From Michigan NPR a couple days ago:

GM Increases Production

By Vincent Duffy

General Motors is calling back more than 13-hundred union workers as the company plans to boost production of many of its vehicles.

GM is adding shifts and overtime to many of its production facilities in North America, including Lordstown, Ohio where it makes the Chevrolet Cobalt, and at the CAMI plant in Ontario, where it makes the Equinox and GMC Terrain.

Auto industry analyst Erich Merkle says the Cash for Clunkers program sent many buyers to dealerships.

“We’re seeing inventory levels that we haven’t seen since 1983. These automakers, they have to respond to the increase in demand that is coming from the cash for clunkers program,” Merkle said.

Other automakers, including Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Chrysler have also announced production increases due to the clunkers program.

http://www.publicbroadcasting......Production

How long before these workers are laid off again once car sales drop due to the end of the program?

The sales had nothing to do with the cars themselves and everything to do with the $3500-$4500 in free cash.

o-blah-blah’s Cash for Clunker program WAS dead on arrival!

“DOT said earlier this week it was tripling its work force to handle the rebates and expected to have 1,100 workers dealing with the paperwork by the end of the week. “

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is developing plans to wind down the popular Cash for Clunkers program and could announce by Friday when the incentives will no longer be available.

Department officials met with car dealer trade groups on Wednesday

to …and respond to complaints over a backlog of rebate payments to dealers.

LaHood said he recognized that “dealers are frustrated. They’re going to get their money.”

Dealers have complained of delays in getting their reimbursements approved,….

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association,… cannot afford to offer more rebates.

The government’s online reimbursement system was flooded with reimbursement requests shortly after the program began in late July, overwhelming the computer system and staff set up to process the deals. That led to big delays for dealers trying to file the paperwork they needed to get paid back for the rebates.

LaHood…acknowledged the Transportation Department did not have enough people to process the paperwork

DOT said earlier this week it was tripling its work force to handle the rebates and expected to have 1,100 workers dealing with the paperwork by the end of the week.

Michelle Primm, four-franchise dealership.. OH stopped … clunkers purchases until the sales are approved by the federal government.

*Primm’s dealership has made 31 clunkers deals since the program was launched last month, but has only been paid for 3. *

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....lunkers_11