Oct. 29, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: Next Tuesday’s election is very important as many of our supporters in Congress and the state legislature are under attack for their pro-labor views. I encourage everyone to get out and vote for these and all labor-friendly candidates as the control of Congress could change hands. We are asking for volunteers to come to the Union Hall on election day to help with phone banks and shuttle transportation for voters. Thanks in advance for your help.
Also, on Monday, Nov. 8, there will be 20 more members recalled for temporary vacation replacement for deer season. That will make the low seniority date in the plant 3-1-2000 with last four of 5000.
Yesterday GM announced the following capital structure actions:
o Repayment of $2.8 billion outstanding on the 9 percent secured note provided to the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust.
o Completion of a $5 billion, five-year revolving line of credit.
GM expects to implement the following capital actions, conditional upon completion of GM’s public offering:
o Purchase of the $2.1 billion of 9 percent Series A Preferred Stock held by the United States Department of the Treasury.
o A contribution of at least $4 billion in cash and $2 billion in GM common stock to GM’s U.S. hourly and salaried pension plans.
From Automotive News: Toyota secretly bought back from U.S. consumers vehicles it found with speed-control defects as part of a strategy to hide unintended-acceleration problems from safety regulators and the public, a revised lawsuit claims. The new complaint also cites internal company records documenting instances in which Toyota technicians or service managers replicated speed-control problems like those reported by customers. In a series of field reports from 2006 to 2010 involving Toyota Camrys, technicians from Hong Kong confirmed unintended acceleration in cars they tested while ruling out faulty floor mats or gas pedals, the lawsuit said. Moreover, the acceleration glitches were duplicated without the vehicle's diagnostic equipment detecting a malfunction. In a separate 2009 case, a service manager described in a company memo as "trustworthy and reliable" experienced an unexplained burst of acceleration while test-driving a Toyota Tacoma. The vehicle raced from 70 miles per hour to 95 miles per hour in seconds with "no pedal contact" from the driver. Floor mats were properly secured, according to the lawsuit.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
State of the Union October 21, 2010
Oct. 21, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From President Dan Howell: U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan will be at the Union Hall this Saturday, Oct. 23, to participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness parade through Wentzville. She will be marching with the UAW and will be at the hall at 8:30 am. The parade starts at 9:30 am. Come out to support breast cancer awareness month and meet our next U.S. Senator. Be sure to wear your UAW shirt, jacket or hat.
From Automotive News: Toyota Motor Corp. will repair about 1.53 million Avalons and other vehicles globally for problems with the brake master cylinder seal and fuel pump wiring, with most of those to be recalled in the United States and Japan. The announcement comes less than two months after a recall of 1.3 million Corolla and Matrix cars in the United States and Canada carrying defective engine control modules that could cause the vehicles to stall. Including the latest action, Toyota has called back more than 14 million vehicles in the past year.
From the Detroit Free Press: General Motors announced it is investing $37 million to upgrade its Lansing Delta Township plant, where it builds the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia crossovers. Lansing Delta Township opened in 2006 and the three crossovers it builds have seen strong sales, increasing 36% in September. In fact, the Buick Enclave has increased retails sales 89% compared to last year.
From the Detroit News: The Obama administration has reached a deal on a $773 million environmental trust, the largest of its kind in U.S. history, to clean up dozens of former General Motors sites spread over 14 states, officials said Wednesday. The funds will target automotive sites containing hazardous waste that were left shuttered by the auto giant's bankruptcy last year. Officials said the trust fund, which was proposed in May, would help avoid legal fights among communities, state and federal environmental offices and Motors Liquidation over liability for cleanups at different locations. About two-thirds of the properties are contaminated with hazardous materials so the trust will enable properties to be cleaned up and put on the market for sale. Some of the sites include: former GM plants in Wilmington, Del.; Kansas City, Kan.; Pontiac, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; Lansing, Mich.; and Moraine, Ohio. Other facilities are located in Syracuse, N.Y.; Janesville, Wis.; Indianapolis; Pittsburgh; Fredericksburg, Va.; Muncie, Ind.; Framingham, Mass.; Danville, Ill., and Trenton, N.J.
From President Dan Howell: U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan will be at the Union Hall this Saturday, Oct. 23, to participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness parade through Wentzville. She will be marching with the UAW and will be at the hall at 8:30 am. The parade starts at 9:30 am. Come out to support breast cancer awareness month and meet our next U.S. Senator. Be sure to wear your UAW shirt, jacket or hat.
