GM Dumps NUMMI Partnership with Toyota

After 25 years, GM ditches NUMMI tie-up with Toyota

In the news:

PRESS RELEASE:

2009-06-29

GM Media Statement Regarding GM’s Ownership Stake in NUMMI

Attributable to Troy Clarke, president, GM North America

“As part of its long-term viability plan, General Motors has decided that its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyotawill not be a part of the ‘New GM’. After extensive analysis, GM and Toyota could not reach an agreement on a future product plan that made sense for all parties. Accordingly,NUMMI will end production of vehicles for GM in August, and there are no future GM vehicles planned for the joint venture at this time.Given that, GM believes it is in the best interest of the ‘New GM’ and its stakeholders that we placeour ownership interest in NUMMI in ‘Old GM’. We have enjoyed a very positive and beneficial partnership with Toyota for the past 25 years, and we remain open to future opportunities of mutual interest.”

Click the “NUMMI” link at the bottom of the post for more/old stories about NUMMI, including my tour there in 2005.

NUMMI was such a wasted opportunity. My plant manager (the second one) during my time at GM’s Livonia Engine was one of the first GM managers to rotate through NUMMI. He got it, what an incredible leader he was.

When I was there touring, we got some time with GM managers who were rotating through at the time. The guys there in 2005 were more interested in bad-mouthing Toyota to our group of MIT alumni than anything else (we got insights NOT in the public tour). Sad. Their apparent arrogance led them to highlight how Toyota wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought and that GM was a lot better in many regards.

For context, this 1989 NY Times article is interesting to revisit:

Thoughts?