The Detroit Big Three want to reopen their respective U.S. production facilities on May 18th, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal.
While the report indicated General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler were targeting the May date to get their plants back online, they have yet to make an official announcement. Additionally, the UAW told Automotive News that it had not been notified of a potential restart date from any of the Big Three.
The UAW is currently in discussion with GM, Ford and FCA over when to reopen plants and how they will keep employees safe when production eventually does get back underway. UAW leader Rory Gamble warned automakers last week against starting production too early and said the U.S. still has not conducted enough tests to properly gauge the threat COVID-19 poses to the public.
“We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face,” Gamble said. “We want to make sure the scientific data is supportive and every possible health protocols and enhanced protections are in place before UAW members walk into the workplace.”
GM sent a letter to some employees last week saying that it was “notifying a small number of team members, primarily salaried and skilled trades employees, that we may need them to report to work soon.” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also said she wanted to “analyze what the protocols are,” that the Big Three will put in place to keep UAW workers safe when they return to their job posts “and start to slowly re-engage in a safe manner.”
GM, as well as Ford, reiterated this week that they have no firm restart date set. FCA said previously that it would like to get certain plants back up and running by May 4th, though this is looking increasingly unlikely.
When UAW employees return to work, it is expected they will be supplied with the proper PPE to help protect them from contracting COVID-19. Automakers will also take other measures, most likely, including taking employee temperatures when employees arrive at work, having them fill out daily health questionnaires and providing special wristbands that vibrate when workers get too close to one another.
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Source: Automotive News, Wall Street Journal
Comments
I saw somewhere that the assembly plant that will make the 2021 Yukon and Suburban started to get ready yesterday April 27th with actual production starting May 4th…. with volunteer workers to start
I’m ready to see the new 21 Tahoe / Yukon on the the dealer lots so I can make up my mind!
I’m ready to see the ‘slightly updated’ 2021 Canyon and Colorado.
Wondering if GM will keep its integrity of filling the 2020 Corvettes allocations as long as they were in before March 18th???? It’s only right!!! Many Corvette customers traded in their C-7 Corvette and are still waiting. I’ve owned a
C-5, C-6 and a C-7. If anything, 2020 allocations should be filled before 2021 allocations, even it that means receiving at 2021!!! Just asking for fairness
I couldn’t agree more. After the BIG HYPE or REVEAL this past July, many LOYAL Corvette owners will soon be waiting one year for their new 2020 Corvette which in some cases was ordered a long time ago. If your Event Code is at 3000, will our 2020 Corvettes actually be built? I would assume even some UAW workers would like to get back to work and try to resume a normal life again. Perhaps GM plants could be staffed by UAW workers on a volunteer basis? No one should be forced to go back to work if they are concerned about their health or well being, but others who are not should be allowed to return to work.
I see the close / end of model year 2020 to clear orders and clear the line. Then a temporary pause to “Change over” to model year 2021 ASAP. Then try and recoupe market share. 2020 models will sell at hi incentive pricing.
Gecko
GM / Chevrolet is losing market share and orders with each passing day. If they do not reopen their assembly plants by May 18th I believe that will lose many more. After a very successful launch of their Mid-Engine 2020 C8 Corvette, it is quickly turning to ashes. I personally know of at least five people who had placed orders in good faith almost one year ago that have now cancelled their orders. They are tired of waiting and in the absence of any clear signals from GM / Chevrolet that their car will ever be built, they are opting for other great cars that are more readily available. It has been my experience that once you lose customers to another brand,
it is difficult or impossible to get them back.
Important to note, Michael, that some dealerships will not return the deposit, once the GM code 3000 is reached. That means, speaking of good faith, that the car will be built on the line spurred by the customer’s agreement to buy. GM can hardly build a car and then have it sit on the lot after a customer caused the build. However, customers can opt to lose their deposit and drop out of the deal. Depends upon the size of the deposit, as to how painful the drop out is.
My 2020 order went to BG on Feb 15th I am keeping my fingers crossed that my order will be filled. Hoping to have a C8 by summer.
I believe we all have similar views. It’s also nice to communicate with adults on here, who knows how to share their opinions without being sarcastic! If you guys hear something on this topic I would really appreciate that!
Thanks!
Ok here is another thought I had and was boo hoo, I was all hyped for a 2020 dually back in July when GM promised the HD dulley trucks, then it got shifted back to August, then November. THEN MARCH they started production. I said the 2020 model year was doomed IF the economy took a dive, as delays was going to kill the dully. There are several things bad on delays, 1st the economy is diving, the virusis another labor market killer for purchasing power and the attitude of GM. I won’t get a 2020 as its a dead end model. A 2021 might be in my thoughts but GM has to get back to what its customers want, NOT what THEY want. I don’t think they will get market share in ’21 even with substantial discounts.
Chuck
I always want to believe that GM will hold integrity, even if that means discounts, free-delivery or maybe just an extra warranty? The BIG question is GM going to build the remainder of the 2020 C-8 allocations, before they begin productions of the 2021 C-8. All of the customers who will not get their prior allocations built, will those customers be first with the allocations for 2021. There’s no way I would believe GM would make someone do another allocation and get pushed to the end of the line, after trading in and buying several Corvettes in the past. That would simply be BAD BUSINESS!!! If that happens, I will definitely get a full refund and look at other Corporations!
Hi Mike. You and Chuck make good sound and solid points about this virus production stop. The only advertising on TV that I see that seems to be unchanging seems to be Dodge and a couple of import truck brands. America is great. We all know that. But sometimes when there is a national or international crisis, permission to get going has to clear National political hurdles; clear State political hurdles; clear the city’s mayors or councils and health departments. The the labor unions such as the United Auto Workers. Then in some cases, individual doctors for certain employees if they contracted the virus. As said by others so often, the suppliers have to be on line. For example, transmissions currently made in Mexico for that Tremec 8-speed DCT, must start producing again. It would be excellent to get some news out of Mexico as to whether those transmissions for the car will continue from there or whether a new supplier will be required (at higher cost). I’m not sure about BG status an am more familiar with 3000. I’m told that if GM specified 3000, for 2020 builds, they have every intention of building those cars before the 2021 assembly line is started. Other than minor changes the 2021 Corvettes probably will have to be hold-overs from the 2020 models because time is in such limited supply.