From Automotive News: Toyota Motor Corp. will repair about 1.53 million Avalons and other vehicles globally for problems with the brake master cylinder seal and fuel pump wiring, with most of those to be recalled in the United States and Japan. The announcement comes less than two months after a recall of 1.3 million Corolla and Matrix cars in the United States and Canada carrying defective engine control modules that could cause the vehicles to stall. Including the latest action, Toyota has called back more than 14 million vehicles in the past year.
From the Detroit Free Press: General Motors announced it is investing $37 million to upgrade its Lansing Delta Township plant, where it builds the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia crossovers. Lansing Delta Township opened in 2006 and the three crossovers it builds have seen strong sales, increasing 36% in September. In fact, the Buick Enclave has increased retails sales 89% compared to last year.
From the Detroit News: The Obama administration has reached a deal on a $773 million environmental trust, the largest of its kind in U.S. history, to clean up dozens of former General Motors sites spread over 14 states, officials said Wednesday. The funds will target automotive sites containing hazardous waste that were left shuttered by the auto giant's bankruptcy last year. Officials said the trust fund, which was proposed in May, would help avoid legal fights among communities, state and federal environmental offices and Motors Liquidation over liability for cleanups at different locations. About two-thirds of the properties are contaminated with hazardous materials so the trust will enable properties to be cleaned up and put on the market for sale. Some of the sites include: former GM plants in Wilmington, Del.; Kansas City, Kan.; Pontiac, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; Lansing, Mich.; and Moraine, Ohio. Other facilities are located in Syracuse, N.Y.; Janesville, Wis.; Indianapolis; Pittsburgh; Fredericksburg, Va.; Muncie, Ind.; Framingham, Mass.; Danville, Ill., and Trenton, N.J.
State of the Union October 20, 2010
Oct. 20, 2010 nline at www.uawlocal2250.com
Reminder: Union Meeting is today. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time. There will be 5 UAW endorsed guest speakers/candidates to speak prior to the last (5:30 PM?) Union meeting. They include: Ed Schieffer, State Rep D-11(Lincoln County), Kenny Biermann, State Rep D-17(N. St. Charles County), Matt Simmons, candidate for State Rep D-19 (O'Fallon & St. Peters), Paul Woody, candidate for State Rep D-15 (E. St.Charles), and Dr. Gary McKiddy, candidate for State Rep D-18 (S.E. St Charles). These are the candidates that will support you and working families in Missouri. Come out and meet them.
From the International Union UAW: One million workers a month will lose their unemployment benefits at the end of November unless Congress acts to continue the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. Once the Nov. 2 election is over, representatives and senators will return to Washington. But this is anything but a lame duck session for those who rely on unemployment to buy food, cover mortgages and rent, pay utilities and other essentials: It’s about survival. Active and retired members should call their congressional representatives and demand that the unemployed receive the same lavish attention that lobbyists for Wall Street and the insurance and oil industries are afforded. Since the initial federal UI program expired on Dec. 31, 2010, Congress has voted to extend it several times. Each time, Republicans in the Senate have used the filibuster to prevent a vote. In June, the program lapsed for seven weeks due to Republican obstruction and was finally reinstated in July, with only 31 Republican votes in the House and two in the Senate. Unemployment benefits kept 3.3 million Americans from falling into poverty in 2009 alone. And UI benefit payments provide a much-needed boost to the economy.
Call your congressional representatives as soon as they return in November and tell them to extend the federal UI program through 2011. The U.S. Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
And when you go to the polls on Nov. 2, remember to vote for elected officials who support working families and who support the federal UI program.
Reminder: Union Meeting is today. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time. There will be 5 UAW endorsed guest speakers/candidates to speak prior to the last (5:30 PM?) Union meeting. They include: Ed Schieffer, State Rep D-11(Lincoln County), Kenny Biermann, State Rep D-17(N. St. Charles County), Matt Simmons, candidate for State Rep D-19 (O'Fallon & St. Peters), Paul Woody, candidate for State Rep D-15 (E. St.Charles), and Dr. Gary McKiddy, candidate for State Rep D-18 (S.E. St Charles). These are the candidates that will support you and working families in Missouri. Come out and meet them.
