Tag Archives: auto bailouts

S&P Raises General Motors to Highest Junk Grade – BB+

The upgrade came one day after the GM’s 49,500 UAW employees ratified a new four-year contract that will not raise GM’s labor costs, and will provide bonuses based on profitability instead of automatic pay raises. GM at this time appears to have the lowest labor costs among the Detroit Three since both Ford Motor and Chrysler UAW contracts are unresolved. It’s ironic that it took a Democratic President to curb the union – in essence breaking it – under the forced bankruptcy reorganization of GM, which included a no strike clause. Continue reading

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GM UAW Contract Offers Profit Sharing, Some New Jobs

A new four-year labor contract that will be voted on by GM’s UAW workers this week and next includes modest increases in wages for new hires over four years – but not veterans – and the protection or creation of more than 6,000 plant jobs in the U.S. at GM and its component suppliers. Long time employees will be compensated going forward largely with profit-sharing based on GM’s results in North America. Continue reading

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Chrysler Pays Back Taxpayers. Fiat Now Firmly in Control

The historic bailout differs this time around in what’s left and more importantly who owns it – along with the familiar, nagging question, can Chrysler make it? The new Chrysler Group is now firmly, irrevocably in the hands of Fiat, an Italian multinational firm, which has a global fight in front if it as it too competes to survive in an automobile business dominated by much stronger competitors. Continue reading

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CAR on U.S. Economy Impact of GM’s Plant Investments

In an analysis of General Motors’ newly announced plant investments, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) today said that more than 28,000 jobs will be retained or created, and will contribute almost $2.9 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Continue reading

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Treasury Secretary Defends $80 Billion Auto Bailout, Says 90,000 Jobs Added in Strongest Growth Period in Decade

“For the first time since 2004, all three American automakers have an operating profit. And since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in June 2009, the industry has added nearly 90,000 jobs—the strongest period of job growth in more than 10 years,” Geithner said. Continue reading

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Chrysler to Repay Loans with New Debt. Fiat to Up Stake to 46%. Credit Ratings under Review for Possible Downgrade?

Chrysler Group will repay the loans provided from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Canadian federal and Ontario governments by June. Continue reading

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Fiat Increases Ownership of Chrysler Group to 30%

This newly enlarged Fiat position in the Michigan based automaker is the result of Chrysler’s achievement of the second of three performance-related goals dictated by the U.S. Treasury Department when it financed a Chrysler bankruptcy and reorganization in 2009. Continue reading

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Ally, formerly Bankrupt GMAC, Files With SEC for IPO

Ally’s is one of the leading suppliers in the U.S. of wholesale dealer loans, and is the leading retail provider of vehicle finance. Ally’s taxpayer-financed bailout remains a vital aspect to the thus far successful reorganizations of General Motors and Chrysler. U.S. (and Canadian taxpayers) have large interests in those recovering automakers, as well. Continue reading

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Ex Car Czar Rattner Settles Bribery Charges for $10 Million

Steven Rattner, the Obama Administrations’ former “car czar,” has settled bribery charges in New York by paying a $10 million fine and agreeing to banishment from appearing before any public pension fund within the State of New York for five years. … Continue reading

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