| General Motors has recently announced that | | | | He further explained that some of the |
| they will be offering XM satellite radio | | | | second-shift workers at the plant will be |
| standard on all 2008 Buick, Hummer, and Saab | | | | laid off in May but the company together with |
| models with quality Saab radiator. Aside from | | | | the union is still determining how many |
| these new models of which include the | | | | workers are to be affected. Also some of the |
| Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe, Cobalt, | | | | second-shift workers could be moved to the |
| Corvette and Impala, Saturn VUE, OUTLOOK, | | | | first shift to help with staffing. The plant |
| Aura and Sky, GMC Acadia, Yukon, and Sierra, | | | | has around 2,700 hourly workers who worked on |
| Pontiac G5 and Solstice. A total of 50 models | | | | the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra |
| of the year 2008 GM vehicles are to be | | | | pickups. |
| equipped with the XM satellite radio plus | | | | |
| they will be offered with a free 3-month | | | | United Auto Workers Local 594 President |
| trial subscription. | | | | Gloria Morgan has not made any comment on the |
| | | | issue. The news came days after GM announced |
| Rick Lee, General Motors executive director | | | | that it would permanently lay off 767 workers |
| said, "XM Satellite Radio has been one of the | | | | in December at its other Detroit-area plant |
| most successful entertainment offerings ever | | | | cause by the slow sales of its two sedans |
| launched by General Motors. The XM service | | | | namely the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. |
| has broad appeal, with a growing number of | | | | |
| our customers asking for the service in their | | | | Chief Sales Analyst of GM to leave Automaker |
| new car or truck. In the 2008 model year, | | | | |
| General Motors will build more than 2.5 | | | | General Motors' Chief Analyst, Paul Ballew |
| million vehicles with XM." | | | | was reported leaving the company to become |
| | | | senior vice president for Consumer Insights |
| It was GM that first introduced the XM | | | | and Market Research for Nationwide Insurance |
| satellite radio with the Cadillac in the year | | | | in Ohio. |
| 2001 and at present the automaker have | | | | |
| produce more than six million vehicles | | | | Mr. Ballew is a longtime executive director |
| equipped with the XM. Satellite radio | | | | of global market and industry analysis and |
| providers have really made it a way for their | | | | would step down in early November. GM |
| radios to be pre-installed in cars to attract | | | | officials in a statement said, "During his 10 |
| more customers. Presently XM and Sirius have | | | | years with the company, Paul has been an |
| exclusive deals with all major carmakers. | | | | effective leader of GM's global market and |
| | | | industry analysis team. His industry |
| GM to Cut More Jobs | | | | knowledge is immense. His counsel and |
| | | | perspective will be missed." |
| Still on General Motors, the automaker has | | | | |
| announced its plan of cutting a shift at a | | | | At present the company has not yet found a |
| truck plant in Pontiac due to declining | | | | replacement for Mr. Ballew that is according |
| demand for pickups. The said job cuts will | | | | to Tom Wilkinson GM spokesman. Mr. Ballew |
| lay off hundreds of workers that is according | | | | became part of GM in 1999 but prior to that |
| to GM's spokesman Tom Wickham. | | | | he was a partner and senior director for J.D. |
| | | | Power and Associates from 1995 to 1999. |