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GM recalls 61k more vehicles in three campaigns

Following a stop-delivery order for its new midsize trucks and a rash of recent recalls, General Motors is issuing three more campaigns covering 60,575 vehicles in North America with 57,182 of them in the US. As of October 1, the automaker has issued a total of 74 recalls (see the ridiculously long chart to the right) this year covering 26,495,070 units in the US.
The largest campaign covers 46,873 examples in the US of the 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 and 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle imported from Australia. It's possible for the driver's knee to hit the key and make it move from the "Run" to "ACC" position while driving. GM says its Holden division is developing a fixed-blade key that's supposed to fix the problem by only allowing it to rotate toward the "On" position. There has been one crash caused by this fault but no injuries or fatalities.
The second recall is for 10,005 units of the 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V because "the fuel pump module electrical terminal may overheat." This can cause a flange to melt and allow the pump to leak fuel. GM specifies that the remedy for the CTS-V is replacing the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, but it doesn't specify how the STS-V is being repaired.

GM, UAW poaching Nissan workers in Tennessee

General Motors and the United Auto Workers are going on a recruitment drive at the Spring Hill factory in Tennessee, and they're hoping to poach some skilled workers from Nissan's nearby plant in Smyrna, TN. The General and the union even bought a billboard advertising for industrial electricians near the Japanese automaker's facility, according to the Daily News Journal. The reason for the billboard was simple. "GM was short of electricians," said Tim Stannard, the president of the UAW local at Spring Hill, to the Daily News Journal. The factory currently builds the Chevrolet Equinox but has a contract to assemble the next generation of Ecotec engines and the Cadillac XT5, which replaces the SRX. Thanks to the $185-million deal, employment there is expected to double by May 2016, according to Stannard, with roughly 1,800 additional union jobs. Beyond just several billboards, GM has job postings online for the Spring Hill plant looking for workers with specific skills. There has already been some interest in the positions among Nissan employees, Stannard indicated. According to a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research, the average GM worker currently makes $58 an hour, including benefits. Comparatively, Nissan pays an average of $42 an hour with benefits. The General's number could change in the coming weeks because its contract with the UAW is about to expire, and higher wages are among the major negotiating points.

Book by Cadillac is like a streaming service for cars

Cadillac is launching a subscription-based service that gives users access to most of its models for a flat fee of $1,500 a month. Called Book by Cadillac, the program starts in February in New York City and its surrounding areas. Cadillac's goal: attract users who want flexibility without the costs and commitment of ownership. The monthly fee is steep, but Cadillac argues it's competitive with the cost of leasing a well-equipped luxury car. It also includes maintenance, taxes, and insurance fees. The Book service can also be stopped at any time, which frees users from any payments. There's no restrictions on mileage, though users pay for gas either by filling up the car when they're done with it or through a Caddy concierge who bills their account. Cadillac will deliver and pick up the vehicles from the user's choice of location via a white-gloved driver. Users can change vehicles up to 18 times per year, and they can be reserved with a mobile app. The theoretical goal is a Book user could head to the airport in New York in a Cadillac and reserve another one for their use in Los Angeles. Cadillac ran a test program last year and decided to move forward with Book after receiving a positive response on the price and features. "The overwhelming result is this is something competitive," spokesman Eneuri Acosta said. The program features the Escalade, Escalade ESV, CT6, CTS-V, ATS-V, and XT5 decked-out in Platinum trim. Other vehicles, like the non-V-series ATS or CTS could be added if there's demand. Book by Cadillac starts in New York, but will expand to other unspecified markets. Related Video: