Report: GM Has No Replacement Lined Up For Vibe At NUMMI

[Perian]

Source: Automotive News Email Alert

DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors has not found a vehicle it could produce at a joint-venture factory it operates with Toyota Motor Corp. in California, a senior GM executive said today.

Troy Clarke, GM's president of North American operations, said that the U.S. automaker remained in talks with Toyota but had been unable to find a vehicle to replace the Pontiac Vibe, which will go out of production by the end of August.

[Perian]

Ok now. No Tacoma Jr. for Chevy or GMC and their current source of production has been given up for dead. Add in the Hummer potential deal going South and where do the next generation of GM small pickup trucks come from?

My guess: After an Orion like song and dance with the UAW either Spring Hill or Janesville will have their lights turned back on. That is if GM decides that there is a market for compact pickup trucks left in this country.

I don't believe that GM has the guts in the current political climate to announce importation of these two vehicles from Thailand. The strength of Ford Ranger* sales lately should send some kind of signal.

[2648562]

Minivan.

[Mcmflow]

Originally Posted by Perian

Ok now. No Tacoma Jr. for Chevy or GMC and their current source of production has been given up for dead. Add in the Hummer potential deal going South and where do the next generation of GM small pickup trucks come from?

My guess: After an Orion like song and dance with the UAW either Spring Hill or Janesville will have their lights turned back on. That is if GM decides that there is a market for compact pickup trucks left in this country.

I don't believe that GM has the guts to import these from Thailand.

I don't get what you are saying....you think it will be replaced by a small truck or not?

[mgescuro]

Wasn't that kinda obvious since Toyota is putting Prius at NUMMI?

[Perian]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Wasn't that kinda obvious since Toyota is putting Prius at NUMMI?

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-B...55G13L20090617

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp is preparing to ramp up production of the hot-selling Prius hybrid by adding weekend shifts, and denied a report that it was considering building the model at a plant in California held jointly with General Motors Corp.

Citing two people familiar with the plan, Bloomberg News said on Wednesday Toyota was considering making the Prius at the joint Nummi factory after it had indefinitely postponed the start of planned Prius production at a half-built factory in Mississippi.

"We are planning to produce the Prius at the Mississippi plant once the U.S. market recovers, and we are not considering production at Nummi," a Toyota spokeswoman said. The fate of the Nummi factory, held 50 percent each by Toyota and GM, has been called into question after the U.S. automaker filed for bankruptcy protection this month. The majority of the plant's production is already used for Toyota. GM produces one model, the Pontiac Vibe, and that brand is due to be discontinued next year.

[spidge]

Good. GM should produce their own vehicles, instead of rebadging Toyotas. I suggested the Toyota/Subaru coupe, but since this may or may not come out in the future, NUMMI should crank out all the Priuses they can. GM quality has improved to the point where their cars can compete with Toyota, WITHOUT BECOMING TOYOTAS.

[nsap]

Hmmm....GMI reported this months ago.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by Perian

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-B...55G13L20090617

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp is preparing to ramp up production of the hot-selling Prius hybrid by adding weekend shifts, and denied a report that it was considering building the model at a plant in California held jointly with General Motors Corp.

Citing two people familiar with the plan, Bloomberg News said on Wednesday Toyota was considering making the Prius at the joint Nummi factory after it had indefinitely postponed the start of planned Prius production at a half-built factory in Mississippi.

"We are planning to produce the Prius at the Mississippi plant once the U.S. market recovers, and we are not considering production at Nummi," a Toyota spokeswoman said. The fate of the Nummi factory, held 50 percent each by Toyota and GM, has been called into question after the U.S. automaker filed for bankruptcy protection this month. The majority of the plant's production is already used for Toyota. GM produces one model, the Pontiac Vibe, and that brand is due to be discontinued next year.

Soooo... Toyota didn't have a meeting with UAW members a week or two ago at NUMMI to discuss Prius....

[Drive_Fast]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Soooo... Toyota didn't have a meeting with UAW members a week or two ago at NUMMI to discuss Prius....

well would not any vibe replacement have to be based on the corolla like the vibe was as that plant produces i think on the corolla and the matrix and vibe. so unless they want to spend more $$$ they dont have it would be costly to add another line.... such as light trucks... how about they share light small trucks... tacoma/colorado.... with gm doing the energinering and toyota the designs...

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Originally Posted by 2648562

Minivan.

I think that's a great idea!

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by FUTURE_OF_GM

I think that's a great idea!

A minivan is about the only GM really is missing these days... and as they make progress with bringing out much higher quality vehicles I really wonder what is worth sharing with Toyota?

Either micro cars or minivans, nothing else comes to mind.

[CamaroCrazy]

You want to see the stuff hit the fan? Just try and produce a Toyota pickup and badge it as a Chevy. I know dozens of Chevy truck owners of all ages who drive Silverados, Avalanches, and Colorados and they would burn NUMMI to the ground before they would see a Chevy-badged Toyota pickup roll out of there. The worst thing GM could do is offend their most loyal fan base. Most of these people I speak of are also the types that would buy a Chevy but not a GMC. I really don't get it either, but these people exist.

[GMFAN85]

I'd say this is the perfect time for GM to cut ties with Toyota. They have no use for the NUMMI plant anymore.

[AMERICA 123]

Its 'possible' neither one 'really' wants to use the plant at this point - yet because of political considerations............ .