GM closing Ontario, Detroit, and Ohio factories
12-09-18, 08:44 AM
#242
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Tesla is nonunion.
What I find funny is look at the picture at the top of the screen of presumably employee cars parked behind the plant's sign. I see a Range Rover, an Infiniti QX60 and a Toyota Corolla. Remember, these employees get HUGE discounts on GM vehicles, yet, they bought these...
What I find funny is look at the picture at the top of the screen of presumably employee cars parked behind the plant's sign. I see a Range Rover, an Infiniti QX60 and a Toyota Corolla. Remember, these employees get HUGE discounts on GM vehicles, yet, they bought these...
Sharp contrast to what GM is doing. Tesla now has 10,000 workers at their Fremont location.
12-09-18, 09:55 AM
#243
Lexus Fanatic
I guess if it boiled down a choice of being unemployed or putting food on the table, that would be one thing, but I just wonder how many people, if they had viable a choice, would want to work for Elon Musk. He was once a credible entrepreneur and CEO, but, lately, seems to be losing it. Mary Barra, I thought, may have made a questionable decision, but, at least, still seems to have a full deck.
12-09-18, 10:20 AM
#244
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I guess if it boiled down a choice of being unemployed or putting food on the table, that would be one thing, but I just wonder how many people, if they had viable a choice, would want to work for Elon Musk. He was once a credible entrepreneur and CEO, but, lately, seems to be losing it. Mary Barra, I thought, may have made a questionable decision, but, at least, still seems to have a full deck.
I do agree, Musk does not seem to be all there
12-09-18, 10:32 AM
#245
Lexus Fanatic
On the other hand, Tesla seems to be on the path to actually go somewhere with their brand, GM has been losing market share and shedding US capacity for 30 plus years. Like I mentioned earlier, Tesla now employs 10,000 workers at Fremont, when has GM added 10,000 new employees.
Tesla, though, is (potentially) getting in over their heads worse than GM. GM is at least not stuck with ownership of (and responsibility for running) those Tesla dealerships. Bob Lutz correctly points out that company-ownership of dealers (as opposed to private dealer-franchises) has never worked in the auto industry, and is not working now.
12-09-18, 10:57 AM
#246
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Tesla, though, is (potentially) getting in over their heads worse than GM. GM is at least not stuck with ownership of (and responsibility for running) those Tesla dealerships. Bob Lutz correctly points out that company-ownership of dealers (as opposed to private dealer-franchises) has never worked in the auto industry, and is not working now.
12-09-18, 11:01 AM
#247
Lexus Fanatic
I miss what your point in what you are trying to say with the company owned retail locations. GM closed a lot of franchises back in the bail out era. If GM is losing market share, they probably are expanding their franchises. I do think Tesla is going to go out of business or be bought out, however they are increasing their market share in North America, I don’t think GM is.
12-09-18, 11:17 AM
#248
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
What GM closed was not company-owned franchises....for the most part, there are none, and never were. They were privately owned franchises that sold GM products. GM doesn't have to pay the bills for running private franchises....Tesla, with their comany-owned stores, does.
As for Tesla, I still do not see waht you are trying to express. Having company owned retail stores works to their advantage as they can just close them at will if they want to. I do not think company owned locations is good for consumers, but I think that is for a different discussion
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 12-09-18 at 11:41 AM.
12-09-18, 04:08 PM
#251
Lexus Fanatic
GM did close dealers after the bail out, they just refused to renew the franchise agreements to dealers or for those who were underperforming. I think GM even offered incentives to for some of these dealers to close. GM also closed off brands such as Pontiac or Saab which would suggest those who owned dealers would be closing their locations. I think officially cut 1100 locations.
Yes, no arguments there....you are correct. Chrysler also cut a lot of dealerships at the time. I was refering to company-owned shops, though, not independent franchises such as as these were.
As for Tesla, I still do not see waht you are trying to express. Having company owned retail stores works to their advantage as they can just close them at will if they want to. I do not think company owned locations is good for consumers, but I think that is for a different discussion
12-09-18, 04:49 PM
#252
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
It makes for a huge amount of overhead. A lot of publicity is given to GM's overhead in retirement/pensions, but comparably little to what Tesla also has to absorb every day with the cost of all those company-owned facilities. Unlike GM, Tesla (even though GM had a lot more dealerships) has cover all of the costs of running those shops....property-taxes, utilities, heating/cooling, employee/manager salaries, upkeep, maintenance, cost of new equipment, etc..... With GM, most of that is handled at the dealer level, with private franchises.
12-09-18, 04:57 PM
#253
Lexus Fanatic
I see what you are saying now. I think at the end of the day, it will be the same difference. Some people on here seem to think that the Tesla way of selling cars is the better way. I do not. I believe Tesla is having problems meeting their build demands, while GM has over capacity. I still think this idea put forth by Tesla is more PR than it is real substance.
12-09-18, 05:10 PM
#254
Lexus Fanatic
Tesla, though, is (potentially) getting in over their heads worse than GM. GM is at least not stuck with ownership of (and responsibility for running) those Tesla dealerships. Bob Lutz correctly points out that company-ownership of dealers (as opposed to private dealer-franchises) has never worked in the auto industry, and is not working now.
GM should have been left to die in 2009 instead they are going to repeat the same mistakes and could end up going bankrupt again.
12-09-18, 05:21 PM
#255
Lexus Fanatic
Lutz has made several predictions on Tesla that are turning out to be completely wrong the guy is a dinosaur. Much like GM they are clinging to SUVs and trucks to keep themselves going this isn't going to last forever.
GM should have been left to die in 2009 instead they are going to repeat the same mistakes and could end up going bankrupt again.
