Oh GM, say it ain't so...

[PZR2874]

Originally Posted By: dave1251
Originally Posted By: PZR2874
THAT's why I don't buy American.

All about the mighty dollar. Makes me die inside a little.


That comment makes no sense at all.


Oh but it does.

Bringing Toyota into the same arguement is horrid.

Toyota unlike many automakers takes care of their employees (first and foremost). Ask me how I know.

Ok, not ALL American... but GM and Crysler/Dodge in particular.

 

[PZR2874]

I will comment a little more on Japanese automakers (Toyota directly).

When they had those recalls a couple years ago, they stopped production and you know what? Employees did NOT suffer. They were given time off (PAID) if they did 20+ hours a week of community service for the SA area.

You think GM and the others do anything like that? Nope, they offer pension buyouts and lay-offs.

 

[PZR2874]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: PZR2874
THAT's why I don't buy American.

All about the mighty dollar. Makes me die inside a little.


I sure hope you don't work for an American company either, or particpate in any company that accepts American dollars for business transactions, otherwise you are killing yourself just a little inside.


You are taking it wrong. I'm talking about the brass/leaders of that company. I understand everyone is in it to make $, but at who's expense.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: PZR2874
I will comment a little more on Japanese automakers (Toyota directly).

When they had those recalls a couple years ago, they stopped production and you know what? Employees did NOT suffer. They were given time off (PAID) if they did 20+ hours a week of community service for the SA area.

You think GM and the others do anything like that? Nope, they offer pension buyouts and lay-offs.


Yeah my family that had worked for GM for over 70 has really suffered. Nearly 60 days of paid vacation every year, retirement pension that is 75% of their annual pay, free health car, GM pricing certificates on cars, death benefit that paid for my grandmother's funeral, mortgage financing that was essentially 0%. I had a very high quality of life because of the GM retirement pension system. So ask me how I know.

 

[PZR2874]

Few and far between I suppose.

 

[bigmike]

So.. is this why new vehicles are so expensive? To pay for community service and pensions? Makes me wonder why the middle class forfeits the ability to move up the class ladder because of high new car prices voluntarily dumped on their backs.

 

[hattaresguy]

Fantastic deal. Now GM can advertise with one of the largest sports franchises outside of the US and maybe pick up for foreign sales.

Remember guys, the US is but one country where GM pushes products, this isn't a move designed to appeal to this market.

 

[kb01]

Doesn't GM have a fairly large market share in Europe between Opel and Vauxhall?

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: PZR2874
Few and far between I suppose.


Few and far between whole cities prospered on GM's back the two examples I just provided were from a assembly line worker for alternators and a warehouse manager hardly your upper management. I am not going to state the salary for a GM warehouse manager and I happy for them but their salaries are well above the national average. Full of cradle to grave employees just talk to anyone who can be objective. There is nothing wrong with that but that model of employee compensation along with boneheaded decisions made by executives will bankrupt any company. With GM's steady decline in market-share I was surprised the company made as far as it did.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: PZR2874
Toyota unlike many automakers takes care of their employees (first and foremost). Ask me how I know.



Um, NO, they are NOT "so great".

Ask me how I know.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: kb01
Doesn't GM have a fairly large market share in Europe between Opel and Vauxhall?


Quite large, China as well. I want to say I heard they sell 60% of their cars outside the US.

Problem is a lot of people in this country think they are the center of the earth and can't comprehend why GM would spend NASCAR/Superbowl advertising money on a few of Europeans kicking around a ball.

 

[Shannow]

Problem with GM outside the U.S. is that when GM were in strife and getting the bailouts, they threatened the Non U.S. companies, and the countries hosting them that they could go down with the mothership, please help.

THen when they return to profit, they hit up the host countries, asking for more money "to save jobs", as these are seperate companies and have to stand on their own.

Ask me how I know

 

[artificialist]

Their people should be like most of the workers in the USA.... Working harder, struggling to keep their job, and being paid less to do more.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Their people should be like most of the workers in the USA.... Working harder, struggling to keep their job, and being paid less to do more.
+1

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Originally Posted By: kb01
Doesn't GM have a fairly large market share in Europe between Opel and Vauxhall?


Quite large, China as well. I want to say I heard they sell 60% of their cars outside the US.

Problem is a lot of people in this country think they are the center of the earth and can't comprehend why GM would spend NASCAR/Superbowl advertising money on a few of Europeans kicking around a ball.

Chevy is sponsering Manchester United. Is Chevy a big brand in Europe? Perhaps they have a plan to be more like Ford over there.

 

[dave1251]

I could be wrong. But I do not foresee Europeans changing their habits and becoming a more favorable market for GM. It would of made more sense for GM to spend more money to expand its foothold in China and trying to regain its market presence here. But then again I could be wrong.

 

[kb01]

I don't know, I could see Chevy making big inroads in central and eastern Europe. The GM brands don't have a stigma like they have here and American brands, in general, are associated with quality. Soccer is also very popular in continental Europe.

My family is Polish and and I have a cousin who owns a Chevy (it's one of the rebadged Korean cars) and another who drives a Neon. Culturally, they seem to align themselves more with the US or UK than with mainland Europe.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Is Chevy a big brand in Europe? Perhaps they have a plan to be more like Ford over there.


Not Chevy per se, but GM in the form of Vauxhall and Opel (as previously stated).

One can tell that they are on the verge of a big Euro (and even worldwide) push, with the success of the Cruze (and Lacetti before that) in the WTCC (World Touring Car Championships) race series.

 

[PZR2874]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: PZR2874
Toyota unlike many automakers takes care of their employees (first and foremost). Ask me how I know.



Um, NO, they are NOT "so great".

Ask me how I know.

Do tell.