Posted on 08/22/2006 6:59:41 AM PDT by Graybeard58
General Motors Corp. will save about 2,500 jobs in Oshawa, Ontario, by building a revived Chevrolet Camaro sports car there in two years, the union that represents the workers said.
Production of the 2009 Camaro will begin at the end of 2008 as part of a $662 million investment, the company's Canadian unit said Monday. GM, the world's largest automaker, made the previous Camaro in Ste. Therese, Quebec, until 2002.
Members of the Canadian Auto Workers paved the way for the decision by agreeing in March to concessions that included shorter break times and use of contract employees.
GM said the investment is designed to give the plant flexibility to build a variety of vehicles. The Oshawa plant now makes Buick Lacrosse, Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Impala cars.
"We are thrilled about this, it means that any job losses will be through attrition, the workers' own decision," Peter Kennedy, a union spokesman, said in an interview. "But this doesn't solve everything. We're hopeful that ($662 million) investment means something else will come in to sustain the business there."
About 100,000 Camaros will be built annually, Kennedy said.
He provided the estimate of jobs saved, from about 6,000 workers at the factory.
The Detroit-based automaker said earlier this month it would bring back the Camaro. GM built the so-called muscle car from 1966 until 2002, when annual sales dwindled to 28,404 from a peak of 260,201 in 1978.
I bought a Z-28 Camero new in '97. Nothing but problems and expensive upkeep, from a burglar alarm that went off every time it rained to a fuel pump that expired as soon as the warranty did ($1,000), along with the electric window motor, water pump and tires at $1,200 per set that had to be replaced if you actually drove on them for 15-20,000 miles. The only thing it had going for it was that it was fast and looked nice.
I'll stick with my Toyota from now on.
Tell us how you REALLY feel! lol!
My 2001 Camaro SS cannot compare with my 2003 Mustang Cobra. I get better performance, better fuel mileage and I can see over the hood!
I do hope that GM doesn't "screw the pooch" the way it did with the "new" Pontiac GTO. That was an utter disaster.
What kind of mileage will these things get...
Oh yea? Don't bet on it.
I had a 1978 Camaro with a 305 Small Block. One turn of the key and all I could hear was Highway Star.
actually quite good if driven moderately, and quite bad if driven hard
Why don't they bring back something the public is crying out for ? Like the Corvair...
That is sweet....
They might call that a Camaro, but it's not a Camaro.
Why didn't they follow the Ford lead and simply spruce-up the original design?
*sigh* i miss my IROC. ripped out the stupid 305 engine, replaced with a properly built 350. i loved that thing.
If history is any guide;
1. They'll raise the roof-line for the soccer moms and elderly ;)
2. They'll mute some of the sharper edges.
3. A less aggressive forward profile.
I don't know if I like the tail-lamps. I think I'd prefer something round that pulls from the older heritage.
If this is gonna sell, it better come stock with 300+ hp.
I had a 96 Z. Most fun car to drive I have ever owned. I did have a sensor die but it was covered by warranty. By comparison, I now have a very boring-to-drive Maxima.
I might just break down and buy a new Camaro before I get too old to drive one.
"Unfortunately, if history is any guide, initial quality will be sub-par, destroying the reputation before it gets launched. On top of that, GM will overprice it, its dealers will add a premium on top of that, and sales will be sluggish because of it. After a couple of years of quality problems and slow sales, they'll finally get all the bugs worked out and adjust the price only to cancel it."
That pretty much sums up GMs product offering handbook. But it's all the union's fault, right?
"They might call that a Camaro, but it's not a Camaro.
Why didn't they follow the Ford lead and simply spruce-up the original design?"
I know it's fun to complain... but that is based on the original design. Go look up a 1967 Camaro.
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