Can we compete?

[Jolly Roger]

Can we (Ford, Chrysler, GM) compete with this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5WGLWNllA

[BAD MERC]

A factory like that would bankrupt US auto makers. They didn't mention the cost - but I would venture a guess into the billions of dollars.

[JamesHecker]

Holy Crap.

[Pat]

Is there a market for such an expensive car, year after year?

Detroit, Europe and the Asians have to keep their crystal balls (no pun intended) polished to divine what the government will allow, what the public wants and what the financing can sustain.

Obviously something went kaput.

[Bluerauder]

Can we (Ford, Chrysler, GM) compete with this?
They are selling more than cars. They are selling the entire robotic plant technology that can be expanded to the entire manufacturing industry. I doubt that VW could ever sell enough Phaetons to ever pay for that plant. Some very interesting concepts including the parts trams and the parts robots. Maple floors with hundreds of thousands of magnets embedded. Mobile robots powered by magnetic induction. I suspect that half of the employees are IT types to tend to the robotic workforce.

[Vortex]

One key difference is the salary packages of european management as compared to their US counterparts. European management teams/directors ect don't generally make the gobs of bucks they do in the US. They generally believe the money is better spent investing in the company. You always hear about "those damn union workers at GM" or wherever but you never hear about the upper management salary/bonus packages that keep most of our manufacturing companies barely in the black. (in good times).

[Joe Walsh]

They are selling more than cars. They are selling the entire robotic plant technology that can be expanded to the entire manufacturing industry. I doubt that VW could ever sell enough Phaetons to ever pay for that plant. Some very interesting concepts including the parts trams and the parts robots. Maple floors with hundreds of thousands of magnets embedded. Mobile robots powered by magnetic induction. I suspect that half of the employees are IT types to tend to the robotic workforce.

^^ +1 ^^

They are building expensive Phaetons in that plant.
It is a very nice 'PR' factory.


They don't show you their VW factories in Mexico do they?

P.S. I hope AJ/Diabolical doesn't see this thread.

[LIGHTNIN1]

Having an expensive VW is like owning an expensive KIA. Why bother?:dunno:

[justbob]

Does a machine and all the years of develoment, maintenance, replacement parts, constant calibrating, etc. justify the replacement of manpower? Seems like ALOT of money spent and jobs lost.

[BUCKWHEAT]

[QUOTE

They don't show you their VW factories in Mexico do they?

.[/QUOTE]

The plant outside of Puebla looks just like an American assembly plant, so your point is....

[Joe Walsh]

The plant outside of Puebla looks just like an American assembly plant, so your point is....

Right...It doesn't look anything like that pretty "Canadian hardwood floored, white gloved employee"* 'PR' factory in the video.
VW quality is in the crapper...they have more electrical glitches and problems than most cars.
I owned a VW bug and was a VW fan for many years...but I've listened to several friends moan and complain about the continuing problems they've had with their VWs.
One just gave up and dumped his Passat for a Ford Explorer.

* Insert various Oooohs! & Ahhhs!

[CKMustangCobra]

I bet they don't have UAW.... so they can afford this stuff.

[Baaad GN]

Thats it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no union!!!!!!! Horrors!!!!!!!!!!!! Shut that place down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Send this to Obama!!!!!!!!!!!! He can tax it!!

[252life]

The factory workers are members of IGM (Metal workers union)

The Germans have another cool place called "Autostadt"

The glass lifts are pretty cool

Hmk4lT1Cm90

[guspech750]

WOW!!! What an amazing place. I for one would have loved to afford a VW Phaeton. It seams to be almost the same as a Audi A8 for a lot less $$$$$. I dont think the Big 3 would like a "transparent" factory. I still get a feeling of them being too stuck in their old ways.

Funny how one of the most influential architecs Ludwig Mies Van Rohe was born in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. (factory in Germany and uses lots of glass) One of his most famous houses is the Farnsworth House. All of the outside walls are glass with no interior walls. Its in Plano Illinois if you care to visit it. Check it out on the web. Its sweet. I had the pleasure of taking a tour in it.

[guspech750]

The factory workers are members of IGM (Metal workers union)

The Germans have another cool place called "Autostadt"

The glass lifts are pretty cool

Hmk4lT1Cm90

Im in the Operating Engineers local 150 Union:banana2:

[SC Cheesehead]

Does a machine and all the years of develoment, maintenance, replacement parts, constant calibrating, etc. justify the replacement of manpower? Seems like ALOT of money spent and jobs lost.

Bob,

Depends on the business case used to develop and justify the project. Off-shore corporate hurdle rates for Return on Investment are often longer in duration and lower in % than here in the US. In the case of highly automated plants, a good portion of the workforce are often electronics or computer techs.

The BMW assembly plant here in SC has similar robotics and imbedded electronics in the floor, also a very impressive place.

[justbob]

I was just wondering. Seems like alot of upkeep.

[Bluerauder]

I was just wondering. Seems like alot of upkeep.
Windows washers and floor polishers. :P