BMW has announced that they will be offering buyout packages to their employees despite their earlier premise of additional jobs needed at the Greer Plant. It doesn’t take a genius to note that this is in line with the growing problems of the economy but what is really contradicting is their continued expansion efforts.

There were no details of the buyout packages as of yet. Similar to the fate of most popular car brands, BMW is likewise succumbing to the economic pinch and the best they can do for now is look out for the welfare of their workers in an orderly manner.

By BMW’s estimates, about 5,000 people work at the local plant, including some contract workers may be cut due to the poor sales and rising operation expenses being incurred by the company to date.

(Source) News Observer

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Auto parts are in the limelight these days and this again points towards the growing practice of making do with your old vehicles by maintaining and fine-tuning them. Apparently this covers most motorists today, even the off-roaders who are prone to more repairs and need for replacement parts due to their nature of motoring. This also includes other accessories such as warn winches which will certainly come in handy when off-roaders are outdoors.

And to make sure that these off-roaders can locate their parts easier, TransAmerican Auto Parts adds another distribution point of sale with the acquisition of GoWarn.com which caters to warn winches.

Warn has made its mark in the off-road industry time and again by focusing on what the everyday off-roader needs and will use in his or her adventures. Warn really began to showcase their dedication to the everyday off-roader in 1959 when they produced the first recreational winch. With this tool, off-roaders discovered they could do the jobs they’d been paying tow trucks to do for years.

(Source) Press

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General Motor employees who have been laid off may be down and gloomy these days. Now that they have lost their jobs, life becomes harder for them in sustaining their needs. However, Spartan Stores may have something that should be a big help to their fortunes.

Spartan Stores throughout Michigan will be offering the Michigan Proud Card where former GM employees who avail of them would get 10% off on groceries and 3% on fuel until June 12, 2009 when scanned prior to a transaction at any D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, Felpausch, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Marketplace or VG’s Michigan location.

We all know the American Auto Industry is going through a difficult period,” noted Alan Hartline, Executive Vice President Merchandising and Marketing Spartan Stores. “Yet we believe the American Spirit will prevail and the industry will come out of this difficult time a new and stronger entity. We in Michigan appreciate the contributions the auto industry has made to our country, communities and families and wish to assist with the MICHIGAN PROUD card.

(Source) Press

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To help in the immediate sale and disposal of their new and pre-owned vehicles, iBidMotors has announced that it will give all GM & Chrysler dealers the ability to advertise their inventory at no charge for 60 days. iBidmotors has been going great guns as of late, hitting $100M in sales online and acquiring Monster Motors. This latest move is bound to further bolster their credibility although their main focus is to aid the many dealers who are going to be cut off soon by the two giant car manufacturers from the US.

“iBidMotors’ commitment to GM and Chrysler during these turbulent times is unprecedented,” said Bob Schiff, iBidMotors Founder and CEO. “Over 8,000 car dealers are affected by this bankruptcy, and by offering to advertise their inventory online for free, iBidMotors will help viable dealerships continue to thrive and contribute to saving jobs in communities across the country,” said Schiff.

iBidMotors has hired additional staff to accommodate the influx of new clients that they expect will take advantage of this extraordinary offer. Dealers have until June 30th to sign up for this program.

(Source) Press

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For the many dealers of GM and Chrysler who have been cut off, each form of assistance will count. As far as trying to dispose of their current vehicle inventory is concerned, dealers from the endangered car giants get a reprieve as AutomotiveXS has waived fees for dealers who can now post their product at the marketplace for automotive parts and accessories.

To qualify, these dealers just need to register at www.automotivexs.com/register.php and enter promotion code “AXSDEALERS.”

GM recently announced that it won’t renew franchise agreements with about 1,100 dealerships when the contracts are up for renewal in late 2010, and Chrysler plans to drop nearly 800 dealerships. Dan De Vlieger, founder of AutomotiveXS.com, said that these disenfranchised dealers will no doubt have parts and accessories lingering on store shelves.

“I believe that there are people out there looking for the parts and accessories that are gathering dust on the dealers’ shelves,” he said. “I want to link some buyers with sellers and maybe we can help save some jobs at the same time.”

(Source) Press

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While most critics are speculating and a wide number of GM plants to be abandoned soon, the matter of what would happen to these empty buildings and lots has many curious onlookers thinking, what would become of them? Well surely, GM will still hold on to them unless of course a great offer comes for the lease or purchase of these former GM plants.

As for earlier abandoned lots, they have already been converted into something useful. Something similar to the Tinker Air Force Base which transformed the former GM plant based in Oklahoma into an aerospace facility, an industry that has been slowly flourishing.

“This provides a significant benefit to the many public-private partnerships that have become the hallmark of Tinker’s success,” Williams said.

Oklahoma’s benefits from repurposing a former GM plant include:

• Recoup lost jobs
• Repurpose major infrastructure
• Increase growth of the state’s aerospace industry
• Bring new business opportunities for the private sector

That is only one transformation we have seen. Surely, we will be seeing more of these abandoned GM factories transformed and surely they are going to come from businesses that are still doing good despite the recession.

(Source) Press

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The Chrysler turmoil continues as the Committee of Chrysler affected dealers aim to protest the cancellation of 789 dealer franchise agreements. Apparently a lot of these dealers are seeking the US Bankruptcy Court to delay hearings until the amicable settlement on asset sales has been reached.

“Chrysler’s proposed asset sale and request for immediate termination of dealer franchises will destroy several hundred independent businesses, ruin the livelihoods of their owners, cause the loss of thousands of jobs and precipitate inevitable personal and business bankruptcies flowing from the closing of the affected dealers,”

The move may be a big blow for Chrysler’s transition towards the “New Chrysler” with Fiat/UAW presumably assuming control over the troubled carmakers operations. Then again, this was to be expected as a lot of loose ends are bound to come out from this Chrysler debacle.

