GM decides to Retain Opel

[emg77]

The news release is here:

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us.../Nov/1103_Opel

I thought it was crazy for GM to sell Opel. Maybe they finally came to their senses on that issue.

[Saturn#5]

Guess that is good news for parts!

[OPEL Blitz]

It's been fairly obvious for a long time now, GM have been stalling (something GM by tradition is very good at) the Opel deal ever since they got their free bailout money from the american goverment. They really never wanted to sell in the first place but they had to outline a plan to get this free money, the plan was "cut foreign parts, protect America". Now they have their cake and can eat it too. I think GM is happy, the Opel employees are maybe not terribly happy (since they don't particulary like GM) but many I think appreciate keeping the status quo. With elections passed, I think Merkel & Co. are pretty pleased too. I don't know what Magna thinks about it though.

[RoadIon]

This is just good news no matter how we look at it.

[OPEL Blitz]

I blame my completely incorrect assumptions in my last post on the fact that it was late at night. With their little stunt the already loathed GM have managed to upset just about everybody even more, German Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle called GM’s U-turn "totally unacceptable" on Wednesday ahead of a cabinet meeting in Berlin. The minister also said that all money paid out to GM by the german goverment is to be paid back at once, and that GM must immediately put their plans on the table once and for all.

If the German goverments position can be summarized as being very cross, then the workers council are furious. A strike is called for tomorrow and all agreements with GM regarding reduced wage raises are off. Union representatives now believe the next step by GM will be blackmailing of staff and goverments around Europe. It may work in America, but you cant have your cake and eat it here.

[AstraNorth]

I hope the German workers sock it to GM...and as well I hope GM has to pay back money to the German government. Who do GM think they are? HEY...maybe GM will all of a sudden realize Saturn wasn't that bad of a company and bring it back...YA RIGHT. My next new vehicle will be a FORD...I PROMISE and I won't change my mind....or maybe I will...or maybe I won't.
I wonder what Magna has to say?

[Germane German]

German auto workers striking GM made the National news this morning (on NPR anyway). I guess I don't see a dog of mine in the fight as I already received my 'Dear John, it is not you -- it is me' letter from Jill. Parts whether made by GM-owned Opel or sold-off Opel will need to be available at least for the 3 - 5 foreseeable years we will have these vehicles. There may be a Federal law about that but there is also one about supply and demand (or reverse that). ;>)

I see our 2006 Vue and 2008 Astra as both soon-to-be orphans begging for attention and spare parts scraps at regular GM dealerships in about/or less than a year. GM keeping Opel means the re-tooled 2010 Astra may show up here as some sort of GM badged vehicle (Buick?) but that is not the same car I have and parts for them will likely be mostly different?

We have also owned 3 Land Rovers, one at present, through their sale to Ford and then Tau Tau -- parts, service, and everything else have been pretty seamless as dealerships have remained autonomous by all appearances anyway at the consumer level. (Hint, hint.)

[SaturnRaycer]

Guess I'm a bit puzzled as to why the workers would accept wage consessions as part of being sold to Magna, but totally unwilling to consider any if kept by GM? Discuss amongst yourselves...

[OPEL Blitz]

They are sick and tired of GM saying one thing and doing another, using the employees as pawns in a twisted game between factories and goverments. It's a pretty unique situation GM have created, my father worked for GM for nearly eight years, I have friends from school who worked for GM and all of them hate GM. I on the other hand worked at Volvo and while I was laid off, I have no animosity towards Ford.

GM have again revealed their true nature as a greedy and untrustworthy corporation and by now they have burned their last bridge. They will no doubt ask for more aid from european goverments, and now they shall recieve none.

[AstraNorth]

I guess a substantial accident with my Astra would put me out of this misery I am living right now, not knowing the future of parts from GM. I have one more year of my insurance with replacement coverage (full value of what I paid). Although GMAC will end up with most of it...HEY...maybe I'll get a letter from GM saying they are going to credit my GMAC loan for ...ohhh...$5000.00 or $7000.00 because they are being "IDIOTS". NO...I didn't think they would.

[oilburner]

Originally Posted by OPEL Blitz

GM have again revealed their true nature as a greedy and untrustworthy corporation and by now they have burned their last bridge. They will no doubt ask for more aid from european goverments, and now they shall recieve none.

You'd think they would actually be making money if they were greedy, unlike, say ford is now...

More of a chicken with its head cut off situation. No one that has run GM seems to know what they are doing.

[astra09]

I actually quite sad by this. I was hoping for a "Canadian" car company to emerge from this deal but oh well.

[RoadIon]

Will GM be shutting down operations in Sweden/Germany then ramping up operations in Belgium,Russia,and the UK?

[OPEL Blitz]

SAAB is sold to Koenigsegg much to the employees satisfaction. Antwerp (which built all your Astras as well as mine) will shut down though. Russia and Poland are small and just made to supply their own market with cheaper last-generation Astras. What happens in Germany remains to be seen but the german consumer is very territorial and unlikely to buy a vehicle produced in the poor half of Europe. And looking at their domestic industry, they have no reason to do so.