From the International Union UAW: One million workers a month will lose their unemployment benefits at the end of November unless Congress acts to continue the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. Once the Nov. 2 election is over, representatives and senators will return to Washington. But this is anything but a lame duck session for those who rely on unemployment to buy food, cover mortgages and rent, pay utilities and other essentials: It’s about survival. Active and retired members should call their congressional representatives and demand that the unemployed receive the same lavish attention that lobbyists for Wall Street and the insurance and oil industries are afforded. Since the initial federal UI program expired on Dec. 31, 2010, Congress has voted to extend it several times. Each time, Republicans in the Senate have used the filibuster to prevent a vote. In June, the program lapsed for seven weeks due to Republican obstruction and was finally reinstated in July, with only 31 Republican votes in the House and two in the Senate. Unemployment benefits kept 3.3 million Americans from falling into poverty in 2009 alone. And UI benefit payments provide a much-needed boost to the economy.
Call your congressional representatives as soon as they return in November and tell them to extend the federal UI program through 2011. The U.S. Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
And when you go to the polls on Nov. 2, remember to vote for elected officials who support working families and who support the federal UI program.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
State of the Union October 19, 2010
Oct. 19, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: Some interesting numbers from the sub council last week: There are 2876 laid off Division 1 nationwide and 847 Division 2 laid off nationwide. Lordstown assembly and Lordstown stamping are accepting EAH (extended area hire) transfers now. They need 375 people. Vice President Joe Ashton addressed the council for the first time as the new UAW Vice President over GM and Gaming. He spoke of the difficult time we have experienced in the last several years and the need to preserve jobs and bring work back into the plant in the upcoming negotiations. Elections were held in both Sub Council 6 and 2( because of the new VP) . Dale Averitt was elected as Sergeant of Arms for sub council 6 and I was re-elected as vice Chairman of sub council 2. Congratulations Dale.
There will be a 2nd chance drawing for flu shots as there are more shots than there were applicants. Once again, forms will be available at the entrances and can be dropped off in the cafeteria. Deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 26. Drawing will be held after October 27. Shots will be administered beginning Thursday in body shop during breaks and lunch.
Union Meeting is this Wednesday, Oct. 20. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time. There will be 5 UAW endorsed guest speakers/candidates to speak prior to the last (5:30 PM?) Union meeting. They include: Ed Schieffer State Rep D-11(Lincoln County), Kenny Biermann State Rep D-17(N. St. Charles County), Matt Simmons candidate for State Rep D-19 (O'Fallon & St. Peters), Paul Woody candidate for State Rep D-15 (E. St.Charles), and Dr Gary McKiddy candidate for State Rep D-18 (S.E. St Charles). These are the candidates that will support you and working families in Missouri. Come out and meet them.
From Chairman Mike Bullock: Some interesting numbers from the sub council last week: There are 2876 laid off Division 1 nationwide and 847 Division 2 laid off nationwide. Lordstown assembly and Lordstown stamping are accepting EAH (extended area hire) transfers now. They need 375 people. Vice President Joe Ashton addressed the council for the first time as the new UAW Vice President over GM and Gaming. He spoke of the difficult time we have experienced in the last several years and the need to preserve jobs and bring work back into the plant in the upcoming negotiations. Elections were held in both Sub Council 6 and 2( because of the new VP) . Dale Averitt was elected as Sergeant of Arms for sub council 6 and I was re-elected as vice Chairman of sub council 2. Congratulations Dale.
There will be a 2nd chance drawing for flu shots as there are more shots than there were applicants. Once again, forms will be available at the entrances and can be dropped off in the cafeteria. Deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 26. Drawing will be held after October 27. Shots will be administered beginning Thursday in body shop during breaks and lunch.
Union Meeting is this Wednesday, Oct. 20. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time. There will be 5 UAW endorsed guest speakers/candidates to speak prior to the last (5:30 PM?) Union meeting. They include: Ed Schieffer State Rep D-11(Lincoln County), Kenny Biermann State Rep D-17(N. St. Charles County), Matt Simmons candidate for State Rep D-19 (O'Fallon & St. Peters), Paul Woody candidate for State Rep D-15 (E. St.Charles), and Dr Gary McKiddy candidate for State Rep D-18 (S.E. St Charles). These are the candidates that will support you and working families in Missouri. Come out and meet them.
Monday, October 18, 2010
State of the Union October 18, 2010
Oct. 18, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Union Meeting is this Wednesday, Oct. 20. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time.
