NOT a green job

But what about the Peapod (http://peapodmobility.com/splash), and the Tesla (http://www.teslamotors.com/) and the Karma (http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/detroit-2009-production-fisker-karma/)?

[dclary]

But what about the Peapod (http://peapodmobility.com/splash), and the Tesla (http://www.teslamotors.com/) and the Karma (http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/detroit-2009-production-fisker-karma/)?

What my Hummer affectionately refers to as "speed bumps."

[Williebee]

What my Hummer affectionately refers to as "speed bumps."

:) Maybe the Peapod. You'd have to catch the Tesla first.

[Don]

Tesla, now that's a great techno-nerdy name for a car... but Peapod? Karma? Are they going to have a tie-dyed paintjob, or maybe a built-in hash pipe? Even as a confirmed old hippie, no way I could drive a car called PeaPod or Karma. :ROFL:

[Dommo]

Frankly, no new car being built can ever be considered a green job. If you look at the carbon produced in the manufacturing of the vehicle(e.g. mining the metal, smelting the steel, etc.), it's probably a lot more than the car will ever produce while it's used.

I'm skeptical about the electrics, because I don't think they'll have a significant impact on the environment until we shift our power production to something that isn't predominately fossil fuel based. In effect, with an electric vehicle you've got a coal powered car, since most of the electricity in this country is produced using coal.

Ah well. I think GM has the ability to thrive, as they've got R&D capabilities that are probably the best in the auto industry, but they've just got too much dead weight. If they can break up the unions, ditch the redundant brands, and slim down the bloated management they could be in a position to recover strongly.

[MattW]

they've just got too much dead weight. If they can break up the unions, ditch the redundant brands, and slim down the bloated management they could be in a position to recover strongly.Yet the bailout absolved them of having to make any of those choices, and gave them cash to invest in overseas operations.

[dmytryp]

Frankly, no new car being built can ever be considered a green job. If you look at the carbon produced in the manufacturing of the vehicle(e.g. mining the metal, smelting the steel, etc.), it's probably a lot more than the car will ever produce while it's used.

I'm skeptical about the electrics, because I don't think they'll have a significant impact on the environment until we shift our power production to something that isn't predominately fossil fuel based. In effect, with an electric vehicle you've got a coal powered car, since most of the electricity in this country is produced using coal.

Ah well. I think GM has the ability to thrive, as they've got R&D capabilities that are probably the best in the auto industry, but they've just got too much dead weight. If they can break up the unions, ditch the redundant brands, and slim down the bloated management they could be in a position to recover strongly.

Yet the bailout absolved them of having to make any of those choices, and gave them cash to invest in overseas operations.
uhuh
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3562884&postcount=6

[Robert Toy]

UPDATE

Experts say GM bankruptcy almost inevitable

DETROIT - For General Motors Corp., the task at hand is so difficult that experts say a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is all but inevitable.

To remake itself outside of court, GM must persuade bondholders to swap $27 billion in debt for 10 percent of its risky stock. On top of that, the automaker must work out deals with its union, announce factory closures, cut or sell brands and force hundreds of dealers out of business — all in three weeks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648961/

[History_Chick]

Will someone please explain this to me because I honestly dont understand it.


We give the car companies millions or was it billions of dollars, they are still cutting jobs and now they are going overseas. So really our money did nothing...right?

Someone please help me out here.

[astonwest]

We give the car companies millions or was it billions of dollars, they are still cutting jobs and now they are going overseas. So really our money did nothing...right?
You understand it just fine...and it was billions.

[Gregg]

Will someone please explain this to me because I honestly dont understand it.


We give the car companies millions or was it billions of dollars, they are still cutting jobs and now they are going overseas. So really our money did nothing...right?

Someone please help me out here.

You got it babe (that's a compliment). We should get government out of private business. If business fails, so be it.
Go back a hundred years: the auto industry was taking off. Buggy whip companies and stage coach builders were in obvious trouble. How about the horse industry? Should the government have bailed them out?
Basic question: what is the role of government?
If you are not sure, read our constitution.
If you do not agree with the constitution, there are ways to change it. Go for it.

[History_Chick]

I'm glad I didnt miss anything. Though to be honest I was hoping I had and wasn't right about this disaster.

[James81]

Car assemby is NOT a green job

Yeah, that's kind of the problem, isn't it? ;)

(i.e. perhaps car assembly needs to become a green job is what I mean)

[dmytryp]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124199912671905001.html