twintornados Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Roger Penske should approach "Motors Liquidation Corporation" about taking up their end of NUMMI with Toyota to continue with the collaboration of design that results in Pontiacs' Vibe and Toyotas' Matrix. One of the few bright spots in the defunct line up from Pontiac should continue on as a Saturn. I am sure this would make Toyota breathe a sigh of relief and I would be willing to bet that Fremont California would willing to help make this happen also. Thoughts?? Edited August 6, 2009 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Sorry for the typo in the header...I know it is the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix...if the moderators can fix it to read "Vibe"...please do so.... Edited August 6, 2009 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Would the "baggage" allow it to be worthwhile? Plant in a high cost location UAW contractual obligations having to use a platform and design from a competitor The big question - would it fit in with the the Penske plan for Saturn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old_fairmont_wagon Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Problem for the Pontiac Vibe as a Saturn, it would be competing in the Opel Astra hatchback's space. One would have to go. Granted, the Astra would get my vote to go. The other problem is that PEnske would have to pay for a restyling of the vibe to better fit with the rest of Saturn. So, that's... Pay to refresh the just refreshed Matrix Pay to have the plant make the modifications to produce said matrix version Pay the suppliers to modify their stuff. Pay the Union to keep working That's a lot of jack for a small margin car that's not likely to sell much better than the Astra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 After seeing the lengths some organizations will go to save jobs and facilities...you don't think that the city of Fremont, the state of California, the UAW, and Toyota will bend over backwards to save this investment? Roger Penske would be hailed as a hero in California if he were to step in and save that plant from closure....it has the "bones" to become the new "Spring Hill" plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Sorry for the typo in the header...I know it is the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix...if the moderators can fix it to read "Vibe"...please do so.... I don't know. I think "Pontiac Matrix" better explains what it is. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 I don't know. I think "Pontiac Matrix" better explains what it is. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Some think Penske has trillions of dollars laying around to 'save plants' in Delaware and NUMMI. He said he really doesnt want to be involved in making cars, just selling rebadges of anything he can get from cheaper labor. Also, I'd bet Toyota is actaully happy to get far away from the UAW. Edited August 6, 2009 by 630land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Also, I'd bet Toyota is actaully happy to get far away from the UAW. Oh, but they of course have to pretend they're so disappointed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobu37 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 you don't think that the city of Fremont, the state of California, The city of Fremont and the state of California don't have enough money to pay their utility bills at this point so dishing out more to a plant that no one wants to be in is probably out of the question. Toyota and whoever the other half might be would probably ask for a kings ransom to stay to make sure that they could leave that money-losing plant for good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Some think Penske has trillions of dollars laying around to 'save plants' in Delaware and NUMMI. He said he really doesnt want to be involved in making cars, just selling rebadges of anything he can get from cheaper labor. Also, I'd bet Toyota is actaully happy to get far away from the UAW. ...sounds like someone has a problem with a Unionized workforce....Roger Penske needs good solid vehicles in his lineup...not cheap-o crap that would be sold at Wal-Mart....I am sure re-badges of the linked "crumple-mobile" would sell like hotcakes in your area....cheap cars for cheapskates...enjoy your ride to the morgue Edited August 6, 2009 by twintornados Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelsonlu Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 ...sounds like someone has a problem with a Unionized workforce....Roger Penske needs good solid vehicles in his lineup...not cheap-o crap that would be sold at Wal-Mart....I am sure re-badges of the linked "crumple-mobile" would sell like hotcakes in your area....cheap cars for cheapskates...enjoy your ride to the morgue If you want to rave against "crumple-mobiles," you probably shouldn't use the Pontiac Vibe as a counterargument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 "Roger Penske needs good solid vehicles in his lineup...not cheap-o crap that would be sold at Wal-Mart.." BUT, he is NOT getting into the manufacturing business and stated such. Look it up under "www.notgonnahappen.com" * Anyone expecting some trillionare American 'savior' to save old GM or Mopar plants is living in the 'State of Denial'. * Used many times by Autoextremist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 "Roger Penske needs good solid vehicles in his lineup...not cheap-o crap that would be sold at Wal-Mart.." BUT, he is NOT getting into the manufacturing business and stated such. Look it up under "www.notgonnahappen.com" * Anyone expecting some trillionare American 'savior' to save old GM or Mopar plants is living in the 'State of Denial'. * Used many times by Autoextremist 630land....the only "flaw" in your argument is that NUMMI is not an old GM plant....rather a newer state of the art Toyota plant that just happened to manufacture GM cars as well....huge difference.....Toyota could still run the show...Penske could slot in as a "consumer" needing a product for his new Saturn line....it isn't Rogers' millions that will save that plant...it is the fact that he needs a reliable lineup and NUMMI could just fit that bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.