Putting Cobalt to the Test
08-04-2004 | 04:10 AM
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Putting Cobalt to the Test
The Cobalt is expected to start at about $15,500, a union official says.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LORDSTOWN — A new Chevrolet Cobalt appeared briefly on a village street with a smiling Ken Padgett at the wheel.
Padgett tramped on the gas pedal and dropped the gear shift into second and seconds later jammed it into third. The 140-horsepower engine responded quickly and smoothly before Padgett stepped on the brakes to bring the black, four-door sedan to a smooth stop at a red light.
"Pretty nice, huh? That's with the air conditioning on and four passengers," said Padgett, shop chairman of United Auto Workers Local 1714 at General Motors' Lordstown complex.
Just think of what the Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe, with 205 horsepower, will do when it comes out, said Padgett as he pulled the car back into a parking lot at the plant.
Padgett and other union officials and GM management showed off the Cobalt at the GM complex here Wednesday for the local press. The car was one of about 250 test models that have been built so far at the plant.
"Everybody's excited," said Ben Strickland, shop chairman of UAW Local 1112. "This is job security for our members, for their families and for the Valley."
Production schedule
GM intends to stop the plant's production of the Chevrolet Cavalier on Oct. 6, with the first official Cobalt rolling off the line nine days later. Until then, the plant is producing about 500 test models.
After they are thoroughly reviewed, the models are used in crash tests or scrapped.
GM is investing nearly $1 billion in the assembly and fabricating plants as it upgrades its small-car lineup. The heavily rebated Cavalier has sold well but has lost money for GM.
GM is calling the Cobalt a premium small car and hopes to sell it at a high enough price to make money. Chevy has introduced a smaller car, the Korean-made Aveo, for buyers looking for rock-bottom prices.
Cobalt prices haven't been announced, but Strickland said union officials have heard Chevrolet is considering a price range of $15,500 to $23,500, depending on the model and options.
Union officials are optimistic the car will be a success. Padgett said he likes the handling and the quietness of the idling engine.
After 30 years of being in the plant that stamps metal parts, Padgett said he's impressed with the body lines of the Cobalt and the tight fit of the parts.
GM has said the gaps between the hood and side of the car will be 3 millimeters, compared with 5 millimeters for the Cavalier.
Employee numbers
As for the work force, about 450 temporary workers have been hired at the assembly plant to fill in for regular workers who are being trained on new building methods, Strickland said.
He said he's happy that the work force at the assembly plant has settled at 3,700, including about 300 on leave. As plans for the revamping of the plant were developed, there was speculation that as few as 2,200 workers would be needed, he said.
Strickland said he expects employment to stay at about that level for a while, although he noted that GM expects its plants to improve productivity by 5 percent a year.
The plant had 7,500 hourly workers before the last plant overhaul in 1994, with that number slowly being whittled down as workers retired.
Retirements will continue, but employment at the assembly plant will stay steady for the immediate future because workers will be brought over from the fabricating plant, Strickland said. GM has said it will need fewer workers at the fabricating plant because it is dedicating that plant to the Cobalt, instead of having it make parts for other plants as well.
Padgett, who bargains for workers at the fabricating plant, said he isn't sure yet how many workers will be needed there. The plant has 1,800 workers, including about 100 on leave.
shilling@vindy.com
http://www.vindy.com/featured/281087206908145.php
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LORDSTOWN — A new Chevrolet Cobalt appeared briefly on a village street with a smiling Ken Padgett at the wheel.
Padgett tramped on the gas pedal and dropped the gear shift into second and seconds later jammed it into third. The 140-horsepower engine responded quickly and smoothly before Padgett stepped on the brakes to bring the black, four-door sedan to a smooth stop at a red light.
"Pretty nice, huh? That's with the air conditioning on and four passengers," said Padgett, shop chairman of United Auto Workers Local 1714 at General Motors' Lordstown complex.
Just think of what the Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe, with 205 horsepower, will do when it comes out, said Padgett as he pulled the car back into a parking lot at the plant.
Padgett and other union officials and GM management showed off the Cobalt at the GM complex here Wednesday for the local press. The car was one of about 250 test models that have been built so far at the plant.
"Everybody's excited," said Ben Strickland, shop chairman of UAW Local 1112. "This is job security for our members, for their families and for the Valley."
Production schedule
GM intends to stop the plant's production of the Chevrolet Cavalier on Oct. 6, with the first official Cobalt rolling off the line nine days later. Until then, the plant is producing about 500 test models.
After they are thoroughly reviewed, the models are used in crash tests or scrapped.
GM is investing nearly $1 billion in the assembly and fabricating plants as it upgrades its small-car lineup. The heavily rebated Cavalier has sold well but has lost money for GM.
GM is calling the Cobalt a premium small car and hopes to sell it at a high enough price to make money. Chevy has introduced a smaller car, the Korean-made Aveo, for buyers looking for rock-bottom prices.
Cobalt prices haven't been announced, but Strickland said union officials have heard Chevrolet is considering a price range of $15,500 to $23,500, depending on the model and options.
Union officials are optimistic the car will be a success. Padgett said he likes the handling and the quietness of the idling engine.
After 30 years of being in the plant that stamps metal parts, Padgett said he's impressed with the body lines of the Cobalt and the tight fit of the parts.
GM has said the gaps between the hood and side of the car will be 3 millimeters, compared with 5 millimeters for the Cavalier.
Employee numbers
As for the work force, about 450 temporary workers have been hired at the assembly plant to fill in for regular workers who are being trained on new building methods, Strickland said.
He said he's happy that the work force at the assembly plant has settled at 3,700, including about 300 on leave. As plans for the revamping of the plant were developed, there was speculation that as few as 2,200 workers would be needed, he said.
Strickland said he expects employment to stay at about that level for a while, although he noted that GM expects its plants to improve productivity by 5 percent a year.
The plant had 7,500 hourly workers before the last plant overhaul in 1994, with that number slowly being whittled down as workers retired.
Retirements will continue, but employment at the assembly plant will stay steady for the immediate future because workers will be brought over from the fabricating plant, Strickland said. GM has said it will need fewer workers at the fabricating plant because it is dedicating that plant to the Cobalt, instead of having it make parts for other plants as well.
Padgett, who bargains for workers at the fabricating plant, said he isn't sure yet how many workers will be needed there. The plant has 1,800 workers, including about 100 on leave.
shilling@vindy.com
http://www.vindy.com/featured/281087206908145.php
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