The Oshawa car line plant looks doomed again, if the writing on the wall gives any indication. Originally the plant was scheduled to close in 2012, then again this year, but increased sales of automobiles has kept production running. Currently the plant is turning out Chevy Equinox, Chevy Camaro, both versions of the Chevy Impala (the current model and the fleet-only last generation type), the Cadillac XTS and the Buick Regal.
Here’s what reading the tea leaves tells us: The older “Impala Limited”, the one that has really kept the lights on, ends production in 2016. Camaro production will move to Lansing, Michigan by 2016. The next generation of Theta platform crossovers moves to Ingersoll, Ontario. Impala and XTS have split between Michigan and Oshawa, so that leaves one line, but here’s the kicker: GM recently made a commitment to build a Buick at the Russellsheim, Germany plant, and since the Regal is a Opel Insignia anyways, it’s a logical choice to build the car there. It’s unlikely that GM will leave one platform at Oshawa to keep the lights on.
The Oshawa plant has been turning cars out since the late 1950s. Many models were produced, including Biscaynes, Strato Cheifs, Parisiennes, Bel Airs, Caprices, Regals, Grand Prix, Monte Carlos and others have rolled down those lines over the years. Oshawa has been a highly-rated assembly complex, winning multiple awards, including J.D. Power and Associates’ Founder Award in 2008, an award that has been awarded only six times ever. However, auto manufacturers have been complaining that Canada is one of the most expensive places to do business and are starting to turn their sights elsewhere.
No surprises here ! Fact is with GM’s general [ pun intended ] overall plan over the next ten years [ moving much of the production if not all of it overseas ] this will no doubt be but the first of many to come .
GM’s rather odd way of saying thank you to the American & Canadian tax payers for bailing their miserable and money losing ***es out … Us US tax payers losing a good $10 billion in the process
Nice company GM ! Great sense of ethics and gratitude as well . No wonder I won’t even so much as darken the doorstep of a GM dealership … never mind consider buying one 😉
GS: Can you play Stairway to Heaven? How about the Rain Song? I really like Led Zeppelin. Want to come jam at my house?
Maybe if GM went back to building some cars in Canada, they wouldn’t be trailing Chrysler and Ford in sales.
It would seem Canadians reward loyalty, Mr. Marchionne should remember that when basking in the glory of first place in the Canadian market.
Maybe if a new Impala wasnt 42000 bucks they wouldnt need to close the plant.