Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) and 2,000 non-unionized workers have celebrated the start of production of the all-new 2022 Corolla Cross. MTM, the only North American facility to produce the Corolla Cross, is a joint-venture between Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation in Alabama. The plant continues to hire in preparation for production of the as-yet-to-be-announced Mazda vehicle.
Alabama, aside from its history of racism and white supremacy, is a right to work*” (for less?) state, which means workers don’t have to be unionized.** Want to bet the Mazda will be a crossover, with maybe a sub-line for a hybrid and or EV? Toyota is vehemently lobbying against the Biden Administration’s ambitious Build Back Better plan that has a provision for made in American by union workers to be eligible for substantial taxpayer-subsidized EV subsidies. This is part of a forward-thinking strategic plan to create middle-class jobs and benefits from the Administration that was put in place by a majority of voters to rid our democracy of the treasonous former Administration still being led from Trump Castle in Mar-a-Lago (Mar-a-Lardo?) that promoted the January 6 insurrection attempt to take over the US Capital and overturn the Presidential election, aka Big Lie. Continue reading
GM Q3 US Sales Drop -33% as Semiconductor Shortage Bites
Click to Enlarge.
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) dealers delivered 446,997 vehicles in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2021, down 218,195 units or -33% from a year ago because of semiconductor supply chain disruptions and historically low inventories.
During the quarter, GM provided an update for investors that its wholesale volumes in North America in the second half of 2021 would be down about 200,000 units from the first half, largely because of supply chain disruptions in Malaysia caused by COVID-19, with most of the impact occurring during the third quarter.
GM’s financial outlook is still expected to be within the calendar year guidance range previously provided as the company continues to develop solutions to mitigate the impacts of the semiconductor shortage and Chevrolet Bolt EV recall. (Confirmed: General Motors to Recall more Bolt EVs at $1B Cost) Continue reading →