Worst Idea Ever: Toyota To Produce Prius For GM?

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by blamy

I think I would have a real hard time trusting the quality of a Prius built by GM workers. If they could have built cars with quality in the first place they might not be in the trouble they are in now.

The NUMMI plant also produces Corollas and Tacomas, both very reliable vehicles. NUMMI operates under the Toyota Prod. Sys. (TPS) and is nearly as efficient as top plants in Japan.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by JimN

Why the negativity? NUMMI isn't new. Toyota has been selling rebadged Pontiacs or Pontiac has been selling rebadged Toyotas over the last 25 years. Nor is rebadging a new concept. Chrysler sold rebadged Mitsubishis and I suspect every company does it. I believe NUMMI will close as GM doesn't want the plant & Toyota doesn't need it. GM isn't bright enough to realize it could slap its square on a Prius & sell it as a Buick and/or a Cadillac. Who's going to benefit from an abandoned plant in California?

NUMMI is still producing corollas and Vibes, but the plant must be hurting though.

Just curious, what Toyota was a rebadged Pontiac?

Lot of suppliers would hurt from NUMMI closing.
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off topic, but I think GM is stuck in the past and have an attitude and business vision problem.

So, they've produced some 2010 Camaros. Wow. What demographic and % of market share do they plan to capture with that behemoth? They sure were touting that beast at the auto shows last Nov. and again in Jan.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by JimN

I suspect NUMMI is not a union shop and that GM is not going to change its mind. Since the UAW is hip deep in GM it is not going to save a non-union factory at the expense of a union shop. Toyota is in a good position to buy half a factory at a deep discount. The only downside is that they will have to write down their half of the JV on the balance sheet & take a non-cash loss.

NUMMI is a UAW plant.

[PriusSport]

GM has a lot of soon to be empty real estate around the country. It follows that foreign car companies are looking for ways to utilize that real estate, maybe in ways that aren't so direct. This kind of arrangement suggests a way for the country to go hybrid in a much bigger way--to the benefit of both GM and Toyota. I suspect that Obama's Car Panel controlling purse strings may be involved here. I think they are pushing for serious hybrid volume in the next few years. And this is one way for GM to be involved.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by jayman

I bet this Stroker engine would have cured that power problem

Sort of like this Holden doing a smokin burnout

YouTube - ht premier burnout

Unreal

Oh, I'm sure GM-ites have quite the love affair with NASCAR. Good 'ole boys. Yuck.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by qbee42

So, if you have an opinion about the Gen II why don't you come out and say it, rather than make us guess how you really feel.

Tom

I can't top that earlier post now permanently recorded.

Perhaps I ought to plan a move into a Gen3 in a couple years in hopes to stop griping about the Gen2. I'm sure some folks around here wouldn't mind.

"First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius



Making a good thing better"


Well said, Edmonton Journal

[Tideland Prius]

I think Toyota still needs the plant. Stop stealing the Corollas and Matrixs (Matrices?) from our Cambridge, Ontario plant!! =P.

Seriously though, we don't buy as many cars as you do so you are keeping the Cambridge plant running and there's no way we can supply all the cars you buy so you gotta produce some of your own from the NUMMI plant. Heck, Toyota can use the plant to produce Priuses! Why wait for the Mississippi plant to open?

[jayman]

Originally Posted by patsparks

Jayman, did you spot the South Aussie accent in the first one?

Precisely why I posted the videos!

Originally Posted by patsparks

We have our share of morons in South Australia unfortunately.

Seems to me the plates were fairly visible in those videos. The problem with enforcement is that a bunch of do-gooder lawyers get involved and its not worth the legal hassle

For example, police in Canada rarely engage in pursuits. The 12 year old gang bangers who steal cars know this. The gang bangers also know that, due to some weird political decision, the police cars here don't have bump bars and grille protection.

So all the gang banger has to do is throw his car into reverse, ram the police car, bust the radiator, and knock the police car out of commission. The rationale behind not having pursuits is that they're dangerous, and the hope that those running won't drive like idiots and kill somebody

Problem is, they still run, drive like idiots, kill somebody, and laugh about it

Perspective: Chill. Thrill. Kill. - Winnipeg Free Press

Of course, any kid under the age of 18 can do anything they want, including murder, and once they turn 18, Presto!, a clean record.

Canada has become a dumping ground for criminals and drug dealers. There is a lot of "hidden" crime - including homicide - that is never reported, out of fear. We have a very serious and out-of-control problem, but the do-gooders say it isn't so

Back to topic: Over the next two years, GM is going to emerge a lot smaller than it already is. I rather doubt there will be a rebadged Prius in the lineup

[jayman]

Originally Posted by cycledrum

Oh, I'm sure GM-ites have quite the love affair with NASCAR. Good 'ole boys. Yuck.

Well, technically they're Holden-ites