Impact of Japan EQ on Camaro Production?

[upflying]

Originally Posted by live2drive

This just in from the Associated Press:

Lack of parts forces GM to halt pickup production


"DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors Co. says a lack of parts from Japan is forcing the company to halt production at its pickup assembly plant in Shreveport, La., next week.

It's the first time a U.S.-based automaker has slowed production in North America because of disruptions in parts shipments after last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Toyota Motor Co. and Subaru have already slowed production at their North American plants to conserve stockpiles of parts.

GM's other North American plants haven't been affected so far.

GM won't say which parts are involved. The company says it will resume production as soon as possible.

GM employs 800 factory workers in Shreveport, which makes the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado small pickups."

Could also be marketing. When was the last time you ever see anyone buy a new Colorado or Canyon? Shutting the factory could be because no one is buying them. Using "Japanese parts" as the reason for the shut down gives GM an easy out to stop production without explaining the real reason.
In defense of GM, the Colorado/canyon is actually an Isuzu.

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by upflying

Could also be marketing. When was the last time you ever see anyone buy a new Colorado or Canyon? Shutting the factory could be because no one is buying them. Using "Japanese parts" as the reason for the shut down gives GM an easy out to stop production without explaining the real reason.
In defense of GM, the Colorado/canyon is actually an Isuzu.

The factory is slated to shut down per contract at the end of 2012. GM likely has no reason to shut down the factory early. The GMT355 (Colorado/Canyon/I-370) do continue to sell in small numbers to private owners, but a large percentage of them end up in fleets (commercial rental/business lease/work truck, etc).

And no, actually the Colorado is not an Isuzu.

The Colorado was co-designed by Isuzu and GM, but the relationship split before the vehicle was put in production. GM continued to manufacture and sell the Isuzu twins domestically per the agreement with Isuzu (the I-280/350 and the I-290/370), but make no mistake, there is American engineering and final assembly in this truck. It's as GM as anything else.

Isuzu has since taken their copy of the co-design and sold it all over the world--Thailand being one of the larger markets, where the truck has no evolved into subsequent generations with different interiors, sheetmetal, and drivetrain components.

The US version includes an American engineered and produced engine (the 2.8/3.5 and 2.9/3.7) which are all derivatives of the Atlas engine family produced in Tonawanda, NY. The automatic transmission is a GM 4L60-E. Final assembly occurs in Shreveport, LA. The rear differential, front differential and driveline are produced by American Axle and Manufacturing for US-spec models. The transfer case and electronic switching mechanism is the only Isuzu-sourced part in the entire vehicle.

The Colorado also uses an Aisin manual transmission. I am not sure of the origin, but it could very likely be Japan. The following guide does not list assembly points or origin for the AR-5. http://www.gminsidenews.com/index.php?page=trans_guide

And, it's highly possible that a lot of the electronics come from Japan. I think the Colorado only has an 85% North American parts content, so this would not surprise me in the least.

[upflying]

Isn't American Axle and Manufacturing on strike or having labor trouble? If so could be a shortage of axles too. You are right, the GMT-355 is an Isuzu design. The I-290/370 were discontinued in 2007 IIRC.

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by upflying

Isn't American Axle and Manufacturing on strike or having labor trouble? If so could be a shortage of axles too. You are right, the GMT-355 is an Isuzu design. The I-290/370 were discontinued in 2007 IIRC.

It's not an Isuzu design. It's a GM design funded in part by Isuzu. The US market sold GM's design with Isuzu badging per the agreement.

Has it been said yet that this board 'is in sad, sad shape?'

[SleepWarz]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I heard that the problem will cause severe shortages of electronics produced by Texas Instruments until september. With many Integrated Circuits, you can't just pick up and move the tooling to some other country or location and start making new chips. It takes months to start up a new line.

I also heard a new report this morning saying that this disaster was going to cause a shortage of Prius production so there will be none to be had.

I also heard someone saying that imports from China will be screened for radioactive contaminants.

They should be doing that in the first place, not by needing a disaster.

[joes407]

Originally Posted by INTIMIDAT3R

Who cares? I got mine.

lmao!!! i love it!!! me 2

[One Mean Chevy]

Buried somewhere deep in this site is a post about where all the Parts on the Camaro are made. It was posted back around mid to late 2009.