Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
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From: Chicagoland IL
Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=38465
After sifting through information from the last two newsletters (Sept and Oct) from the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) this is the info I got from them.
With the Flex Plant commitment coming to Oshawa along with the new Camaro the company (GM) has indicated to its union delegates that it will move product from Plant #1, which builds the Chevy Monte Carlo and Impala, into Plant #2 in December of 2007. At this time GM is planning on dropping the Monte Carlo and possibly the Grand Prix. So in December of 2007 both plants will be down for approx. one month in order to move to a one-plant building (plant #2). This will enable the company to move all the equipment to that plant. After the move the company is anticipating they will be building the Chevrolet Impala and the Buick LaCrosse/Allure for a 3 shift operation. As for the new dies for the Camaro, the Stamping plant probably won't see them till late next year.
The building for the new Flex Manufacturing System will be ready for its new equipment between March and July of 2008. With early production versions of the new Camaro around the end of 2008, sales will start in the first quarter of 09, (which people here already know). The Camaro will be the first vehicle built on this line with future products to be announced at a later date.
Keep in mind that those dates from GM can change if they decide to do so.
Also the newsletters are pretty much site specific and deal mainly with the local union/union issues and what has been indicated to them by the company. Also there is alot of write-ups of union activities/retirements/community involvments as well. You would have to browse through alot of that stuff to pick up on the timelines associated with the Flex Plant commitment since they are basically geared towards the union members and skilled trades. BTY they are available in PDF format on the CAW local 222 site.
With the Flex Plant commitment coming to Oshawa along with the new Camaro the company (GM) has indicated to its union delegates that it will move product from Plant #1, which builds the Chevy Monte Carlo and Impala, into Plant #2 in December of 2007. At this time GM is planning on dropping the Monte Carlo and possibly the Grand Prix. So in December of 2007 both plants will be down for approx. one month in order to move to a one-plant building (plant #2). This will enable the company to move all the equipment to that plant. After the move the company is anticipating they will be building the Chevrolet Impala and the Buick LaCrosse/Allure for a 3 shift operation. As for the new dies for the Camaro, the Stamping plant probably won't see them till late next year.
The building for the new Flex Manufacturing System will be ready for its new equipment between March and July of 2008. With early production versions of the new Camaro around the end of 2008, sales will start in the first quarter of 09, (which people here already know). The Camaro will be the first vehicle built on this line with future products to be announced at a later date.
Keep in mind that those dates from GM can change if they decide to do so.
Also the newsletters are pretty much site specific and deal mainly with the local union/union issues and what has been indicated to them by the company. Also there is alot of write-ups of union activities/retirements/community involvments as well. You would have to browse through alot of that stuff to pick up on the timelines associated with the Flex Plant commitment since they are basically geared towards the union members and skilled trades. BTY they are available in PDF format on the CAW local 222 site.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Well, that ends about 2 years of speculation.
It's kind of a bittersweet thing for me. FWD Monte Carlos were questionable, and the current car isn't one of GM's stronger models. But the Monte Carlo name has been a tradition in Chevy's portfolio. Hopefully they find a way to make a business case for a new one down the road.
It's kind of a bittersweet thing for me. FWD Monte Carlos were questionable, and the current car isn't one of GM's stronger models. But the Monte Carlo name has been a tradition in Chevy's portfolio. Hopefully they find a way to make a business case for a new one down the road.
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From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Originally Posted by Z28Wilson
Hopefully they find a way to make a business case for a new one down the road.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: St. Louis, MO
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Originally Posted by HAZ-Matt
And when should we expect the replacement for the GP?
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Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
So the W-car Impala moves to Plant #2 approximately 1/08. And the Zeta Impala goes to Plant #1 after Camaro, maybe the first or second quarter of '09. I wonder how they're going to work that? Impala and Impala Classic?
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Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Help me understand if the GP is dead, what are GM's plans to fill the slot once it's available. Pontiac is already in a weakened state from a volume perspective.