From the CAP Committee: Robin Carnahan for Senator and Suzan Montee for State Auditor yard signs are available at the Union Hall. The CAP committee can get most other candidates signs if requested. You may also go on-line and request signs and literature from any candidates Home page.
From the Detroit Free Press: General Motors is clarifying comments made earlier this week by Chairman Ed Whitacre about the automaker's expected initial public offering. Whitacre told reporters in San Antonio on Wednesday that GM's IPO would take place sometime in November and shares would be priced from $20 to $25 each. GM says in a regulatory filing Friday that a price range for the offering has not yet been determined and will be disclosed only after it has been determined. GM says it can't predict whether the offering will be priced in November. The automaker says the statements attributed to Whitacre "were not intended."
From the Detroit News: General Motors Co. has asked banks underwriting its initial public stock offering to set aside 5 percent of common stock shares (or 25 million shares) for sale to more than 600,000 U.S. and Canadian workers, retirees and dealers, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. Sources have previously told The Detroit News that GM plans to sell its shares on a 4-to-1 split to make it more affordable at an individual share price between $20 and $35.
From the Wall Street Journal: General Motors Co. said Friday it was recalling more than 300,000 Chevrolet Impala sedans because the seat belts may fail to restrain people in the front seats during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website that the front-seat belt webbing may not be secured properly to a lap belt anchor on the side of the seat near the doors. The recall affects Impalas from the 2009 and 2010 model years. GM said 303,100 vehicles are in the U.S. and more than 19,000 are in Canada. GM said in a statement that it didn't know of any injuries or deaths connected to the recall. The Detroit auto maker told NHTSA that it had received 32 warranty reports with the seat belt conditions through mid-August.
Union Meeting is this Wednesday, Oct. 20. Meetings will be 1 pm, 3 pm and 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time.
From the CAP Committee: Robin Carnahan for Senator and Suzan Montee for State Auditor yard signs are available at the Union Hall. The CAP committee can get most other candidates signs if requested. You may also go on-line and request signs and literature from any candidates Home page.
From the Detroit Free Press: General Motors is clarifying comments made earlier this week by Chairman Ed Whitacre about the automaker's expected initial public offering. Whitacre told reporters in San Antonio on Wednesday that GM's IPO would take place sometime in November and shares would be priced from $20 to $25 each. GM says in a regulatory filing Friday that a price range for the offering has not yet been determined and will be disclosed only after it has been determined. GM says it can't predict whether the offering will be priced in November. The automaker says the statements attributed to Whitacre "were not intended."
From the Detroit News: General Motors Co. has asked banks underwriting its initial public stock offering to set aside 5 percent of common stock shares (or 25 million shares) for sale to more than 600,000 U.S. and Canadian workers, retirees and dealers, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. Sources have previously told The Detroit News that GM plans to sell its shares on a 4-to-1 split to make it more affordable at an individual share price between $20 and $35.
From the Wall Street Journal: General Motors Co. said Friday it was recalling more than 300,000 Chevrolet Impala sedans because the seat belts may fail to restrain people in the front seats during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website that the front-seat belt webbing may not be secured properly to a lap belt anchor on the side of the seat near the doors. The recall affects Impalas from the 2009 and 2010 model years. GM said 303,100 vehicles are in the U.S. and more than 19,000 are in Canada. GM said in a statement that it didn't know of any injuries or deaths connected to the recall. The Detroit auto maker told NHTSA that it had received 32 warranty reports with the seat belt conditions through mid-August.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
State of the Union October 8, 2010
Oct. 8, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: There are currently 208 members laid off. Of those, 77 are traditional and 131 are entry level. There are 897 members working in the plant – 643 are production and 254 are indirect (skilled trades, material etc.). There are 94 members on sick leave. The seniority date to hold the plant is 9-16-99 with last four of 3000. Regarding flu shots, a distribution plan has been finalized. We are expecting to get only 300 shots again this year. We have requested more shots and are awaiting word. There will be applications available at the cafeteria to fill out to enter a lottery drawing for the shots. This application process will start Monday the 11th and last through October 15th. This application process will provide information as to the number of employees that are wanting shots, to help us in securing more in the future.
From Automotive News: General Motors was given a higher credit rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services than Ford Motor Co., the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy last year. The credit service today said it assigned GM a BB- rating with a stable outlook. It had previously given Ford a B+ rating with a positive outlook. GM's rating is three levels below investment grade. The rating comes a day after Fitch Ratings gave GM a BB- rating, the same as Ford's.
