NPR - NUMMI Plant Closure Ends Toyota-GM Venture

[bridgit]

An interesting byline that delves into the brittle, heavy-handed always present American corporate approach to change & innovation and union relations. Most of which feeding a production line/business model that helped contribute to GM's demise in spite of their once-thought-to-be omnipotent grasp of market share

Citing GM's concentrated, profiteered preference for trucks and SUV's; even at what was a foreseeable time when gas prices *would* spike when the moment presented itself, as well their strange thinking Toyota's Prius was a form of publicity stunt - the piece points as well to union members seeking the job security of a unionized position. Though as well their self-corrosive work habits able to run counter to either longterm employment, union principles or production & quality control that could have contributed to a more stable work environment

When you get a minute, if you haven't already, check it out

NUMMI Plant Closure Ends Toyota-GM Venture
by Richard Gonzales

April 1, 2010

Listen to the Story http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=125430405&m=125441540

The only remaining auto manufacturing plant on the West Coast is closing Thursday, marking the end of an era in the history of automaking.

New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., also known as NUMMI, was a unique joint venture between Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, Calif., but the partnership ended when GM pulled out last year and Toyota decided to shut down the plant.

NUMMI's end began late last week when the company released about 1,000 workers who built Toyota Tacoma trucks. Some gathered in a local restaurant just an hour or so after they had filed out of the plant for the last time.

Curt Sanders, a 17-year veteran, said he was fine until his daughter texted him.

"As soon as my daughter texted me, you know, 'Everything's gonna be fine. We'll be OK, and this and that,' I just — that's when the river started," he said.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125430405

[divideandconquer]

1. Toyota builds plenty of gas pigs like the Sequoia, Tundra, Land Cruiser

GM sold a clone to the Corolla, the Chevy Prizm and buyers bought the Corolla instead. From what I've seen, foreign car buyers are conspicuous consumption types who like to act superior to American car buyers.

BTW, the Tundra and Sequioa gets worse gas mileage than comparable domestic vehicles, but never seemed to get called on it. Even a Ram Hemi gets better mpg than the comparable Tundra.
<http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm>

[bridgit]

3. Sequoia, Tundra, Land Cruiser are responses to America's opulent exceptionalism too

Listen to the RW, they think they deserve to squander it all down to nothing come hell, high water or both - thanks for the link :kick:

[musette_sf]

2. Local NPR early this afternoon had the NUMMI story from "All Things Considered"

on while I was driving around town doing errands.

I live in Fremont.

I had to change the station, it was just too sad to listen to right then. This is really terrible for Fremont.

All that the mayor and city council think, is that there's nothing that another crappy giant mall, parks and recreation boondoggle, or suburban ballpark village won't cure.

It's kind of Texas Tea Party, survival of the croniest around here. The "Free Market" is the solution to everything.

This sucks.

I've just downloaded it, I'll listen to it later.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125229157

[bridgit]

4. I hear you, I was at a focus group in Emeryville and picked it up afterward...

But yeah...sad