Although it doesn’t look like anything will save General Motors’ Oshawa, Ontario truck plant from its highly controversial closure in 2009, the plant might not be completely down and out. GM is reportedly in talks with the Ontario government to reopen the plant as a car factory.
The move might ultimately help quell the CAW’s displeasure with the plant closure, but the shift to car production won’t likely bring an immediate halt to the union’s blockade. Even if GM gives the green light to convert its Oshawa truck plant into a car plant, the Oshawa plant’s doors likely wouldn’t reopen for years.
“We’re trying to nail down timing, because if in fact we have an opportunity for a new car product, there is still going to be a couple of years where we have a gap between the estimated date of closure of the truck plant and a launch of a new vehicle,” Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello told The Detroit News.
While the retooled plant probably won’t reopen until sometime in the next decade, the fact that GM is considering the future of the facility might give the auto giant some leeway with the disgruntled union.
06/12, 12:30 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Crime pays! GM going to sue the union members and union, but result justified means.
06/12, 12:49 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
GM suing the CAW, how stupid. Anyways at least GM is trying to compromise here, rather then just shut it down and not give a fu*k about the CAW. The Union members don’t want to concede, and I don’t blame them, but they gotta work with GM otherwise it’s just going to be a lose lose situation.
06/12, 1:03 PM
posted by:
SickofGarbageMotors
Thinking about it? Ha! Ford and Nissan have already announced they plan to shift truck plants over to building cars and GM is still thinking about it?!?! WTF guys? Hey, why don;t you go off and build another 100k ****ing HUMMERS and then get back to us on whether it is a good decision or not, OK?
****ing morons.
06/12, 1:28 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Nissan does not have to do any work or additional investment to produce cars at truck assembly plant. By design most (if not all) Japanese plants are capable of production of multiple platform at the same time.
06/12, 1:39 PM
posted by:
SickofGarbageMotors
Exactly xyunya, good point. Sad but true.
06/12, 2:03 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Well, duh.
06/12, 3:13 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The only retooling needed here is to Buzz Hargrove’s brain. I can think of several blunt instruments that would do the job.
06/12, 3:29 PM
posted by:
xyunya
johnnycanuck, I thought you are non-violent money saving Scotsman, not violent Italian stallion.
06/12, 4:36 PM
posted by:
inline6
Sick,
Ford and Toyota only announced their decision LAST WEEK. God forbid GM take a little time to look into the issue…like…5 days.
GM IS SO 5 DAYS AGO!
06/13, 11:33 AM
posted by:
SickofGarbageMotors
So what? They are thinking ahead and adapting to the current fuel crisis/truck sales declines. GM is obviously unsure of such a move which further cements the notion in my mind that GM is not a leader of the industry, but merely a follower.
The gas crunch and falling truck sales are not some freak of nature, the writing has been on the wall for years. Adapt or die.