More Automotive News: General Motors will spend $145 million to build a new Buick compact car -- the Verano -- at its Orion Township assembly plant north of Detroit. The company said the tooling needed for the Verano and Aveo will be installed by summer 2011. Production will begin in the second half of the year. Both vehicles will go on sale as 2012 models. GM is spending a total of $600 million to prepare the plant to build the Aveo and Verano.
Nissan recently announced that they entered into a partnership with Adrian Steel to upfit the new NV full-size van. The van is expected to go into production in early 2011 as a 2012 model and will be produced in Canton, Mississippi.
From Chairman Mike Bullock: There are currently 208 members laid off. Of those, 77 are traditional and 131 are entry level. There are 897 members working in the plant – 643 are production and 254 are indirect (skilled trades, material etc.). There are 94 members on sick leave. The seniority date to hold the plant is 9-16-99 with last four of 3000. Regarding flu shots, a distribution plan has been finalized. We are expecting to get only 300 shots again this year. We have requested more shots and are awaiting word. There will be applications available at the cafeteria to fill out to enter a lottery drawing for the shots. This application process will start Monday the 11th and last through October 15th. This application process will provide information as to the number of employees that are wanting shots, to help us in securing more in the future.
From Automotive News: General Motors was given a higher credit rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services than Ford Motor Co., the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy last year. The credit service today said it assigned GM a BB- rating with a stable outlook. It had previously given Ford a B+ rating with a positive outlook. GM's rating is three levels below investment grade. The rating comes a day after Fitch Ratings gave GM a BB- rating, the same as Ford's.
More Automotive News: General Motors will spend $145 million to build a new Buick compact car -- the Verano -- at its Orion Township assembly plant north of Detroit. The company said the tooling needed for the Verano and Aveo will be installed by summer 2011. Production will begin in the second half of the year. Both vehicles will go on sale as 2012 models. GM is spending a total of $600 million to prepare the plant to build the Aveo and Verano.
Nissan recently announced that they entered into a partnership with Adrian Steel to upfit the new NV full-size van. The van is expected to go into production in early 2011 as a 2012 model and will be produced in Canton, Mississippi.
State of the Union October 13, 2010
Oct. 13, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Raffle tickets for a UAW quilt are still being sold to raise money to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for the families of our laid off workers. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you haven’t had the opportunity to buy tickets, call x2308. The drawing will be held Friday, Oct. 22 at lunchtime in the cafeteria. Thank you for your continued support.
For mental or substance abuse issues your sick leave must be certified by a psychiatrist. National Benefits will not accept a psychologist or family doctor. You can also request assistance from Work Family/EAP representatives in the plant. If you have questions call Jimmy Caudle @ 2128 or Pat Wyse Workman @ 2141.
General Motors is extending the deadline to express interest in participating in the Directed Share Program because many people received the original mailing much later than expected. The new deadline for pre-registering information online is Friday, October 22, 2010. For those who are not able to register online, the paper registration forms are to be completed and postmarked by Tuesday, October 19, 2010. Individuals who do not pre-register or complete and return the second page of the letter that was previously sent will not be able to participate in the Directed Share Program. If you have not yet received your letter in the mail by October 12th please call the DSP call center at 877-994-6377.
Ford announced yesterday that the line speed will be increased at the Avon Lake Econoline assembly plant in January (they have a down week scheduled for November 29). Reports indicate that line speed will move to 40 an hour. On the same day, Ford also announced that they will be investing $630 million in the Kocaeli, Turkey plant that builds the Transit connect sold here.
Raffle tickets for a UAW quilt are still being sold to raise money to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for the families of our laid off workers. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you haven’t had the opportunity to buy tickets, call x2308. The drawing will be held Friday, Oct. 22 at lunchtime in the cafeteria. Thank you for your continued support.
For mental or substance abuse issues your sick leave must be certified by a psychiatrist. National Benefits will not accept a psychologist or family doctor. You can also request assistance from Work Family/EAP representatives in the plant. If you have questions call Jimmy Caudle @ 2128 or Pat Wyse Workman @ 2141.
General Motors is extending the deadline to express interest in participating in the Directed Share Program because many people received the original mailing much later than expected. The new deadline for pre-registering information online is Friday, October 22, 2010. For those who are not able to register online, the paper registration forms are to be completed and postmarked by Tuesday, October 19, 2010. Individuals who do not pre-register or complete and return the second page of the letter that was previously sent will not be able to participate in the Directed Share Program. If you have not yet received your letter in the mail by October 12th please call the DSP call center at 877-994-6377.
