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