GM shutting down 4 truck plants

[kst$]

I understand that the we are becoming more aware of the gas guzling SUVs' and Trucks, and fewer and fewer if this vechicles are being sold. I just don't like the fact that so many people will be joining the enemployed. Even though some workers are taking early retirements or buy outs there will be some that will just plan be enemployed.

WILMINGTON, DEL. (June 3) - General Motors Corp. is closing four truck and SUV plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as surging fuel prices hasten a dramatic shift to smaller vehicles.
As fuel prices crush demand for gas-guzzling SUVs and pickups, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner announces plans to revitalize its car business. As it shifts its focus to smaller cars, General Motors also said that it will close 4 North American truck plants.
Tuesday before the automaker's annual meeting in Delaware the plants to be closed are in Oshawa, Ontario; Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wis.; and Toluca, Mexico. He also said the Hummer brand may be discontinued.

He also said the iconic Hummer brand may be discontinued.

General Motors to Close 4 Truck Plants


By TOM KRISHER,
I just wish that there was some way for them to keep those plants open and focus on smaller more economical cars. or the hybrids. So instead there are 4 more plants sitting empty and that will deterate in front of the people who live there for a reminder of better days.

[moneysense]

This sure isnt a help to todays economy. It will just add to the problems at hand, as so many people will be unemployed and not be able to meet their bills.

Plus this will be cause for more foreclosures in the real estate market, and that just adds more to the problems that we are having now.

Plus, the fact that the plants are being shut down, when they could be redone to make the smaller cars etc and still retain jobs for most of their employees, is a real shame.

Big business is all about self protection with little if any thought of the employees.

[pennypinch]

I am also sad to hear of the plants being shut down. So many men and women will be out of work now. I do understand though, that not many people can afford to buy the larger more expensive vehicles that guzzle fuel right now. I do like the idea of the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid that can go 40 miles without the use of fuel. I just wonder how costly it will be and who will be able to afford it.

[carol b]

Well in this job market this is bad news indeed. People are
struggling to find jobs now and more unemployed people isn't
going to make finding a job easier. These vehicles are gas
guzzlers and so the sales have dropped. Hence the closures
but if the communities or states that they are based in have
any sense at all the will help these companies find a product
that can be produced in these plants so that they can stay
open. It is important to these states and communities economically
without the money these people spend they will be hurting.

[moneysense]

Surely the could see the direction gas etc. was taking and acted accordingly.

I saw where foreign car makers are actually building more plants and some will be here in america, so why doesnt GM convert to making smaller vehicles instead of just shutting their doors?

This doesnt seem like very good business logic to me.