LOSING PROPOSITION: THE CHEVY VOLT

From Autoblog on January 2, 2013:

Automotive dealerships are accustomed to training sales and service professionals when new models arrive, but the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt – and its pricey additional tool and equipment costs – is frustrating some low-volume retailers to the point of dropping the model from the showroom. A recent report says that a few discontented dealers have stopped carrying the innovative sedan because General Motors is requiring a more significant investment in the near future, and the specialized costs (in excess of $5,000) aren't offset by the model's slow sales at those establishments....

Courtesy of the Obama administration, another epic fail.

Most automotive mechanics have to buy their own specialized tools although, on some occasions, the dealership will furnish certain tools and diagnostic equipment.  When the costs of those tools and diagnostic equipment soar while, at the same time, sales figures for particular car models are soft, the consumer will be unable to get his vehicle serviced or will have have to pay a huge repair bill.  Yet another blow to our nation's economy!

DELPHI AND OBAMA LAND

As the daughter of a mechanic and the wife of a retired mechanic/automotive-parts worker, I have known about garage matters all my life. In fact, I recall seeing boxes with the label "Delphi" on them in my father's garage. Therefore, this story caught my eye:

...When the Obama administration commandeered the bankruptcy process, it invited GM and UAW representatives to the negotiating table. But it left out Delphi’s salaried retirees. The upshot was that the UAW retirees got their full pension and health care benefits. But the benefits of 21,000 Delphi retirees – who had often worked right next to their UAW peers – were determined as per a Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) formula. Hence, some of them lost up to 70 percent of their pensions and all of their life and health insurance. Bruce Gump, a representative of the Delphi Retirees Association, testified before Congress last year that the Treasury could have covered 93 percent of the benefits of all employees for the same amount that it spent on full union benefits.

[...]

What all of this shows is that some workers are more equal than others in Obama Land.

Delphi is a leading global supplier for the automotive, computing, communications, energy, and consumer accessories markets and a sponsor of NASCAR.

The GM Warranty Loophole

(With a hat tip to Conservative Hideout 2.0)

Remember this 2009 video of Obama's promise about the General Motors warranty?


Um, not exactly. According to Reuters:

"New GM's warranty obligations for vehicles sold by Old GM are limited to the express terms and conditions in the Old GM written warranties on a going-forward basis," wrote Benjamin Jeffers, a lawyer for GM. "New GM did not assume responsibility for Old GM's design choices, conduct, or alleged breaches of liability under the warranty."

The warranty in question relates to a suspension problem with 2007 and 2008 Impalas.

Read the entire Reuters article HERE. You'll note that the warranty was honored for police vehicles.

Whoever runs as the GOP candidate in 2012 needs to compile a list of the many lies and broken promises on the part of the Obama administration and force him to confront those lies and promises during a public televised debate.

NOON UPDATE: SCOOPED INSTAPUNDIT ON THIS:

Instapundit: BROKEN PROMISE: General Motors Again Ripping Off Americans: Warranties Edition….

25 minutes ago

BHO AS CEO

Dick Morris opines that BHO's forcing out of GM's Rick Wagoner will backfire.

Excerpt from this column at The Hill:

...By replacing the head of the company and demanding a restructuring of its board in return for further TARP aid, Obama has taken upon himself the responsibility for the future of the company....

[...]

This move will backfire big time! The auto giant is very, very unlikely to be saved by this current TARP infusion. Doubtless it will need more in the near term. But the resentment now focused on the management of the company will then turn to Obama. Having demanded a replacement of the management, it is he who will be held responsible for the company’s future....

Read the rest at Always On Watch.