In 2004 GP sales were 133k, in 2005 they were 121k. We keep hearing people suggest a Commodore rebadge. Does Holden have that capacity in spare currently? And from a logistics point of view, that's a lot of parts, assemblies, and in final the cars that will be coming and going between continents. Is it reasonable to expect the import of 100k+ vehicles a year to support the Grand Prix void? Surely GM wouldn't axe a volume unit like the current GP and move to an product with much lower volume would they? What's the expectation or gut feel here?
I just remember in recent history hearing how the 18k per year expected volume of the GTO along with Holden’s other production for in country and other exports was near maximum volume for the Holden facilities. Just seems odd or there are some serious pieces missing if the same Holden facilities could suddenly increase volume by 400% for a single car. Not to mention the other rebadges for other brands that were rumored, Buick??? The UAW has no issue or say with GM importing 100k cars?
Or maybe GM is throwing in the towel on volume with Pontiac? And looking to the long term strategy of making Pointac Buick and GMC the single sales channel, no one brand outside of GMC could stand on it’s own, but all three together work well?
Questions questions questions…..
Anyone add any corrections or clarity? Thanks
In 2004 GP sales were 133k, in 2005 they were 121k. We keep hearing people suggest a Commodore rebadge. Does Holden have that capacity in spare currently? And from a logistics point of view, that's a lot of parts, assemblies, and in final the cars that will be coming and going between continents. Is it reasonable to expect the import of 100k+ vehicles a year to support the Grand Prix void? Surely GM wouldn't axe a volume unit like the current GP and move to an product with much lower volume would they? What's the expectation or gut feel here?
I just remember in recent history hearing how the 18k per year expected volume of the GTO along with Holden’s other production for in country and other exports was near maximum volume for the Holden facilities. Just seems odd or there are some serious pieces missing if the same Holden facilities could suddenly increase volume by 400% for a single car. Not to mention the other rebadges for other brands that were rumored, Buick??? The UAW has no issue or say with GM importing 100k cars?
Or maybe GM is throwing in the towel on volume with Pontiac? And looking to the long term strategy of making Pointac Buick and GMC the single sales channel, no one brand outside of GMC could stand on it’s own, but all three together work well?
Questions questions questions…..
Anyone add any corrections or clarity? Thanks
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From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Originally Posted by Derek M
Help me understand if the GP is dead, what are GM's plans to fill the slot once it's available. Pontiac is already in a weakened state from a volume perspective.
In 2004 GP sales were 133k, in 2005 they were 121k. We keep hearing people suggest a Commodore rebadge. Does Holden have that capacity in spare currently? And from a logistics point of view, that's a lot of parts, assemblies, and in final the cars that will be coming and going between continents. Is it reasonable to expect the import of 100k+ vehicles a year to support the Grand Prix void? Surely GM wouldn't axe a volume unit like the current GP and move to an product with much lower volume would they? What's the expectation or gut feel here?
I just remember in recent history hearing how the 18k per year expected volume of the GTO along with Holden’s other production for in country and other exports was near maximum volume for the Holden facilities. Just seems odd or there are some serious pieces missing if the same Holden facilities could suddenly increase volume by 400% for a single car. Not to mention the other rebadges for other brands that were rumored, Buick??? The UAW has no issue or say with GM importing 100k cars?
Or maybe GM is throwing in the towel on volume with Pontiac? And looking to the long term strategy of making Pointac Buick and GMC the single sales channel, no one brand outside of GMC could stand on it’s own, but all three together work well?
Questions questions questions…..
Anyone add any corrections or clarity? Thanks
In 2004 GP sales were 133k, in 2005 they were 121k. We keep hearing people suggest a Commodore rebadge. Does Holden have that capacity in spare currently? And from a logistics point of view, that's a lot of parts, assemblies, and in final the cars that will be coming and going between continents. Is it reasonable to expect the import of 100k+ vehicles a year to support the Grand Prix void? Surely GM wouldn't axe a volume unit like the current GP and move to an product with much lower volume would they? What's the expectation or gut feel here?
