December 2, 2014 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
• Reminder: You can order jackets now through Dec. 5 at the Union Hall. These are heavier weight, lined jackets and will come with logos on the front and the UAW wheel logo on the back (all embroidered). Cost is $85 ($90 if you want your name on the front). When placing your order a $45 deposit will be required with the balance due upon receipt. Expect 4+ weeks for delivery of the jackets.
• General Motors Co. dealers in the United States delivered 225,818 vehicles last month for the company’s best November sales in seven years. Total sales were up 6 percent compared to a year ago, retail sales were up 5 percent and fleet deliveries were up 11 percent. The Buick brand had its best November since 2003. GMC had its best November since 2001, and the GMC Sierra had its best November sales ever. At Chevrolet, the Spark, Cruze and Equinox also had their best November sales ever, Silverado had its best November since 2006 and Traverse had its best November since 2010. “The buzz around Black Friday helped drive strong showroom traffic but there was a lot more at work in the market,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations. “More people have jobs and job security, their wages are starting to increase, household wealth is growing and low pump prices look like they’re here to stay through 2015. All of this helped deliver an exceptional month and it will help keep auto sales at very healthy levels going forward.”
Additional November Highlights (vs. 2013 except as noted)
Chevrolet: The Cruze was up 26 percent, Spark was up 64 percent, Sonic was up 3 percent. Silverado was up 24 percent, Tahoe was up 10 percent and Traverse was up 14 percent. Dealers delivered 2,366 all-new Colorados, ahead of plan, with a low retail days supply of 21 days.
GMC: GMC was up 23 percent. The Sierra was up 57 percent and the Yukon was up 14 percent. The Terrain was up 13 percent and 854 all-new Canyons were delivered, which is ahead of plan.
Buick: Buick was up 27 percent. Encore had a 72 percent sales increase, LaCrosse was up 71 percent and Verano was up 22 percent.
Cadillac: Cadillac Escalade deliveries were up 75 percent, with the retail days supply very tight at 16 days. Sales of the CTS sedan increased 18 percent.
Average Transaction Prices (ATPs): GM has now posted 26 consecutive months of year-over-year average transaction price (ATP) increases on the strength of new pickup trucks, SUVs and Cadillacs. ATPs were a record $35,600, according to J.D. Power PIN mid-month estimates, up $790 per unit compared to October and up $3,100 versus a year ago. GM’s November incentive spending as a percentage of ATPs was 10.4 percent, down 1.2 points month over month, while industry average spending was 9.6 percent of ATP, down 0.1 points.
Fleet and Commercial: Fleet sales were up 11 percent. Van sales totaled 5194, down 29% vs. last November.
• Now that most every automotive media outlet has done a review of the Colorado/Canyon (which have been overwhelmingly positive) it’s time for the inevitable comparisons to our competitors to begin. First out of the gate is Motor Trend, who did a 3-truck comparison with the Colorado Z71, the Tacoma TRD and the Frontier Pro 4X, all with V6 engines. The magazine article quickly dispatched the Frontier, choosing not to waste valuable print space, saying, “for more on the 3rd place finishing Nissan, visit motortrend.com”.
Going head to head with the long-time segment leading Tacoma, the first evaluation dealt with the powertrains and issues like acceleration, fuel economy and overall refinement. Doing the testing were three editors: Benson Kong, Kim Reynolds and Jason Udy. About the Toyota, “The engine note sounds as if it has half the cylinders it actually has," Reynolds observed of the Tacoma's powertrain, whereas Udy declared: "Great low-end torque. Loud exhaust, didn't like to rev, and sounded slightly strained." Turning to the Colorado, Udy again: "Initially I didn't like the sound and feel of the powertrain. It felt sluggish and didn't sound like it wanted to rev. Not as much low-end torque as the competitors' larger engines. By the end of the second day, the powertrain felt livelier. Smoothest revving engine and shifted smoothly." Acceleration times proved the superiority of the Colorado, which was quicker 0-60 mph (7.4 vs. 7.7) and in the ¼ mile. And Motor Trend’s “real fuel economy” measurement showed the Chevy topping the Toyota by 2 mpg combined. Round 1 to the Colorado.
Next up was ride and handling. Tests were done with loaded (880 lbs) and unloaded versions. Able to measure vertical movement, tests showed the Colorado registered the smallest difference between loaded and unloaded beds. Udy asserted the Bowtie truck has the "best handling feel" with its cab-isolating ride. Reynolds on the Colorado: "Its ride is more car-like than truck-like. Its smaller-than-full size results in a dramatic improvement in nimbleness. Full-size trucks can be quite ponderous." About the Tacoma, Kong wrote: “the hydraulically assisted power steering weighting would suddenly become heavy as the steering wheel passed true center.” To top it off the Chevy was quicker through the figure-eight and needed 12 less feet to stop from 60-0. Round 2 to the Colorado.
Interior features, quality and design was the final phase. Kong wrote, “There wasn't much of a contest with the interior accommodations either, with everyone preferring the Chevrolet's vastly more modern cabin as a place to spend time in.” After fiddling with each trucks' sound systems, Udy said: "Inside, the Colorado had the most comfortable seats. The materials and power lumbar helped. Best rear seat space and visibility. Nicest infotainment system, though no real nav. Best storage cubbies." The Tacoma drew scorn from Kong: “At initial inspection, some of the Tacoma's switches and the surfaces on the dashboard, panels, and headliner look like they're shared with a mid-1990s Camry.” Udy jotted down for the Toyota: "Harder to see over front headrests from back seat. Infotainment system and dash layout seemed old." Cabin noise as measured in sones was also lower in the Colorado (24.7 to 27.1). Round 3 to the Colorado.
At the end of the day, the Colorado was the unanimous winner. "Its power is smoothly delivered (almost car-like), and its steering points into a corner quite well for a truck," Reynolds determined of the matchup-winning truck. "What's not to like? If I absolutely had to have one this would be it."
Tom Brune
UAW Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
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