(Source) Press

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The world’s first purpose-built vehicle was officially introduced in the market by Bright Vehicles. The vehicle is called the IDEA, the multi-use vehicle falls into the light truck classification. The company announced it plans to produce 50,000 vehicles annually by 2013, providing businesses and government agencies with a highly durable, cost-saving and eco-friendly new vehicle, and creating thousands of American jobs.

Bright Automotive showed a fully operating concept version of the vehicle to a crowd that included Members of Congress, White House Officials, media, and customer and supplier representatives.

“We created the IDEA by starting with a clean sheet of paper, listening to customer needs, and using breakthrough technologies and materials,” said John E. Waters, President and CEO of Bright Automotive. “The IDEA leverages Bright’s highly experienced team and delivers a lower cost of ownership than competing vehicles. At the same time, the IDEA demonstrates technological leadership for the American auto industry and will create thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs here at home.”

High volume production of the IDEA will begin in the U.S. by the end of 2012 — with an annual run rate of 50,000 units beginning in 2013. To produce its vehicle, the company plans to create over 5,000 jobs — directly and through suppliers — by 2013.

(Source) Press

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Carmax Inc. has vouched to help urge Congress to include used cars in the “Cash for Clunkers” proposals. By including used vehicles, this legislation is better positioned to promote fuel efficiency, save jobs, and help more Americans afford a car. One legislative proposal that does include used cars is S. 247, sponsored by Senators Feinstein, Schumer, and Collins.

“More people will be able to participate in the program, more jobs will be saved, and more fuel-efficient vehicles will end up on the road by including used vehicles,” said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer. “Excluding this segment of the auto industry could potentially have a negative impact on millions of American workers and thousands of U.S.-based businesses. Nationally, used car sales outnumber new car sales nearly 3 to 1.”

Including used vehicles in the legislation will have the following benefits:

• Help More Americans Afford to Buy a Car
• Save More American Jobs
• Increase the Number of Eligible Fuel-efficient Cars on the Road

(Source) Press

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In a move that was supposed to help General Motors get rid of excess cars from its Heritage Collection, the anticipated weekend sale in Florida has been stopped all thanks to the intervention of the Federal Government. The cars are either duplicates, or cars like the millionth Saturn to be built, or cars from Car Shows that were modified with paint jobs

Greg Wallace with the Heritage collection says there was nothing for sale that was pivotal to their core historic collection. Buyers were eager to buy.

The NHTSA has halted the sale, saying that the new owners may try to register and drive some of the cars that were not street legal. GM says its been upfront with collectors that the cars all have salvage titles and cannot be registered for normal use. The agency has taken the Easter weekend off and won’t discuss the matter until Monday.

(Source) WSJM

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In a move that is aimed to come up with a win-win solution, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Chrysler will be in talks to help clear out the impending job issues surrounding the car industry.

“Getting to the bargaining table with Chrysler has taken longer than expected,” said CAW President Ken Lewenza. “But the CAW fully expects to get the process back on track and work towards reaching an agreement with Chrysler that will secure jobs here in Canada.”

Both Chrysler and General Motors must reach cost cutting agreements with all stakeholders before the fast approaching March 31 deadline, required by the Ontario and federal government to qualify for financial support.

The CAW represents approximately 8,000 workers at Chrysler in Brampton, Windsor, Etobicoke (Toronto) in assembly, auto parts and the offices.

The new agreement between the CAW and General Motors was reached on March 8 and ratified on March 11.

(Source) Press

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In case you missed it, there was a daring truck driver who save the lives of two girls in a highway accident last October. The gallant hero was Jorge Orozco Sanchez. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has honored Colorado truck driver Jorge Orozco Sanchez with the 26th Goodyear North American Highway Hero Award, in recognition of his effort in saving two young girls after a horrific highway accident last October.

Orozco Sanchez was named the 2008 Highway Hero here at a special awards banquet during the Mid-America Trucking Show. With the award, he also received a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque and a specially designed ring.

Founded in 1983, the Goodyear North America Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across North America.

(Source) Press

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With the demand for electric cars expected to further be bolstered, Norwegian car manufacturer Think is reportedly planning to open shop on American waters. Under their leaked plans involve producing 16,000 cars per year in the first phase and more later on. The company is in talks with eight states, including Michigan, on a site for the facility that would initially employ about 300 workers to build its TH!NK city car, Think said.

A technical center in conjunction with the plant would provide jobs for another 70 engineers and electric drive specialists, it said. Think, which is owned by private equity group Novus Energy Partners, aims to apply for low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy for developing U.S. production of fuel-efficient vehicles, the company said.

(Source) Reuters

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Here is a bright moment that the British auto industry will really enjoy. China has placed an order amounting to $1.3 billion on 10,000 Land Rovers and 3,000 Jaguars for the next three years. The deal is worth a much needed AUD$1.3 billion dollars and was secured by a Chinese trade delegation during a recent visit to the UK.

The timing couldn’t be better, with economic pressure having forced JLR into a variety of cost-cutting measures in recent times.

Around 2000 jobs have been cut over the past few months, with the remaining 12,000 workers currently in negotiations to secure their employment – albeit at reduced rates.

It’s good news for Tata Group and for the motoring public in general, especially as far as Jaguar is concerned.

(Source) TMR

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Approximately 220 people stand to lose their job as Bentley has announced hundreds of job cuts and layoffs amongst its workforce. Similar to what most car manufacturing companies worldwide are employing today, the British car industry is following the same path to be able to sustain operations and stay in business.

They also announced a temporary pay cut of ten per cent for its entire 3,600 workforce, including all management, from April 1 to the end of December.
(more…)

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