The big bad news at General Motors and Ford - rumors of plant closings and layoffs - has me thinking they are not going to buy palladium for awhile and may even sell palladium if they need the money. (Palladium is used to make catalytic converters for cars.) The news about the layoffs and plant closings is out now (December 10, 2005). Could this be the bottom in palladium? The price of palladium is rising after falling since year 2001.