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I worked for GM in St Catharines from 1983 to 1994. At it's peek, GM employed just over 11,000 people in St Catharines. There were 4 plants here at one time. When I left they were down to about 3400. Today they are around the 3000 mark. They closed two plants and the remaining two are barely alive. Across NA they are closing plants and trimming the workforce at alarming rates. Some financial experts believe that it is only a matter of time before they will have to file a bankruptcy claim. They are dumping their interest in Isuzu and are actively seeking to drop 50% of GMAC (about the only division that made money)
Ford and DCX are not in that much better shape. DCX is making a little money but are like number 4 or 5 now. Ford pulled the trigger on the layoffs and plant closures a little sooner than GM but too late to really impact the future.
Today, we have many of the offshore makers building and assembling vehicles in North America. The profits going back home. I have been working for and with the auto industry, mainly GM for about 23 years and I have never seen it as bad as it is today. The future, at least for the next 10 or so years is in China, not only for the savings in manufacturing but for the emerging market as well.
Ford and DCX are not in that much better shape. DCX is making a little money but are like number 4 or 5 now. Ford pulled the trigger on the layoffs and plant closures a little sooner than GM but too late to really impact the future.
Today, we have many of the offshore makers building and assembling vehicles in North America. The profits going back home. I have been working for and with the auto industry, mainly GM for about 23 years and I have never seen it as bad as it is today. The future, at least for the next 10 or so years is in China, not only for the savings in manufacturing but for the emerging market as well.