JANUARY 29, 2020

Editor-in-Chief's Note: The downward spiral of Nissan in this country is picking up speed. According to a report in Automotive News late Tuesday, Nissan will reduce its U.S. workforce by offering hourly and salaried employees 52 years or older voluntary buyouts, and the company will reduce its sales regions from eight to six. Nissan suggests that part of this contraction is designed to wean the company off its dependence on fleet sales, but try as Nissan might, it can't conceal the fact that the company is in free-fall. Sales were down almost ten percent last year and things are still looking grim this year. Years of serial incompetence and flat-out bad management are coming home to roost for the Japanese car company, and it is now paying a severe price. -PMD

(GM)
GM is making a $2.2 billion investment at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs. GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pickup, with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco last week. Detroit-Hamtramck will be GM’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant. “Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” said Mark Reuss, GM president, during a press event at the plant with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other local and state officials. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.” When the plant is fully operational, this investment will create more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturing jobs. GM will also invest an additional $800 million in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks. Since the fall of 2018, GM has committed to invest more than $2.5 billion in Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments at Orion assembly, GM battery lab in Warren, Brownstown and today’s announced direct investment in Detroit-Hamtramck. The plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling. GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3 billion to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck. A key driver behind GM’s decision to make the commitment to Detroit-Hamtramck was the support this project received from the state of Michigan. “The support from the state of Michigan was a key element in making this investment possible,” added Reuss. “This investment helps ensure that Michigan will remain at the epicenter of the global automotive industry as we continue our journey to an electrified future.” Editor-in-Chief's Note: This qualifies as big news around here and it also signals the massive commitment that GM is making to electric vehicle production. -PMD

Song Lyrics of the Week:

Hate New York City
It's cold and it's damp
And all the people dressed like monkeys
Let's leave Chicago to the Eskimos
That town's a little bit too rugged
For you and me you bad girl

Rollin' down the Imperial Highway
With a big nasty redhead at my side
Santa Ana winds blowin' hot from the north
And we were born to ride

Roll down the window put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys baby
Don't let the music stop
We're gonna ride it till we just can't ride it no more

From the South Bay to the Valley
From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody's very happy
'Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day
I love L.A. (We love it)
I love L.A. (We love it)
We love it!
Look at that mountain
Look at those trees
Look at that bum over there, man
He's down on his knees
Look at these women
There ain't nothin' like 'em nowhere
Century Boulevard (We love it)
Victory Boulevard (We love it)
Santa Monica Boulevard (We love it)
Sixth Street (We love it, we love it)
We love L.A!
I love L.A.
(We love it)
I love L.A.
(We love it)
I love L.A.
(We love it)

"I Love L. A." -Randy Newman

Watch the video here (directed by Randy's cousin, Tim Newman).