GM stopped producing H2's--say it is temporary.

[njlondon]

    GM stopped production of H2's on January 29th, 2009.



Monday, April 20th, 2009.

General Motors announced 2,000 job cuts at plants in Michigan and Ohio as well as a halt in production at 9 plants over the next several weeks.



That announcement could prolong layoffs at Mishawaka's H2 plant. At this point, nobody seems to know how long most of the H2 employees will be out of work. A lot of that depends on industry demand and how long GM cutbacks last.



As workers left the H2 plant Monday afternoon, none stopped for an interview with WSBT.



"We can't really say anything right now," said one worker.



Others said, "No comment," or "We can't tell you anything."



The emptier-than-normal parking lot told the story best. AM General said laying off more than 200 employees and stopping production at the H2 plant was temporary.



Company spokesman Craig Mac Nab said AM General does not want to lay off employees indefinitely.



"What we are doing at considerable difficulty and expense to the company is moving all eligible employees from the H2 workforce into other parts of the company ? finding them jobs," he told WSBT News. "That will start to happen at the beginning of March. Some of the older employees have already been moved."



Mac Nab said the H2 employees that weren't laid off are already working in the H1 plant next door, making military Humvees.



He also said, "Nobody knows what's going to happen with the H2 plant."



Some current AM General employees told WSBT Monday they heard reports that General Motors could quit manufacturing the civilian H2. Mac Nab said right now the inside of the plant is still usable, just in an "idle state." He said if GM comes up with orders for more H2s, AM General will build them.



When asked whether GM would stop producing the H2, a GM media and Hummer spokesman told WSBT, "There are no plans regarding that. We haven't announced anything."



Until then, or the go-ahead to make more H2s, lots of AM General employees are in limbo.



"Nobody's safe in this day and age," said one H2 worker as he walked to his car Monday.



Mac Nab also said as far as he knows, AM General is still set to begin manufacturing taxis at the beginning of 2010. An outside contractor hired AM General last summer for the $160 million project.



Some workers say they think the taxi production could replace H2 manufacturing at the plant, but at this point that has not been confirmed.

[dizzy]

I heard on the news that GM is now thinking of selling off the Hummer lineup.

[shotgun-cam]

Reuters news service had story that there are 3 bidders for the Hummer brand in the 100 to 200 Million range all have made commitments to continue to develop Hummers and to support American dealers. As none are presently automotive companies GM would continue to manufacture Hummers for them . A decision was expected by end of the month.  April 17. Just checked April 27th story reuters Quoted GM CEO that sale of Hummer was a " reasonable likelyhood ". Stay Tuned