Ford announced yesterday that the line speed will be increased at the Avon Lake Econoline assembly plant in January (they have a down week scheduled for November 29). Reports indicate that line speed will move to 40 an hour. On the same day, Ford also announced that they will be investing $630 million in the Kocaeli, Turkey plant that builds the Transit connect sold here.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
State of the Union October 5, 2010
Oct. 5, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From President Dan Howell: We are in need of volunteers with landscaping experience to help lay the bricks for the Veterans Walk in front of the plant. If you are interested please contact me or leave a message at the Union Hall, 636-327-5796.
The field supplies for the van were up compared to August. Total stock stands at 21,543 – up 814 – for a 105 day supply. Net field stock is 13,240 – up 2034 – for a 65 day supply. Passenger vans are still in short supply, with only 1533 in total stock for some 3500 dealers (net stock stands at 872).
From Automotive News: Allstate Insurance Co. has sued Toyota Motor Corp., seeking to recover more than $3 million the insurer and affiliates paid in claims for accidents linked to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The lawsuit, filed last Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, marks a relatively new front in the wave of U.S. civil litigation piling up against the Japanese automaker for economic losses stemming from complaints about Toyotas that have sped out of control and crashed. That sum ($3million) is a fraction of the $10 billion in total potential U.S. civil liability Toyota is estimated to face overall from unintended acceleration. But similar suits from other insurance carriers are bound to multiply the effect of such subrogation claims.
From Reuters: Tesla Motors said it is recalling more than 400 of its battery-powered Roadsters (or around 35% of every car they’ve ever made) because of the risk that a power cable could short and catch fire. Tesla said it had received a report of a single case where a 12-volt cable in the vehicle had chafed against a panel, causing a short. The cable then began smoking and may have caught fire in an area behind the front headlamp, Tesla, of Palo Alto, California, said. The recall is the second for Tesla on its Roadster, a $109,000 car on a Lotus platform that is powered by a battery pack stitched together from more than 6,800 laptop batteries.
From President Dan Howell: We are in need of volunteers with landscaping experience to help lay the bricks for the Veterans Walk in front of the plant. If you are interested please contact me or leave a message at the Union Hall, 636-327-5796.
The field supplies for the van were up compared to August. Total stock stands at 21,543 – up 814 – for a 105 day supply. Net field stock is 13,240 – up 2034 – for a 65 day supply. Passenger vans are still in short supply, with only 1533 in total stock for some 3500 dealers (net stock stands at 872).
From Automotive News: Allstate Insurance Co. has sued Toyota Motor Corp., seeking to recover more than $3 million the insurer and affiliates paid in claims for accidents linked to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The lawsuit, filed last Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, marks a relatively new front in the wave of U.S. civil litigation piling up against the Japanese automaker for economic losses stemming from complaints about Toyotas that have sped out of control and crashed. That sum ($3million) is a fraction of the $10 billion in total potential U.S. civil liability Toyota is estimated to face overall from unintended acceleration. But similar suits from other insurance carriers are bound to multiply the effect of such subrogation claims.
From Reuters: Tesla Motors said it is recalling more than 400 of its battery-powered Roadsters (or around 35% of every car they’ve ever made) because of the risk that a power cable could short and catch fire. Tesla said it had received a report of a single case where a 12-volt cable in the vehicle had chafed against a panel, causing a short. The cable then began smoking and may have caught fire in an area behind the front headlamp, Tesla, of Palo Alto, California, said. The recall is the second for Tesla on its Roadster, a $109,000 car on a Lotus platform that is powered by a battery pack stitched together from more than 6,800 laptop batteries.
State of the Union October 4, 2010
Oct. 4, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From President Dan Howell: This Wednesday is the deadline to register to vote for the November 2 elections. You can go to www.govotemissouri.comto register online and download information about polling places, what’s on the ballot and other election-related information.
From AOL Autos: If you're thinking about buying a 2011 General Motors vehicle, you'll be getting more than just a new car, crossover, SUV or truck. The oil in your new vehicle's engine will be new as well, meeting a recently unveiled specification called "dexos 1." Oils that meet the dexos 1 (yes, with a lowercase “d”) standard provide some real benefits. However, when it comes time for that first oil change, expect a 25-30 percent cost increase -- which could be about the same as choosing pure synthetic oil. Further, GM says that if a customer has an engine failure that is traced to oil or lubrication issues, and if the customer does not use dexos 1 oil in their gasoline-powered GM vehicle, that act alone could void the warranty. The same goes for GM vehicles with diesel engines, which use a diesel-specific “dexos 2” oil blend.
