UAW stike at American Axle now threatening Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 production
In the never ending saga that is the UAW versus American Axle, it appears as though the strike is threatening yet another General Motors plant. This time the strike is threatening to halt production of two of GM’s best sellers — the all-new Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6.
According to Automotive News, American Axle supplies GM with rear-suspension parts for both vehicles. At the current rate of production, GM will run out of parts to make the Malibu and G6 in about two weeks. The Malibu is made at GM’s Orion and Fairfax assembly plants, and the G6 is made at the Orion plant.
The strike has already forced GM to close seven light-duty truck plants, one passenger car facility and several other parts plants. GM also announced today that the strike has forced it to close its Toledo, Ohio plant, which makes the transmissions for such vehicles as the Cadillac Escalade.
However, the Chevrolet Malibu is arguable the most important vehicle in GM’s lineup, so the strike may have just awoken the giant. It now seems inevitable that GM will step in to help resolve the strike.
In lieu of the strike, GM has already decided to move some of its American Axle parts production to Dana.
Through the first two months of the year, GM has sold 27,001 Malibus — which won the 2008 North American Car of the Year award — and 30,843 G6s, a 29.1 percent and 32.7 percent increase, respectively, from the same time period in 2007.
*Of note, the Saturn Aura is also produce at GM’s Fairfax plant — and rides on the same Epsilon platform as the Malibu and G6 — and while the Automotive News article made no mention of the car, it would be safe to assume that its production is also threatened.
Sources from http://www.leftlanenews.com
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