Monday, June 08, 2009

Interactive Map: GM's Global Footprint

Great interactive map here from the Detroit News (HT to Dallas Walton) showing GM's plants and manufacturing employees, production and sales, as well as suppliers and retirees, in the United States and around the world.

Some interesting data from the map:

1. In Michigan there are 193,301 GM retirees and 46,467 active manufacturing workers, which is a ratio of more than 4 retirees per active worker. For Ohio, the ratio is more than 6 retirees per active worker, and in Indiana there are 8.6 retirees per active worker! Assuming that all of the retirees are receiving full pension benefits and lifetime health care coverage, it's pretty clear that GM's legacy costs are HUGE, and explain why the hourly cost per active worker in 2008 were $69 in full labor costs (including legacy costs).

As someone said recently, "GM has become a health care benefits management firm that sells cars for a loss as a side venture."

2. To put the decline in the number of GM manufacturing workers in perspective, consider that there are currently about 80,000 GM manufacturing workers in the entire U.S. In the 1970s, GM employed almost 85,000 workers in just one U.S. city: Flint, Michigan, "Vehicle City."


13 Comments:

At 6/08/2009 7:33 PM, Blogger juandos said...

I have a more interesting map...

If beer is dear consider this map here...

 
At 6/08/2009 9:08 PM, Blogger Hot Sam said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 6/08/2009 9:26 PM, Blogger Donny Baseball said...

GM is a look into the future as to what Social Security will be in 50 years - 1 worker supporting many retirees.

 
At 6/08/2009 11:17 PM, Blogger juandos said...

Note the following from the Rasmussen Reports site: Just 42% of GM Owners Likely to Buy GM Again

Only 42% of those who currently own a General Motors car are even somewhat likely to buy a GM product for their next car. That figure includes just 30% who are Very Likely to do so.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of current GM owners are not likely to buy another GM car, while 16% are not sure.

Democrats who own GM cars are somewhat more likely than others to buy their next car from GM.
(there's a bit more)

 
At 6/09/2009 6:30 AM, Blogger save_the_rustbelt said...

Management signed the contracts and then failed to fund the benefits.

Consequences? Of course not. I'm guessing there was separate funding for senior management, of course.

 
At 6/09/2009 9:13 AM, Anonymous Janet said...

Likewise, government signed the contract when it established Medicare and Social Security, and THEY FAILED TO FUND. Where are those consequences? Where are any of the consequences of failed liberal social programs?

 
At 6/09/2009 9:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

And I'm guessing there's separate funding provisions and exemptions for lawmakers who want the public to have nationalized health care and to drive Obamamobiles, but they will exempt themselves. What's good enough for us is not good enough for those elitists. 2010 cannot come soon enough.

 
At 6/09/2009 10:22 AM, Blogger juandos said...

save_the_rustbelt says: "Management signed the contracts and then failed to fund the benefits"...

Hmmm, how do you know that the contracts said that management was suppose to fund the benefits?

What were the union officers' responsibilities regarding these alledged benefits?

From the Washington Examiner: Nearly half of major union pensions are underfunded

janet says: "Likewise, government signed the contract when it established Medicare and Social Security, and THEY FAILED TO FUND"...

Excellent point!

From the Heritage Foundation: Huge bailouts a drop in bucket next to unpaid bill for retirees...

 
At 6/09/2009 4:25 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...


Just 42% of GM Owners Likely to Buy GM Again

If that's anywhere close to accurate, I'm part of the ones who still will buy GM. I'll just be more careful to buy the US(designed, built and assembled) models as I've done recently.

Between them and Ford, there are no other brands that know the words "affordable muscle".

When Japan's automakers decided to go small (in lockstep) is when they lost me.

 
At 6/10/2009 6:57 AM, Blogger juandos said...

"If that's anywhere close to accurate, I'm part of the ones who still will buy GM"...

Hmmm, I guess you can take that up with Scott Rasmussen...

"I'll just be more careful to buy the US(designed, built and assembled) models as I've done recently"...

I hope you're happy with your new Pelosi-mobile...

 
At 6/10/2009 12:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sethstorm,

Trust me, I live in Flint, and there are many GM workers past and present who will never buy a GM again, especially with it now being run by a man with zero car experience. Obama may have paid off his political debts to the UAW when he awarded them ownership in GM and Chrysler, but he sure as hell didn't save auto jobs as promised. And by the way, if the Japanese lost you as a customer when they went small, what are you going to do when Obama and Waxman trying selling you small battery-powered, green cars?

 
At 6/10/2009 9:13 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...


And by the way, if the Japanese lost you as a customer when they went small, what are you going to do when Obama and Waxman trying selling you small battery-powered, green cars?

They will lose me as well.

My dividing line is if they make W-bodies look large and end up making worse mistakes than 4T65E's bolted on largish cars(with no attempt to harden them).

 
At 6/10/2009 11:16 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...


I hope you're happy with your new Pelosi-mobile...

Actually, I've got one of the Northstar powered Oldsmobiles. It's far from a Pelosi-mobile.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home