March 1, 2011 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: After auditors reviewed General Motor’s 2010 financial results, the maximum profit share payout will be $4790. You must have 1850 or more compensated hours for the maximum payout. To determine what your profit share payment will be if you had fewer hours, you need to multiply the number of compensated hours by $2.58919. Payout will be on the March 25 paycheck. Also, the bargaining committee members want you to know that there are many openings for vacation time in March.
From President Dan Howell: For anyone who is interested in becoming a chairperson or co-chairperson for a standing committee, I am accepting resumes. You can turn them in at the Union Hall.
Consumer Reports released their annual automotive rankings yesterday. To no one’s surprise here, the list of top vehicles in 10 categories is littered with Japanese/Asian brands. The Chevrolet Avalanche did manage to capture the full-size pickup category. Despite record recall numbers, Toyota still had the most winners – three. CR rated GM second from the bottom on its manufacturer scorecard and recommended 46% of its vehicles (by comparison, 76% of Honda’s vehicles are recommended). And just to add insult to injury, CR slammed the Chevy Volt despite its near universal praise from every other automotive publication. Lead tester (and former Nissan engineer) David Champion tested the Volt for range and came up with 26 miles pure electric – driving in the coldest winter weather of the season in Connecticut! Strangely, CR has not yet tested the Nissan Leaf, presumably waiting for ideal weather for testing conditions. GM has said that extreme temperatures can degrade electric range and Champion acknowledged that the car may perform better in temperate climates and in more city-like conditions. Said GM spokesman Greg Martin, "The technical reviews have been positive and it was unusual to have a snapshot under the most cold and snowy conditions this winter in the Northeast." The magazine has put about 2,500 miles on its Volt. It paid $48,700, including a $5,000 markup by a Chevy dealer. As a result, Champion can claim that the Volt is twice as expensive as CR’s green darling, the Toyota Prius. (they get gigged for a 5 grand markup and they’re giving car buying advice to the public?)
Retail Sales Propel General Motors to 49 Percent Gain in February
General Motors total sales in the United States rose 49 percent in February, as dealers reported 207,028 deliveries for the company’s four brands. For the second month in a row, the gain in total sales was driven by soaring retail demand for the company’s products. During the month, retail sales rose 70 percent – the highest year-over-year gain in the company’s history.
For the first two months of the year, GM’s total sales have risen 36 percent, while the company’s retail sales – those to individual consumers – have increased by 52 percent.
Retail sales of GM’s cars, trucks and crossovers all rose at least 59 percent or more during the month, up 76 percent, 74 percent and 59 percent, respectively.
“Our plan was to get off to a quick start this year, and we did just that,” said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “Having the right vehicles in inventory, combined with aggressive advertising and targeted consumer marketing has been the key to our success in the first two months this year.”
Brand Key Facts:
Chevrolet:Chevrolet dealers delivered 142,919 total vehicles in February, a 43-percent increase versus last year. Retail sales for Chevrolet rose 69 percent and were propelled by improving Cruze sales, which were 212 percent higher than the compact car it replaces. Silverado retail sales rose 84 percent, while Equinox posted its best February ever, with retail sales almost doubling, up 98 percent.
Buick: Buick reported 15,807 total sales, a 73-percent increase compared to February 2010. This includes a 90-percent surge in year-over-year retail sales, led by Regal (3,541units), Enclave and LaCrosse, which had retail sales 45 and 28 percent higher than last year, respectively. This marks the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains for the brand.
GMC: GMC reported total sales of 32,534, a 59-percent increase compared to the same month last year. This marks the 17th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases. Retail sales were 61 percent higher than last year, spurred by Sierra, Terrain, Yukon and Acadia – up 87 percent, 76 percent, 63 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Cadillac:Cadillac reported total sales of 15,768 for February – 70 percent higher than last February, with retail sales increasing 83 percent. February was the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year total and retail sales gains. CTS retail sales rose 159 percent, driven by strong demand for the all-new CTS Coupe and Sedan. SRX retail sales were up 62 percent compared to a year ago, and the Escalade family saw retail sale rise 27 percent versus February last year.
Fleet sales for GM’s four brands were 43,900 for the month, a 2-percent increase for the month, with sales to rental fleets down 5 percent during the same period. Sales to commercial customers rose 19 percent for the month, the 11th consecutive month of commercial fleet sales gains. Fleet accounted for 21 percent of GM total sales during the month.
Van sales were 4692 for the month, up 1.6% over last year. More to come tomorrow.
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