The last time we heard that GM’s new Flint engine plant was canceled, we listed it as a Volt Birth Watch. After all, Flint was supposed to produce 1.4 liter four-cylinder engines for Volt range-extender duty as well as for the Cruze and siblings (in turbo form). But as we noted then, GM insists that Volt and Cruze will go ahead as planned regardless of whether the Flint plant is built. How? By importing 1.4s from Austria, according to MLive. But are imported engines included in those old “unprofitable at $40k” Volt cost estimates? We’d guess not. In any case, ABC reports that Flint conctracts have been canceled, and GM just ain’t sweating these details. Volts will have engines come 2010, and damn the german accent. And massive unprofitability. And already-approved tax credits. And patriotic subtext. So really, this is just another “GM manages to pee on its own leg” post. The Volt is just fine, thanks for asking.
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Does GM cancel and approve everything at least twice? You get whiplash watching their announcements and then their announcements of their cancellation of their previous announcement and then their uncancellation of their cancellation of their previous announcement and then their cancellation of the uncancellation of their cancellation of their previous announcement.
Korean batteries, Euro engine, American tax dollars.
@ NN: It’s truly a ‘global’ endeavor!
NN-Wait until they start shipping the bodies from Korea!
Bunter
NN, Bunter: GM should not be blamed for trying to find the best and cheapest parts anywhere they can. The alternative is producing an even more unprofitable vehicle with domestic parts only.
She should have stuck with acting.
Politics aside, you can bet the same numbers (transport costs, labor costs, tax credits, federal loans…) are being crunched 10 times a day, 10 different ways along the river. Whoever gets closest to 2 + 2 = 3 wins, until someone else gets closer. Bye for now, see you soon Flint Engine.
Robbie-I don’t blame them for that at all.
I do blame them for doing it while they wave a flag in my face and have their hand in my wallet.
That’s all.
Bunter
Very difficult and a long lead time to build an engine plant from scratch. They would be building the tooling and lines right now if they wanted to launch in 2008. And soon they would be starting the install and they need to build a building right now if they are not using existing.
And us Canadians would liketo take this opportunity to thankyou Americans for taking Governor Granholm off our hands.
Austrian engine.
Korean batteries.
American Innovation!
“And us Canadians would liketo take this opportunity to thank you Americans for taking Governor Granholm off our hands.”
She sure has an interesting resume. Former “The Dating Game” contestant, “Miss San Carlos” winner and failed actress. Wikipedia sure can be entertaining:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_Granholm
German Platform
Korean batteries
European designed engine
European built engine
German chief engineer
Sounds like an American De-evolution. (Put a devo group picture here.)
At least in the depression American designed and engineered their own cars.
Anything stinks…………
Flint has a fairly new engine plant next to the site of where the Volt engine was/is planning to be built. Why can’t GM save some money and convert it over?
Complete. Lack of. Leadership.
There is no forward-looking vision. No leader to set a target and require the company to hit the target. GM mangement only reacts to outside circumstances, late. And then second- (and third-) guesses every decision.
Wretched little parasites, ain’t she?..She reminds me of Baghdad Bob.
Remember all of this blovating is on a car yet to be produced at a price point nearly twice it’s competitors. Americans don’t trust: GM to actually build the thing in quantity, Stand behind the vehicle in quality and promotion, improve the vehcile with model updates, go the distance by still be building it in 10 years. In other words, make this a good investment that depreciates at a normal rate. Too many have already moved past GM and will not look back to any more of their “game changers”.