Considerable news out of GM today (today is GM's annual stockholder meeting). Firstly, GM will phase out production at four SUV and truck assembly plants:
- Oshawa Truck Assembly in Canada, which builds the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, will likely cease production in 2009
- Moraine, Ohio, which builds the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x, will end production at the end of the 2010 model run, or sooner, if demand dictates.
- Janesville, Wisconsin, will cease production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009, and of the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon in 2010, or sooner, if market demand dictates.
- Chevrolet Kodiak medium-duty truck production will also end in Toluca, Mexico, by the end of this year.
Not all plants are losers: the Lake Orion plant where the Pontiac G6 and Malibu sedans are built and the Lordstown, Ohio plant which produces the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 each pick up a third shift.
GM also confirmed that an all-new next generation Chevrolet compact car program will be produced at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant in starting in 2010. A replacement for the sub-compact Chevy Aveo also will go on sale in the second half of 2010. Wagoner also confirmed that GM's board has approved production funding for the Chevy Volt electric plug-in, with the car expected in showrooms by the end of 2010.
Ah, but what of Hummer? GM is launching a "strategic review" of the brand. Could GM remake Hummer's image? Certainly Detroit's HX Concept was an attempt to reframe Hummer's public persona. Would GM sell the marque? It would be interesting to see who would line up for the brand. I could imagine that only an Indian or Chinese manufacturer might be interested.
On a side note, how about the year 2010? Wow. There is going to be a small car onslaught from manufacturers! Every time I hear an announcement about a forthcoming model, it seems like its arrival is in 2010.
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