You have absolutely no clue as to what you're talking about. I worked at GM 25 years ago, in advanced engineering. The problem with the UAW was back then they refused to concede anything relative to benefits, etc. They would blackmail GM by saying "we'll strike before we concede xyz". GM was making decent profits then and caved in to the UAW as anyone with any basic auto knowledge knows that once the UAW shuts down a couple components plants eventually there will be a ripple effect impacting the assembly plants. As in dominoes, eventually everything falls. And at that stage GM has zero production coming off the line to replenish diminishing inventories on the dealer lots. So revenues come to a screeching halt. And this is WHY GM gave into the UAW in years past. So now it's payback time. Guys working the line should not be making 6 figure incomes -- and I can verify they did in years past.
Enough blame for everyone. GM management did a horrible job managing long term growth. UAW did a horrible job in actually building the things. And GM engineering (I use the word loosely) did some of the worst design work seen in the developed world. Just awful, awful designs that cause $10 in long term repairs for $0.10 of short term savings in component cost. The entire company is an embarrassment.
Hello!! GM built what the public demanded. And in recent years it was SUV's. I assume you have no clue as to what it required to retool plant to change over from big cars to smaller cars. Sure management shares some of the blame but the fickle public, many of whom are in bankruptcy due to their desire to live well above their means, are as responsible as anyone. Keeping up with the Jones' finally caught up with many people.
LOL. You have no understanding of the Design Staff group at GM -- I do. Your numbers on repairs vs. savings are laughable. Bottom line is that GM cars are as reliable and of equal quality as Toyota, etc. I'll give you names of the top guys in the quality area if you need such.
You don't need to understand the design staff to know a bad product when you see it. I stopped buying GM products when I found out I had to jack up the engine to change the spark plugs in the GM car I owned. And, every time since that I've rented an American car I've always thought to myself, "boy am I glad I don't own this piece of junk." Quality was NOT job 1. And this after I wouldn't even consider buying anything other than an American car for much of my life.
Exactly. Good engineering practice has common elements across disciplines. GM has lacked it for a long time. The products aren't just built poorly, which the UAW can be at least partially blamed for, they are designed poorly, for which the blame resides further up the employee ladder.