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GM eliminates shift at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center

10/16/2007, 3:04 PM

By Drew Johnson

Just a week after finalizing a contract with the UAW, General Motors has announced that it will cut one shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center. The elimination of the shift will impact 767 of the plant’s 1,847 hourly workers. The plant also employs 178 salaried workers.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center currently runs two shifts to produce the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne. The cut back is due to lagging sales; DTS sales are down 14% on the year and the Lucerne is down 15%.

The change is slated to begin on January 2.

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10/16, 3:48 PM

posted by:

6ix

I like the Lucerne. Seems like a nice car, perfect replacement for the Park Avenue/Lesabre.

But it surprises me that GM even needs one shift building these cars. Where is the market?

10/16, 3:53 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I like the lucerne, too, but the large-sedan market ain’t what it used to be

10/16, 3:58 PM

posted by:

casualobserver

The inventory adjustment would have been cheaper if the strike had lasted another week or two.

10/16, 4:08 PM

posted by:

Commodore

Good, they are keep inventory under control. Hyundai did the same with the plant that makes the Sonata and Santa Fe

10/16, 4:25 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

For a large car the Lucerne isn’t bad and I am seeing quite a few on the road lately, so the % reduction seems odd. I can see the DTS not moving because I have no clue why anyone would want it.

Still – as the the large car market shrinking and also the Taurus/500 selling less, anyone have the numbers on the Avalon? I hear Maxima sales are down, but are Avalon sales also going down the toilet?

10/16, 5:00 PM

posted by:

LamborghiniZ

Headgiver: I rarely if ever see Lucerne’s. I can’t remember the last time I laid eyes on one on the street. I see more DTS’s than Lucerne’s but that’s not saying much. I see a decent amount of Avalon’s, hardly ANY Maxima’s, and a few Taurus/500. More Avalon’s than any of the others, but that’s not really anything to brag about as those are scarce as well.

The large sedan market is a flailing one.

10/16, 5:13 PM

posted by:

tripleonefive

Lagging sales bc Buick is for your grandpa and Cadillac is for pimps. People know better than to buy a DTS or Lucerne they just buy imports like the rest of America

10/16, 5:38 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Fluffer: you’re reaching. Do I have to whip edmunds out on your ass again?
The rest of america? What a colossal dumbass!

10/16, 6:16 PM

posted by:

Me

I agree with Commodore. I don’t know how flexible GM has really been in the past about keeping inventory under control. A couple of weeks ago they shut down a shift at the truck plant and now this. It seems that GM is responding to the level of demand rather than trying to create it -with incentives, etc. Unfortunately, GM has allowed this to happen for so long it comes at the expense of a lot of people’s jobs. Maybe they can relocate to the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook plant. They seem to be doing well. Also, I think the Lucerne is a great vehicle, it just came about five to ten years too late (if not more).

10/16, 8:27 PM

posted by:

Commodore

1115 – and what is the point of that statement? Why do you need to say all that trash about the domestics and bash them AGAIN?

Answer: You hate the American auto industry! You are anti-domestic. Simple as that.

10/16, 9:47 PM

posted by:

TOZO

1115 – staying with the first half of your statement – I think Cadillac should have the “pimp’s package.” That will help with the sales lag. And I suppose Buick can have the “grandaddy special” package.

10/16, 10:56 PM

posted by:

sharpie

“Lagging sales bc Buick is for your grandpa and Cadillac is for pimps. People know better than to buy a DTS or Lucerne they just buy imports like the rest of America”

Wahahahaaa… that was a good laugh. Thank you for speaking for “the rest of America.” My scientific data tells me that my America is bigger than your trailer park America, so I win.

Buick is for grandpa, have you checked the average buyers’ age for Lexus and Toyota lately? Stay ignorant, it’s how the persistent bunch catches up (in terms of car companies) In your case, ignorant or not, you have a lot of growing up to do.

10/17, 1:48 AM

posted by:

tripleonefive

Cadillacs Escapade should have a Rappers package (it probably does lol) and Buick should have a seniors discount and come with a complimentary breakfast at the Country Kitchen.
The point of the statement is to have some fun and to remind you that the Japanese are superior. Im not anti domestic Im pro better product
Toyota has offerings for younger buyers along with Scion and Lexus. What does Buick have ?
Cadillac ?
Your scientific data is flawed bc I certainly don’t live near a trailer park and I make fun of people like JJT that do. If you like GMs Ford or Dodges you are probably a hick
Be mad at GM for making ****ty cars not the Japanese

10/17, 11:05 AM

posted by:

injunraiv

1115 needs to check some other news stories… ;)

10/17, 2:19 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Me: I think responding to demand is healthier than relying on incentives to boost demand.

Fluffer: yeah, there are some “mobile home communities” in my exurb. There’s a reason for that.

But the air is clean and crime is low ….

“Be mad at GM for making ****ty cars not the Japanese.”

I’ll ignore the fact that that sentence is poorly structured (should’ve finished junior high, eh). But you have a point. When GM resumes making ****ty cars, i’ll get mad, and start buying something else.
Being an accord driver, you do know a lot about ****ty.

“I certainly don’t live near a trailer park.” You don’t deny living IN a trailer park, just NEAR one.
Given your penchant for flawed semantics, I think your selective non-answer shows something.
Noh, you probabaly live in a bamboo hut in florida (not the good part) or coastal mississipi.

10/17, 6:42 PM

posted by:

Me

JJT, I agree. I probably wasn’t clear, but I think it’s a good thing to react to -instead of “create”- demand.

 
 
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