I just remember in recent history hearing how the 18k per year expected volume of the GTO along with Holden’s other production for in country and other exports was near maximum volume for the Holden facilities. Just seems odd or there are some serious pieces missing if the same Holden facilities could suddenly increase volume by 400% for a single car. Not to mention the other rebadges for other brands that were rumored, Buick??? The UAW has no issue or say with GM importing 100k cars?
Or maybe GM is throwing in the towel on volume with Pontiac? And looking to the long term strategy of making Pointac Buick and GMC the single sales channel, no one brand outside of GMC could stand on it’s own, but all three together work well?
Questions questions questions…..
Anyone add any corrections or clarity? Thanks
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
What if Holden sends over Senators as Buicks, higher price point so more margin, and the GP waits until the US Zeta cars are out which would be what 1-2 years when it can be built in the US on the newer Zeta and it should be more profitable than the imported AUS built VE. Also we should remember the whole name game could come into play.
I just think that senario works out better in the long run.
I just think that senario works out better in the long run.
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Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,887
From: northeast Miss.
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
I think the "Commodore GP" (like GTO) will just be a short-run experiment to test the waters for RWD V6/V8 sedans in America, not a high volume line.
Like posted above, so many GP's are fleeted out that, if they could sell ~15,000 Premium GP's in RWD form it would build a case for a wide range GP lineup. Kinda like GTO probably did for a Camaro.
Like posted above, so many GP's are fleeted out that, if they could sell ~15,000 Premium GP's in RWD form it would build a case for a wide range GP lineup. Kinda like GTO probably did for a Camaro.
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Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
I favor bringing the Commodore over here to replace the Grand Prix GXP and using the Epsilon II G6 or LaCrosse to handle lower end Grand Prix buyers. I do not favor bringing the Statesman here as a Buick. Buick only needs one large sedan, the Lucerne does a good job of replacing both the LeSabre and Park Avenue, and Buick needs the Zeta Lucerne more than Pontiac needs a high volume Zeta.
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Posts: 5,308
From: Oshawa - Home of the 5th-gen
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Here's my guess ..... a Grand Prix / "G8" will be built in Oshawa starting sometime in ~2009 
. So will the GTO 
.
There, it's in writing
. I'll eat crow in a couple years if I'm wrong!! 
. So will the GTO .There, it's in writing
. I'll eat crow in a couple years if I'm wrong!!
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From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Originally Posted by ehaase
I favor bringing the Commodore over here to replace the Grand Prix GXP and using the Epsilon II G6 or LaCrosse to handle lower end Grand Prix buyers. I do not favor bringing the Statesman here as a Buick. Buick only needs one large sedan, the Lucerne does a good job of replacing both the LeSabre and Park Avenue, and Buick needs the Zeta Lucerne more than Pontiac needs a high volume Zeta.
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From: Chicagoland IL
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Originally Posted by graham
Like posted above, so many GP's are fleeted out that, if they could sell ~15,000 Premium GP's in RWD form it would build a case for a wide range GP lineup. Kinda like GTO probably did for a Camaro.
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From: northeast Miss.
Re: Monte Carlo and Grand Prix get the axe next year....
Compare WS6 and SS sales versus GTO though, even in the sad last year of sales.
I guess I cant necessarily say the GTO was the deal maker, just throwing out there that GTO couldve been a RWD coupe "low guilt" experiment for GM.
Remember, the GTO decision was probably made the better part of 4 years before the 2005 Mustang sales numbers were complete too.
I guess I cant necessarily say the GTO was the deal maker, just throwing out there that GTO couldve been a RWD coupe "low guilt" experiment for GM.
Remember, the GTO decision was probably made the better part of 4 years before the 2005 Mustang sales numbers were complete too.
