NUMMI cuts back Tacoma production

[TacoDude]

Fremont's NUMMI cuts truck production

By Matt Nauman
Mercury News

Article Launched: 11/14/2008 11:14:22 AM PST

Fremont's auto plant will cut truck production in half starting in January, Toyota said today, another sign of the faltering economy and a reflection of the tough year for the U.S. auto industry.

New United Motor Manufacturing will halt second-shift production of the Toyota Tacoma pickup, said Mike Goss, a spokesman for Toyota's manufacturing division.

"Second shift will resume when the market improves," Goss said.
Nationally, auto sales are down 18 percent for the year, the worst downturn in 15 years. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have been hit hardest, and are seeking help from the U.S. government. But nearly every auto maker is enduring double-digit sales declines this year.
NUMMI makes the Tacoma and Corolla sedan for Toyota and the Pontiac Vibe wagon for GM. Car production isn't affected by the truck cutback, although overtime has been eliminated for car-line workers and a Saturday production shift for the Corolla/Vibe in December has been cancelled.
Tacoma sales are down 14 percent through the end of October, but the compact pickup actually has seen a smaller sales decline than Toyota's big truck, the Tundra, and all of its sport-utility vehicles. Toyota has slowed production at some of its other North American factories in response to falling sales.

Production and sales of the Tacoma have been dropping steadily in an era of higher gas prices and a tight credit market. Toyota began producing a pickup at NUMMI in 1991, and production of the Tacoma peaked in 2006 when nearly 171,000 of the vehicles were made. In the first 10 months of 2008, NUMMI's workers made 111,524 Tacomas.

Toyota has a no-layoffs policy, so truck line workers will cross-train and do maintenance at the plant, Goss said. NUMMI has about 5,400 employees, of which 4,550 are represented by the United Auto Workers.
In a memo to employees, Tracy Wakefield, NUMMI's human resources manager, characterized the situation as "these difficult times." A plant spokesman issued a statement saying NUMMI's management is "in the process of determining how we will manage the change in volume, including offering team members opportunities for training and making improvements to plant operations."

[Munkey]

Originally Posted by TacoDude

Toyota has a no-layoffs policy, so truck line workers will cross-train and do maintenance at the plant,

If true, at least there's a good part to the story. Too bad some US owned automakers can't/won't do the same.

[capita]

The trucks seem to be selling really good here lately. Seems like every second truck on the road is a Tundra or Tacoma. Also yesterday, gas prices lowered to under $1/liter which is a great help

[tug_slug]

Originally Posted by TacoDude

Toyota has a no-layoffs policy, so truck line workers will cross-train and do maintenance at the plant, Goss said.

Common sense dictates that there's only so much plant maintenance that can be done and if sales don't pick up lay-offs will be in order.

[EdgeR6]

Nobody is going to buy anything in this market unless they are pretty secure financially. My and my G/F want to get a toy hauler however we are kind of waiting at least for the economy to get better or even just level off.

[mjonags32]

being right by NUMMI, i know a few people that work(ed) there. My buddy actually did get laid off from NUMMI, but both parties agreed to it. he now stays at home and do nothing and receives unemployment.