US Car Makers Crank Out Cars Around the Clock; Who is Buying the Cars?

Townhall.com ^ | August 18, 2013 | Mike Shedlock

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Hey they’re making things in America.

I’m all for it.

Bought one myself.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Instead of shutting down the assembly line eight times a day for routine breaks, they have hired extra workers to fill in during breaks, so the line doesn't stop running.

That must be a logistical and training nightmare. The breaks all have to be staggered and can't occur at the same time. The people filling in during breaks have to be trained in lots of different assembly tasks. As for staggering breaks, workers probably don't want to start a shift and have to take a ten minute break after working for twenty minutes, then work 3-1/2 hours until lunch. Maybe they are taking the managers, office workers, designers, etc and putting them on the line during the breaks?

[SamAdams76]

There’s a lot of cars out there - I’m getting stuck in traffic all the time.

[SamAdams76]

There’s a lot of cars out there - I’m getting stuck in traffic all the time.

[Bryanw92]

>>That must be a logistical and training nightmare. The breaks all have to be staggered and can’t occur at the same time.

I’ve worked in five factories in my career as an industrial electrician. All of them ran 24/7 and none of them stopped the production line for breaks. They all keep some extra people on a production crew who do light maintenance (oiling and wiping type of stuff and assisting the mechanics) and once break time hits, they start filling in on the line for break and meal relief. This isn’t anything new.

[NonValueAdded]

I wonder how they are doing maintenance? At some point quality will suffer.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

My car buying history has always been to pay cash or pay them off as quickly as possible. If the car is used I go through it to be sure everything is in good shape, drive it carefully, and maintain it well. Last new car I bought was in 1999, and am still driving it with over 220k on it. Last used one I bought (in 2008) was a 1998 Merc Grand Marqis with 49k for $7k. Still driving it and have almost 140k on it, and going strong.

Drove by a dealership yesterday and saw a Crown Vic up for $7.5k that looked like it had just come off the show room floor (maybe a 2009). Sorry folks, not interested in a $35k SUV when I can buy something as good (for me) for 20% of the cost and drive it for many years and many miles with no payments.

I may be frugal, but I'm not cheap...

[RugerMini14]

There’s a lot of cars out there - I’m getting stuck in traffic all the time.

In Chicago it's the opposite. Since Obozo's emaculation the level of traffic congestion has dropped noticeably. And it ain't because of any new roads. I guess that mass under-employment has its upside to those left in the workforce.

[Repeal The 17th]

US Car Makers Crank Out Cars Around the Clock; Who is Buying the Cars?
-
Wall Sreet Journal Article
-
The Wall Street Journal
July 1, 2013
By CHRISTINA ROGERS and NEAL E. BOUDETTE
MARYSVILLE, Ohio—The U.S. auto industry, in tatters just four years ago,
is emerging as an export powerhouse, driven by favorable exchange rates
and labor costs in a trend experts say could drive business for many years.

In a sign of the turnaround, Honda Motor Co, once a big importer of Japanese-made cars,
says it expects to export more vehicles from North America
with nearly all of them coming from its U.S. factories
than it brings in from Japan by the end of 2014.

Last year, more than one million cars and light trucks were exported
from U.S. auto plants, the highest recorded and a more than threefold rise from 2003
according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.

More competitive labor costs and restructurings that closed unproductive factories
have made American auto plants tougher competitors in the global market.
Some are also looking at U.S. production as a way to serve booming emerging markets.

By the end of 2014, Chrysler hopes to export as many as 500,000 vehicles a year
to markets outside of North America,
more than doubling the 210,000 it sent abroad in 2012.
The vast majority of Chrysler's exports come from U.S. factories.

[Kaslin]

What car did you buy yourself?

I wished I could by a new car for myself, one that is easier for my old bones to get in and out of, but I don't want to get stuck with car payments at my age

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It’s funny, I worked in dozens of utility and industrial power plants in my early career, and they never shut them down either. I never once thought who filled in during breaks and lunch. I know lots of operators would eat lunch in the control room.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Well I’ve “recently” taken to buying new. So far 110,000 miles on two cars, with zero issues.

And American as well.

So far I’ve real happy with that decision.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Well I don’t want to get too specific.

Not a GM car though. :D

[familyop]

"Who is Buying the Cars?"

People receiving government incomes and incomes from businesses that serve many government customers.

[CARTOUCHE]

Many of those vehicles mentioned are TRUCKS. Trucks for the oil boom in Texas, Pennsylvania and North Dakota. Contractors buy trucks. And individuals buy trucks here in the vast flyover, many of those trucks are the family car, something north-easterners have no understanding or tolerance for.

[ncpatriot]

Strange thing about Ford. Dealer where i live gets one yr old cars and sells them at good price (for dealer) with all the fixings of a new car. Sell like hotcakes. I was told these are cars that are used by big companies for yr, then given back to Ford.

Seniors buying a lot of new cars here. Also, cars of today are nothing but plastic. Sorry cars. But they are good on gas

[inchworm]

UAW backs liberals like Obama who in turn impose anti-American laws (like Obamacare). So, I’m not sure if buying “American” is really all that American after all. Seems to me Red America buys a higher percentage of domestic vehicles than what is sold in blue state/blue democrat liberal areas, and then the UAW gets that money and uses it against you. NICE!!! Let them sell their vehicles to the liberals. I’m out. If they want to engage in national politics like that then they should suffer the economic consequences, just like I will when Obamacare is imposed.
UAW go sell your cars to the liberals who won’t buy them. Maybe you can convince the the Liberals to buy your cars after you tell them you helped get their President, and every other Liberal Senator and Congressmen elected. See if that will help them switch from Honda to you.
In the mean time, Red America- Wake up and stop destroying yourself, and sending your hard earned money to being used against you.

[Cyber Liberty]

I know lots of operators would eat lunch in the control room.

I think I saw Homer Simpson do that once....spilled his coffee into the control board.