CA's sole remaining auto plant is preparing to make its final vehicle before closing its doors

[The Straight Story]

NUMMI plants shuts down in Fremont


FREMONT, Calif. (AP) -- California's sole remaining auto plant is preparing to make its final vehicle before closing its doors.

Thursday is the last day of operations for the New United Motor Manufacturing, or NUMMI, plant in Fremont.

NUMMI began 25 years ago as a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Co. GM pulled out last year, and Toyota later announced it would halt production, eliminating 4,700 jobs.

The plant has sent thousands of workers home in recent days. The remaining 1,500 employees are expected to clock out for the last time Thursday and be escorted from the facility.

Workers say they have not allowed their production to slip even though they knew the plant was closing down.

San Leandro resident Michelle Cesar said everyone was still doing their jobs "correctly and with pride."

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=78512&catid=2

[Xithras]

1. This impacts FAR more than 4700 people.

There's a company not far from me that makes door panel accessories for Toyota. They already closed their doors and laid off their staff. There are trucking companies that move parts around that have already fired their drivers and put their trucks up for sale. There are literally dozens of suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors across the region that employed more than 10,000 additional people who are closing their doors because Toyota is leaving the state. They have nobody to sell to now.

I heard it described yesterday as "The most painful economic hit taken by the region since the dotcom bust".

[DCKit]

2. K&R, but even more for what YOU said. Ahhh, that "trickle-on" economy. n/t

[musette_sf]

3. Tragic, and will have inestimable impact on the city and region.

:cry: :scared:

To all my neighbors who are suffering and who will suffer because of this, I am so, so sorry.