Fastlane12

The Biggest Problem Detroit's Big Three Face

Good news for ShawnM... those things were resolved in the 2007 National Contract with the UAW and, while work rules like what you mentioned certainly did exist, they are not present anymore.

Here are a few collected facts - all possible to verify with third party sources:

Product
The domestic industry is oftentimes criticized for building vehicles out of step with today’s need for fuel efficiency. The facts are these:

- At GM, we offer the most fuel efficient cars and trucks in 7 of the 20 Wards Automotive segments in which we compete (35%) -- more segments than any other manufacturer in 2009.

- We offer 20 vehicles achieving 30 miles per gallon, or more, on the highway, more than any other manufacturer. Popular high volume models include the Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G6, and Saturn Aura.

- We are the world leader in bio-fuel vehicles, with over 5 million vehicles
on the road today, including over 3 million vehicles in the United States. We
are committed to having over 50% of the vehicles we sell in 2012 being bio- fuel capable

- We offer 6 hybrid vehicle models today, with 2 more to be introduced by year end, more models than any other manufacturer, and this number will grow to 19 over the next few years.


- In 2008, GM has won 6 World Green Car titles, including Green Vehicle of the Year for the Tahoe Hybrid. . . .a vehicle that gets the same city fuel economy as the base 4 cylinder Toyota Camry, but can tow 6000 lbs, and comfortably carry 8 passengers with cargo.

- Over the next two years, GM will introduce 15 new models in the United States,
14 of which are fuel efficient cars and crossovers. Throughout our
product line up, our new and more fuel efficient 4- and 6-cylinder engines will
rapidly displace 6- and 8-cylinder engines previously preferred by our customers. Between 2007 and 2012, our 4-cylinder-equipped vehicle volume will more than double, and fuel-saving 6-speed automatic transmissions will grow by 800%.

We are clearly among the leaders in fuel efficiency, but we have more in the pipeline:

- Since moving to a ‘global’ product development process in March 2005, GM
has under development all-new mini, small, compact and intermediate size passenger cars, which provide fuel economy improvements of up to 25% compared to the models they replace. We also have a new class of pickups under development, somewhat smaller than what this country has grown up with, but with payload and towing capability that will cover most customers’ needs and provide up to 38% better fuel economy (with L4 gas engines).

- Included in this tally is the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle
providing up to 40 miles range on a single charge. . .enough to meet the
daily driving needs of 70% of Americans. For those needing to go farther,
a small range-extending gasoline engine kicks in to maintain the battery charge,
and extends the range of the vehicle to 300 miles.

Setting fuel economy aside, there are those who contend we don’t make vehicles that people want. Here are the facts:
- We still sell more cars, trucks and crossovers in this, our home market, than
any other manufacturer. . .despite carrying cost burdens not shared with our
Japanese, Korean and German counterparts. And where the playing field is arguably more level, like the emerging markets around the globe, we are the market leader, outselling Toyota by half.

- Since 2005, GM has won more than 270 awards in China, Europe, and North America - over two thirds of them right here in the United States. . . including the Saturn Aura, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the Chevrolet Malibu that were selected as Car and Truck of the Year recipients. And, just this week, the first vehicle from our new, global mid-size architecture, the Opel Insignia, we won the European Car of the Year.

- Many ask about the more fuel efficient fleet of vehicles that GM makes and
sells in Europe. These vehicles are typically one class smaller than those preferred by U.S. customers, in part due to European taxes on gasoline making
fuel about three times more expensive than in this country.

- Apart from fuel price and vehicle size differences, Europeans also equip their
vehicles with manual transmissions and diesel engines to a greater degree
(85% and 60%, respectively), with customer preference for diesels
oftentimes encouraged by European government incentives, and by diesel
emissions standards that are less stringent in Europe than in the U.S.












Productivity
The domestic industry, including our union-represented partners, are sometimes viewed as uncompetitive when it comes to productivity and, in turn, our manufacturing costs.
- Fact is, GM leads in manufacturing productivity in 11 of 20 vehicle North America Assembly Plant segments in which we compete, according to the 2008 Harbour Report.

- GM is the only manufacturer to have improved year-over-year overall for the entire history of the annual report (15yrs.)

- Also, GM has five of the top 10 engine plants in North America (all located in the U.S.) and the #1 transmission plant (Toledo, Ohio).


Safety
GM has become the World Leader in Occupational Safety. Toyota's 'recordable injury' rate is more than 3 times higher and their 'lost work day' rate is more than 4 times higher than that of GM. GM's 'recordable' and 'lost work day' rates are less than one-third that of any other plants operated by foreign manufacturers in the US.


Environment

2.60% of GM's US energy consumption comes from renewable resources (photo-voltaic, landfill gas) <0.001% of Toyota's US energy is from renewables

GM is aggressively eliminating landfill waste, and currently has 12 US sites that are 100% landfill free. 7 of these sites achieved this goal in 2008, and plan is to make 50% of all manufacturing operations landfill free by year-end 2010, this is along our overall goal to zero landfill.

In the area of renewable energy, GM --in the US-- has 5 sites that are using landfill gas; Toyota has none.

GM has the first and only LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified automotive manufacturing plant (LDT); Toyota has none.

The Biggest Problem Detroit's Big Three Face

Andrew, who changes your diapers? Composing a "story" based on quotations of other "stories" which are equally lacking in substance is unprofessional and irresponsible. Take this situation seriously, go do your homework and come back with something value added to the discussion.