General Motors to Invest $1 Billion in Brazil Operations - Money to Come from U.S. Rescue Program

Latin American Herald Tribune ^ | January 25, 2009 | Russ Dallen

[fso301]

This is why a tax cut is fairer than stimulus.

[SouthTexas]

Good point.

[BobL]

If I were GM, I wouldn’t invest another penny in this country, until a few things changed:

1) Unions
2) Labor Law
3) Environmental Laws
4) Legal System
5) OHSA
6) etc., etc., etc.

I support them sending the money to Brazil, at least there’s a chance to get some return on it, and maybe pay back our government.

Finally, GM is showing some intelligence.

(I know, I know, but if we don’t get to the rut of the problems here, we’re hosed no matter how much money we throw at our problems. Think about it.)

[norton]

"...more like a case of investing in technology American labor unions won't let them use here."

I think this is probably the best description and because of it I don't have much problem with the investment.

Remember, the bail out was to sustain the company, not a jobs thing. If GM invests in US plants, fine and good. But moving investments - work - from the unionized north into the right to work south only buys more union hassles. There will be enough difficulty dealing with union feather bedders as it is.

I didn't like TARP then and I don't like it or anything else I've had described as a stimulus. But short of taking the money back, it is theirs to use in sustaining and/or strengthening the company itself. Not the United Auto 'Workers'.

(From what we've seen so far, Obama isn't thinking too much about those jobs either...but we'll eventually have more bridges to walk across and nicer government offices to visit when we get there.)

So, if GM is still building cars in ten years ask if they have a better product - and whether or not you can afford to buy one.

[PhiKapMom]

New slogan should be “Go South Young Man” from Mexico to Brazil! :)

[TwelveOfTwenty]

Check out the vidoe of Ford's new high-tech plant in Brazil and then ask yourself why this couldn't be done in the USA.

I don't have to. That question is answered by the last sentence in the video.

[chiefqc]

How long will it take before the voters get the picture that our elected officals are as crooked as they come and are f-ing them at every turn?

[Colorado Doug]

You left out the Chinese and Russian plants. Besides, GM didn't have any billions so I think we know where the money came from.

[Deadeye Division]

Bump

[TheBattman]

and the car makers are F*CKIN stupid beyond words.

Yeah - stupid all the way to the bank (and to Brazil) with a pocket full of taxpayer money...

[TheBattman]

Russia too...

ST. PETERSBURG, RUS. November 7, 2008: General Motors (GM) opened today a $300 million, flexible assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, in presence of President Dmitry Medvedev. The plant will add 70,000 units of capacity to more than 100,000 already available to GM at joint venture and partner facilities in the country. It will build the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva SUVs and, as of late 2009, the all-new Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. The plant features a flexible, modern design that can accommodate a variety of different models.

“Today’s plant opening underlines GM’s strong commitment to Russia,” said GME President Carl-Peter Forster at today’s opening ceremony. “This new plant will cement our position as the number one non-domestic manufacturer in Russia, a high-volume growth market with outstanding potential.” The new GM plant in Shushary on the outskirts of St. Petersburg is the third manufacturing site to build GM vehicles in Russia. In Togliatti, the GM Avtovaz joint venture plant is manufacturing the Chevrolet Niva SUV, and in Kaliningrad GM’s partner, Avtotor, is assembling various Chevrolet, Cadillac and Hummer models for the Russian market.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/11/07/224691.html

[SERE_DOC]

uaw

[Minus_The_Bear]

bttt