could this be the announcement?

[cletus8269]

Rumors of tomorrow's "important changes" at GM have approached a fevered pace, but the latest one we've heard is coming directly from someone who's directly related to someone who could be directly affected if the rumor is true. So, it must be true, right? Anyway, we've just been told by the family of a Chevy Volt engineering team member that not only is the untouchable Volt program on hold, GM's even letting some of the engineering team, aka "the chosen people," go. Hit the jump for the full rumor.

"My uncle works on the Volt as an engineer. He's getting laid off Friday because apparantly the project (aka VOLT) is on hold indefinitely."

We've put in a call to GM PR to ask them about the veracity of our tipsters claim, but we've yet to receive a response. We'll let you know when we've got more to tell you.

http://jalopnik.com/5078988/rumor-gm-to-pu...-staff-tomorrow

if this is true it will be a huge setback and maybe even the final straw on gm.

Edited November 7, 2008 by cletus8269

[Chris_Doane]

The engineering/white collar job cuts seem likely. The part about the Volt seems quite a bit less likely.

[wildcat]

But it was stated here recently that GM might not even make its payroll soon. Given that, why would anything be unlikely? Or is this a "P.R." move to push the government into acting quicker?

[Robert Hall]

More Not Good it proves to be true... damn.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Holy Sh!t, not the Volt, not AGAIN killing the electric car!

I hope this ain't true.

[wildcat]

But just throwing this out there for conversation. Wouldn't that be a good attention-getter with the government? To say our "game-changing" electric vehicle has to go on hold unless you hurry up and give us money and lots of it.

[Robert Hall]

But just throwing this out there for conversation. Wouldn't that be a good attention-getter with the government? To say our "game-changing" electric vehicle has to go on hold unless you hurry up and give us money and lots of it.

Hmmm...leverage.

Unrelated, but I wonder GM has approached Toyota for a loan? A few billion would be pocket change for them, and they would get good PR for helping out an American carmaker...

[Chevy Nick]

I hope this isn't true.

[GXT]

But just throwing this out there for conversation. Wouldn't that be a good attention-getter with the government? To say our "game-changing" electric vehicle has to go on hold unless you hurry up and give us money and lots of it.

Exactly what I was thinking.

This was the purpose of the Volt after all.

[regfootball]

i am sure this is entirely possible. GM putting the public on notice. Although if they do this, i think its terrible.

[daves87rs]

But just throwing this out there for conversation. Wouldn't that be a good attention-getter with the government? To say our "game-changing" electric vehicle has to go on hold unless you hurry up and give us money and lots of it.

That just might make the goverment wet themselves.

And you think people stopped buying stuff now....

[thegriffon]

I wouldn't be surprised if they were laying off more contract staff from the Volt program because it was nearly done. They have a schedule, they have the program pretty much complete, perhaps they don't need so many people working on it any more. Thankyou for your service, a great job, but we don't have anything more for you to do until the government gives us money for more programs.

[Bimmer325]

I think it would be a bold move on GM's part, but not worth the disastrous effect on the Volt's mounting buzz and public perception in general.