GM adds third shift at Texas plant, 800 jobs (produces monstrosity class SUVs)

Yep, cheap gas is here to stay, woohoo! Let's get us another land barge!

 

So, I guess Toyota's going to stop production of the Land Cruiser?

 

Hopefully so, but it's not likely either will do so. Either way, deflecting the issue of GM land barges with Toyota's Land barge is like when little Bobby justifies hitting Tommy ... he'll claim that "well he hit me first". Nope . . . send both of them to their room with no TV.

Land Barges: They're the ultimate barometer to guage whether the U.S. doles out too many subsidies to the oil industry.

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It's a good thing GM was able to add jobs.
At this point in time, if people still want to buy a full size SUV after the recent high prices and the spike of 2008, it's on them. GM needs all its revenue streams if we want to see improvements to eAssist, the Volt, and their other fuel efficient offerings.

The next line of the article.

So the people haven't forgotten gas prices can go up. During their crisis, GM cut back production, and are now able to much it with the, lower, demand.

 

People are going to make land barges as long as people are buying them. I do know a woman with a hybrid yukon that actually utilizes it. The good news is that the market share for large SUVs has been consistently falling since 2004. More of a problem are midsized SUVs that people are buying instead of cars. The insurance institute along with the car companies has successfully kept the cafe standards easy on these as "large vehicles are safer". This includes the explorer, highlander, lexus rx, jeep cherokee, chevy transverse. The numbers here are much higher than large suvs.

GOOD CAR BAD CAR: US Large SUV Sales

GOOD CAR BAD CAR: US Midsize SUV Sales

The suburban is the only large SUV up for the year. The rest have been going down including the tahoe. If you take a look at the top ten selling suvs, the best selling tahoe doesn't come close to making the top ten. GM has greatly increased the number of small suvs, where the honda CR-V is now king.

 

Hey, dumb suburban soccer moms gotta drive something big and stupid, right?

 

It's not in my nature to criticize anyone's vehicle purchase. I have no idea if they actually have the need for it or not. I am not so smug to think that I know better than anyone else what they should be driving or can afford. Last time I checked, people are still free to buy what they want, either following extensive research, a sense of altruism, or because they like the color. ALL cars contribute to the decline of natural resources. ALL cars pollute, either directly or indirectly. You may make yourself feel better by denigrating others who may not share your philosophy, but in the end, there are no winners in this game.

 

I have yet to see 7 people pour out of any SUV. It's always an adult and one or two kids. The main arguments are that the big SUVs are safer, and what if it snows?

 

I checked your Chevy link and didn't see where the Tahoe was a mid-size. Where is it listed?

 

When was the last time you've seen 5 people pour out of a Prius? For the vast majority of commuters, a two seater is all they need. The original Insight also used less oil than the Prius. They can just get a second vehicle to sit in the driveway or rent when they need something bigger, right.

Putting more people to work is a good thing. Even if it is still less than previously, because sales of these large SUVs are still down. If GM did the right thing by standards expressed here, and didn't up production for demand, the people would have just bought a Ford or Toyota FSP of an SUV. Better for GM and its employees to make money on them until the public wises up and realizes they only need a Malibu, Cruze, or Sonic.

 

I definitely hear you. Our society's anti-land barge sentiment is linked to its false advertising - "it's American" "it's safer" "it's necessary" . . . language adds are kind of similar to pre-1970 tobacco advertising. People are so weak minded - and people can be so dumb, that legislators stepped in to severely limit smoking adds. The add man knows once they get you to associate your smokes (or your land barge) with ''sexy'' or "cool" or "out-doors-ie" ... well then, they can count on our "herd mentality" to follow suit, and perpetuate the activity - regardless of its harm. We can argue the benefits / burdens of advertising over-regulation 'till the cows come home. At some tipping point - change takes place due to the products harm outweighing its benefits.

SGH-I717R ? 2

 

That's only in the browser address, more than likely to differentiate it from the longer Suburban. All of Chevrolet's literature calls it a full size SUV.

 

My favorite is the aptly named Armada.

 

A battleship on wheels.

 

Any BEV get better FE so

Tesla Roadster (true 2 seater), Note few left for sale and no more are being produced.
Smart ED (true 2 seater): Note it used to be Smart fourtwo EV)
Think City EV

Ford Transit Connect EV Truck/Van

And while not a 2 seater Chevy Volt gets better overall FE but is frequently bashed for only having 4 seats.