The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-21
AUTO PRODUCTION
HITS LARGE SNACS
Bv DAVID j. WILKIE
Associated Press Automotive
EHikop

DETROIT, Oct. 20-F-The ma
tons car manufacturer got the
ego ahead'' on civilian passenger
automobile production nearly four
months ago but the date assem-
blies have not amounted to an
average pre-war days volume.
The industry blames the delay
upon materials shortages and work
stoppages in the plants of firms
that supply such essentials as wir-
ing systems, fuel pumps, bumpers,
wheels, brake drums and doze IS
of other items.
Says George Romney, general
manager Ct the automobile manu-
facturers association:
''The clearing up of all strike
difficulties and material short
ages in time to permit real start
in November is the best predic-
ton an Opt listic speaker could
make. Even with such happy cir
cumstances prevailing, it is doubt
full if the industry could reach it's
war production board quotas OF
241, 1916 passenger cars by the end
of this year"
With production restrictions
lifted, the industry had planned to
assemble 100000 vehicles before
the years end.
| Heading toward volume produc-
ton this week were Buick, Olds-
mobile, Pontiac, Ford and Hud-
son; all had their assembly lines
moving in varying degree. All,
however, could be halted within a
few days if their supplies of parts
and sub-assemblies were cut off
suddenly.
Ford and Hudson were on their
second start after encountering
labor troubles, either in their own
Lplants or in those of sub-contrac.
tors.
Packard is in limited produc-
ton on improvised assembly lines
and Ford expects to have it's Mer-
curry and Lincoln lines rolling in a
few weeks. Cadillac also has a
limited production schedule under
way.
The several Chrysler passenger
car divisions, Studebaker and
Nash are about ready to 60.
Chevrolet, largest money maker
of the General Motors group, and
heaviest volume producer of the
industry in the years Immediately
preceding the war, is feeling its
way carefully. Assembly work al
ready has begun in the company S
various plants throughout the
country. The company requires a
tremendous flow of parts and sub
assemblies, however, to swing into
high volume output. Chevrolet
made more than 100000 vehicles
in 1941, last full year Of passeng-
er car production.
Chevrolet has indicated that
formal announcement of the new
models will be withheld until they
are ready for display in the show
rooms Of dealers throughout the
! country.
| Henry Ford II, planning pub
lie showing of the new Ford mod
els next Friday, has predicted
his company will turn out 75.0O(
passenger cars and $4,000 trucks
before Christmas, if further labor
troubles can be avoided.
c. E. Wilson, General Motor;
president, sees the industry "about
ready to go XXX at about the rate
of an average pre-war year" He
adds that post war capacity ano
maximum employment could be
reached some time in 1916.
Says Chrysler's president, K. I
Keller: 1--WE are planning to g
back into the auto business on the
some basis we were before the
war. When we are producing ii
volume and shipping cars to deal
ers we will make our announce
ments."
Back of all the industry's plan
ming remains the uncertainty con
corning labor. None of the indus
try leaders has receded from tn
position that the demands of thu
CLIO automobile workers union TO.
30 per cent wage rate increas'
cannot be granted without cor
responding rise in the price o
LoI