Updates
March 3, 2012: Finally reported at LA Times -- hidden fairly deep in the on-line edition. Not yet reported at CNN.com. Not at Chevy Volt's official web page. Not yet at USAToday.com. Wow.
Later: Yup, not a hoax. The Hill.com. The Washington Examiner.com: GM blames media.
"GM blamed the lack of sales in January on “exaggerated” media reports and the federal government's investigation into Volt batteries catching fire, which officially began in November and ended Jan. 21," the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News reported.I thought the reports were pretty accurate, based on what I know. What I don't understand is this: if the government can mandate everyone to buy health insurance, why can't the government mandate everyone's first car be an EV or hybrid? Work the law this way: one cannot buy auto insurance if one car on the policy is not an EV or hybrid. And, then, of course, mandate that everyone must have insurance (which I believe is the case in most states if not all).
Original Post
Link here. Checking to make sure this is not a hoax.
Another link here; I don't find it in mainstream media yet.
Fox Nation link here.
If this is not a hoax, this is the press release:
General Motors has told 1,300 employees at its Detroit Hamtramck that they will be temporarily laid off for five weeks as the company halts production of the Chevrolet Volt and its European counterpart, the Opel Ampera.
“Even with sales up in February over January, we are still seeking to align our production with demand,” said GM spokesman Chris Lee.
Lee said employees were told Thursday that production would put on hold from March 19 to April 23.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/gm-stops-building-slow-selling-chevy-volts-for-5-weeks/1
ReplyDeleteChris gets "bragging rights" for being the first to alert me to this story. Grant was the first to send link confirming the story. I did not know if it might be a hoax. I was spoofed some time ago on a different subject, and am now a bit more cautious when posting. Just a bit more.
DeleteReuters has this story, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Considering President Obama just visiting the plant earlier in the week and extolling the virtues of the Volt, and seeing sales rebound in February, I honestly thought the story might be a hoax. This is a huge story on so many levels.
DeleteYears ago when I was in Europe and watching the Berlin Wall fall, I thought the Russians were moving to an American-style capitalist system, just as the US was moving to a Eurasian socialist system. The USSR was famous for its central planning. (I wrote the scenario, but never published.)
At the time I was in Europe, I never imagined that General Motors would become Government Motors, and I never imagined that the government would be "mandating" a specific vehicle, i.e., central planning. (Yeah, I know "mandating" is a stretch; that's why I put it in quotes, but it's a slippery slope when the federal government/owner provides excessive tax credits at expense of other taxpayers.)
will GM start selling the volt on EBAY or Home Shopping Network for car collectors like J Leno..
ReplyDeleteor is this a product for the marketing man of tv, and wait there is more.. get the second one free . just pay shipping and proceesing..
Was Obama there to give them the layoff notices?
ReplyDeleteanon 1
Michelle sent them cards with "I feel your pain."
DeleteI bought a Kia Sorento last year. First car in 30 years that I can say I have zero complaints. I bought the basic car with no extras and I'm very happy! Sorry I can't say that about any other car I have had. Saturn was the worst! Jetta Turbo diesel did well until the turbo went out at five years. Hate to waste money. Especially hard earned money! Anyway, felt good that the plant was in the US. Korean Company with the manufacturing in Georgia. Everyones a winner. This GM thing is true madness!
ReplyDeleteExcept for a Toyota Corolla back in 1980, I had never owned a "foreign" car until this past year when I bought a Honda Civic, basic. I have never enjoyed an automobile so much. Sporty. I got 49 miles per gallon on the cross country trip from Williston, ND, to Boston, MA, after purchasing it at Murphy Motors in Williston, ND. Their service was outstanding.
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