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.
Me too, it was the best car I ever had, it never left me stranded anywhere and always got me home. It had 182,000 miles on it and was still running when I had to let her go. I have a '02 Camaro which I have never had any problems with & it has 77,000 miles.
I think some people just find it fashionable to bash American cars. I've only had one American car that I had any trouble with - a '99 Pontiac Grand-Am and even then it wasn't major problems just annoying.
I bought the GM "Toyota" and like it quite a bit.
It doesn't need an anemic, old 400c.i. engine. It puffs along quite nicely on the 6.0Liter 400hp engine. I had a 400 in my 1972 Catalina. 200hp, I think, if I was lucky.
Nice interior, fast as hell and gets 24mpg on the hwy at 80mph.
If I were younger the only thing more I could ask for in it would be a bigger back seat.
The GTO was doomed from the start. GM never anticipated importing it for more than a few years plus they were constrained by UAW contract from importing more than 18,000 vehicles in a single year. No advertisement, $5k more than their target price and limited stock = no sales.
Don't matter. I got mine - and cheap.
Muscle car?
If I were in the market for an automobile, I would purchase PRIMARILY on fuel efficiency.
Had a 1967/327 that I wish I still had. Good looking, fast and trouble free.
She's 22 now, and 6 months pregnant.
My three girls, one of which is a GTO!
I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Your neighborhood looks like a back lot at MGM. Very nice, though. :)
Looks nice minus the spoiler. My wife said ours looks better with it on. In the interest of continued harmony, I agreed ;)
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