September sales information
From Automotive News: Retail sales at General Motor's four core brands sprinted to a 39 percent gain in September, aided by strong pickup demand and comparisons with a weak year-earlier period that marked the first month after cash-for-clunker incentives. Overall sales, including those to fleets, at Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC rose 22 percent for the month. Add in four discontinued brands that are running out of inventory, and GM's total sales rose a more moderate 11 percent. Demand for the Chevrolet Silverado pickup jumped 66 percent to 32,185 units, including a 64 percent gain in retail sales, said Alan Batey, Chevrolet sales chief. The GMC Sierra posted a 53 percent sales increase in September vs. the year-earlier period. GM's average transaction price in September was $31,600 per vehicle, just slightly below an average $32,000 in the year-earlier period. Johnson said GM retail shoppers can expect better selection and availability of vehicles going forward. Because of production increases in recent months, GM's four core brands now have 478,000 vehicles in inventory, he said, a 22 percent gain over the 393,000 in inventory at the end of September 2009. Batey said output of the new Chevrolet Cruze is expected to reach full production at GM's Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly Plant in November. And Flint (Mich.) Assembly, where GM makes both light- and heavy-duty versions of the Silverado and Sierra, is operating on maximum overtime.
Here are the September results for the van:
2010 2009 Change Share
Ford Econoline 8471 6786 +24.8% 54.9%
GM 6156 5175 +19.0% 39.9%
Mercedes Sprinter 804 --- --- 5.2%
Ford Transit 3571 1527 +134%
Note: We sold 5750 vans in August. We produced 8125 vans in September.
From President Dan Howell: This Wednesday is the deadline to register to vote for the November 2 elections. You can go to www.govotemissouri.comto register online and download information about polling places, what’s on the ballot and other election-related information.
From AOL Autos: If you're thinking about buying a 2011 General Motors vehicle, you'll be getting more than just a new car, crossover, SUV or truck. The oil in your new vehicle's engine will be new as well, meeting a recently unveiled specification called "dexos 1." Oils that meet the dexos 1 (yes, with a lowercase “d”) standard provide some real benefits. However, when it comes time for that first oil change, expect a 25-30 percent cost increase -- which could be about the same as choosing pure synthetic oil. Further, GM says that if a customer has an engine failure that is traced to oil or lubrication issues, and if the customer does not use dexos 1 oil in their gasoline-powered GM vehicle, that act alone could void the warranty. The same goes for GM vehicles with diesel engines, which use a diesel-specific “dexos 2” oil blend.
September sales information
From Automotive News: Retail sales at General Motor's four core brands sprinted to a 39 percent gain in September, aided by strong pickup demand and comparisons with a weak year-earlier period that marked the first month after cash-for-clunker incentives. Overall sales, including those to fleets, at Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC rose 22 percent for the month. Add in four discontinued brands that are running out of inventory, and GM's total sales rose a more moderate 11 percent. Demand for the Chevrolet Silverado pickup jumped 66 percent to 32,185 units, including a 64 percent gain in retail sales, said Alan Batey, Chevrolet sales chief. The GMC Sierra posted a 53 percent sales increase in September vs. the year-earlier period. GM's average transaction price in September was $31,600 per vehicle, just slightly below an average $32,000 in the year-earlier period. Johnson said GM retail shoppers can expect better selection and availability of vehicles going forward. Because of production increases in recent months, GM's four core brands now have 478,000 vehicles in inventory, he said, a 22 percent gain over the 393,000 in inventory at the end of September 2009. Batey said output of the new Chevrolet Cruze is expected to reach full production at GM's Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly Plant in November. And Flint (Mich.) Assembly, where GM makes both light- and heavy-duty versions of the Silverado and Sierra, is operating on maximum overtime.
Here are the September results for the van:
2010 2009 Change Share
Ford Econoline 8471 6786 +24.8% 54.9%
GM 6156 5175 +19.0% 39.9%
Mercedes Sprinter 804 --- --- 5.2%
Ford Transit 3571 1527 +134%
Note: We sold 5750 vans in August. We produced 8125 vans in September.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)