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Demand for Lordstown-built cars rises
GM Lordstown autoworkers are anticipating working overtime in two weeks.
LORDSTOWN — Pent-up demand and the “cash for clunkers” auto sales incentive program are credited with reducing GM’s vehicle inventory and giving rise to hope that additional workers will soon be needed at its Lordstown Complex.
The inventory of Chevrolet Cobalts shrank from 153 days’ worth in June to 83 days in July.
The supply of Pontiac G5s declined from 135 days in June to 55 days in July, and GM’s overall vehicle inventory dropped from 85 days in June to 71 days in July, said Thomas Mock, GM Lordstown spokesman.
The Cobalt and Pontiac G5 are manufactured at the Lordstown GM plant.
“Our dealers are telling us there is a demand for the cars we build in Lordstown, and, presumably, ‘cash for clunkers’ is a factor,” Mock said.
United Auto Workers officials are excited by the improved sales and that their members are back to work after a long layoff.
“Everybody is back to work, and there is a lot of excitement in the plant to build cars,” said Jim Graham, president of Local 1112, which represents employees in the assembly plant.
Much of the complex will go to four-day, 10-hour shifts beginning Monday, Graham and Dave Green, president of Local 1714 at the fabricating plant, said.
“We are looking at overtime starting on Aug. 21, but unfortunately, there are not enough orders yet to sustain a second shift at the assembly plant,” said Graham, although he is hopeful that a second shift will be needed early next year when the plant gears up to build the new Chevrolet Cruze.
“We’re very excited about the future,” he said.
Likewise, the metal shop at the fabricating plant will switch to four-day, 10-hour shifts on Monday, said Green. However, he said the stamping plant will remain on eight-hour shifts five days a week.
“Cash for clunkers” has been a success for GM, which Green said has sold more vehicles under the program than any other automaker.
“It has been a positive thing, but personally I would have liked to see it focused only on cars built by American workers. It would have provided a better stimulus to the economy,” Green said.
alcorn@vindy.com