Wilmington Assembly has re-rate reduction announcement

[GM2004]

Wilmington Assembly, which manufacture the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, announced today that the plant will have a re-rate reduction based on market demand forcasted for 2008. The reduction will will shift from 176 units a day down to 156 units per day. Three shift operations will continue and will be dependant on actual market demand. The re-rate will become effective January 1, 2008.

[likearock00]

I guess this is a good idea. Hopefully sales will pick up and get this plant up to full speed once again.

[Perian]

Am I missing something here?

Why not just increase the production of export models (Daiwoo/Opel) while at the same time giving the Solstice a (much needed) rest?

Isn't this why the export models were developed?

[SierraGS]

Would like to see GM develop a 1-Series competitor from the Kappa platform with base 2.4L with DI and 200 HP, and optional 2.0L 260 HP Turbo and 300 HP 3.6L DI with 5-speed standard and 6-spped manual or Automatic optional.

GM should be able to make one for Pontiac starting around 23K and still leave room for the Alpha based Caddy (3-series competitor) at 28K.

[spaz]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

Would like to see GM develop a 1-Series competitor from the Kappa platform with base 2.4L with DI and 200 HP, and optional 2.0L 260 HP Turbo and 300 HP 3.6L DI with 5-speed standard and 6-spped manual or Automatic optional.

GM should be able to make one for Pontiac starting around 23K and still leave room for the Alpha based Caddy (3-series competitor) at 28K.

judging by the current cars even if they spliced a foot of wheelbase into the chassis, it would have an abnormally tall trans tunnel, and no luggage space. it would need to be a full blown redesign. if alpha is coming i wonder if they will create a kappa successor from alpha. that might be the type of 1 series competitor gm could theoretically build. lets see how the 1 does first here

[member12]

Originally Posted by Perian

Am I missing something here?

Why not just increase the production of export models (Daiwoo/Opel) while at the same time giving the Solstice a (much needed) rest?

Isn't this why the export models were developed?

Don't they only sell the export models in the northern hemisphere.

It's almost winter...the Solstice, Miata, Sky, and all roadsters are taking a hit. It'll pick up around spring when the weather gets warmer..and then some more after people get their tax returns back.

[GM2004]

As the supply of Solstices/Skys pile up, down weeks at the Wilmington Plant are now under consideration to adjust for market conditions. As early as the beginning of next year you could see the plant take a couple of weeks downtime to adjust inventories. The plant is also preparing for the launch of the 2009 Targa top, tentatively scheduled for late 2008.

[paul8488]

Ack. Boring Toyota Camrys and Corollas sell like hotcakes and an awesome new GM RWD roadster platform is seeing a slowdown. We say we want cool cars but we don't.