Report: Corvette sales enjoying modest uptick after years of ‘freefall’

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Grand Sport

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Grand Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Automotive News, General Motors has seen Corvette sales increase slightly after months of decline. The General’s sports car saw sales jump by 13 percent in both January and February compared to the same months one year ago. All told, Chevrolet saw 955 Corvette models slip off of dealer lots in the first two months of 2011. That’s good news for General Motors. Well, maybe good is too strong of a word.

See, Corvette sales haven’t exactly been breaking any records as of late. Automotive News reports that, since 2006, the vehicle’s sales have been in a steady state of freefall. In fact, back then Corvette models were selling at a rate of roughly 3,000 units per month for a total of 36,518 vehicles. Last year, that figure was just 12,624.

So, why the slump? It’s no secret that C6 Corvette is growing long in the tooth. The latest generation of the baddest Bow Tie was introduced in 2006, and muscle cars like the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang are now flexing similar power figures for significantly less cash. While it’s true that neither of those offerings can deliver the kind of handling that the still-wicked Corvette serves up, the majority of the population simply doesn’t care.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Corvette sales enjoying modest uptick after years of ‘freefall’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Chrysler factory workers caught enjoying “the plant” at Jefferson North

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant

What is it about working at the Chrysler Jefferson North facility (pictured above) that drives employees to get high? Controversy has bubbled up again in the form of a new report of auto workers at the factory smoking pot during their lunch break.

The last report came in September 2010 when a local Fox News affiliate caught video footage of a group of off-duty Chrysler employees apparently downing a few beers and smoking a joint or two in the company parking lot. This time, Chrysler reportedly busted another three workers – who were evidently not deterred by (or fully cognizant of) the publicity surrounding the previous incident – for partaking in the controlled substance during their downtime.

The automaker reportedly tipped off the man local police to the act on January 24, leading to the workers’ arrests. Formal charges have reportedly not yet been filed, however. Two possible outcomes as a result of the arrests? 1. Workers actually wait until they’re home to light up next time. 2. Afternoon vending machine revenue at Jefferson North plummets.

[Source: The Detroit News]

More Chrysler factory workers caught enjoying “the plant” at Jefferson North originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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