The Stories Inside General Motors

General Motors has recently announced that they willworkers at the plant will be laid off in May but the
be offering XM satellite radio standard on all 2008company together with the union is still determining
Buick, Hummer, and Saab models with quality Saabhow many workers are to be affected. Also some of
radiator. Aside from these new models of whichthe second-shift workers could be moved to the first
include the Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe, Cobalt,shift to help with staffing. The plant has around 2,700
Corvette and Impala, Saturn VUE, OUTLOOK, Aurahourly workers who worked on the Chevrolet
and Sky, GMC Acadia, Yukon, and Sierra, Pontiac G5Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.
and Solstice. A total of 50 models of the year 2008United Auto Workers Local 594 President Gloria
GM vehicles are to be equipped with the XM satelliteMorgan has not made any comment on the issue. The
radio plus they will be offered with a free 3-month trialnews came days after GM announced that it would
subscription.permanently lay off 767 workers in December at its
Rick Lee, General Motors executive director said, "XMother Detroit-area plant cause by the slow sales of its
Satellite Radio has been one of the most successfultwo sedans namely the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac
entertainment offerings ever launched by GeneralDTS.
Motors. The XM service has broad appeal, with aChief Sales Analyst of GM to leave Automaker
growing number of our customers asking for theGeneral Motors' Chief Analyst, Paul Ballew was
service in their new car or truck. In the 2008 modelreported leaving the company to become senior vice
year, General Motors will build more than 2.5 millionpresident for Consumer Insights and Market Research
vehicles with XM."for Nationwide Insurance in Ohio.
It was GM that first introduced the XM satellite radioMr. Ballew is a longtime executive director of global
with the Cadillac in the year 2001 and at present themarket and industry analysis and would step down in
automaker have produce more than six million vehiclesearly November. GM officials in a statement said,
equipped with the XM. Satellite radio providers have"During his 10 years with the company, Paul has been
really made it a way for their radios to be pre-installedan effective leader of GM's global market and industry
in cars to attract more customers. Presently XM andanalysis team. His industry knowledge is immense. His
Sirius have exclusive deals with all major carmakers.counsel and perspective will be missed."
GM to Cut More JobsAt present the company has not yet found a
Still on General Motors, the automaker has announcedreplacement for Mr. Ballew that is according to Tom
its plan of cutting a shift at a truck plant in Pontiac dueWilkinson GM spokesman. Mr. Ballew became part of
to declining demand for pickups. The said job cuts willGM in 1999 but prior to that he was a partner and
lay off hundreds of workers that is according to GM'ssenior director for J.D. Power and Associates from
spokesman Tom Wickham.1995 to 1999.
He further explained that some of the second-shift