In Case You Missed It ...
Nov 3, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
Despite Sales Drop, It's OT At GM Arlington Plant
Reporting
Jack Fink
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The auto industry is facing its worst sales performance in decades. Results for October show Japanese automaker Toyota dropped 23-percent, Ford is a bit more severe dropping 30-percent and Chrysler is right behind, tumbling 35-percent.
But there is no question the company suffering worse is General Motors. Last month GM saw its sales fall a whopping 45-percent and sales of its full-size SUV's dropped even more.
Despite the dwindling numbers workers at GM's Arlington plant actually started working overtime Monday and will do so through the holidays and the end of the year.
Normally the night shift ends at midnight, but now Arlington workers will be 'on the line' until after 1:30 a.m. "We've had a lot of ups and downs but this has been crazy because of the economy," worker Barry Porter explained.
Porter inspects GM's Chevy Tahoes, Cadillac Escalades, and GMC Yukons. After several temporary lay-offs this year, he's excited that's there's overtime for the next two months.
"That's what makes it a bit better. It's the holidays. Catch up on things. Extra money," Porter says. "We'll be tired, but we'll be all right."
In October of 2007, GM sold nearly 42,000 of its full-size SUV's in the United States. In October of this year that number fell to just more than 11,000.
The automaker is cutting the number of full-size SUV's it produces each year.
GM is still working overtime in Arlington because the plant there will now be the only one making the full-size SUV's.
"So that's one of the reasons we're having overtime," explains GM Arlington Spokeswoman Wendi Sabo. "We're anticipating the market for next year is probably a little higher than what we can build at just one plant, so we're bringing in OT now to make sure we're prepared for next year."
GM is also increasing exports. One group of vehicles seen be a CBS 11 News crew was headed to the Middle East.
The company is also expecting to sell more of their hybrid versions.
Earlier this year, GM cancelled a new platform for full-sized SUV's originally scheduled to be built in 2012. A company spokesman says they're sticking with the current model platform for the time-being.
"Any new product is very important because this was going to carry you in the future," UAW 276 President Enrique Flores said.
Despite the change Flores says the Arlington plant is highly regarded by GM. "That's why we're not overly worried. We're concerned, but also on the bright side, we've built everything GM has asked us to build," he said.
For now, workers in Arlington are happy with the overtime. Normally the plant cranks out 800 vehicles a day, with overtime that number will jump to 950.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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