* Oct. 1: GM and UAW negotiators work through the weekend to hammer out a deal to lower health care costs. They appear to be close at one point <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/05/A01-338212.htm> but UAW President Ron Gettelfinger puts forth a counter-proposal that sets the talks back. GM Chairman Rick Wagoner is looking for a deal in advance of GM's board meeting the next week. Investor Kirk Kerkorian is pushing <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/01/A01-333052.htm> for a GM board seat for his top aide Jerry York. <http://www.detnews.com/pix/2005/11/13/asec/a013-delphi_demand_hed_11-13-200 5_379LTQ4.jpg> * Oct. 3: Automakers report <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/03/gm-335798.htm> weaker Sept. sales, with demand down 7.6 percent. SUV demand tanks. Sales drop 24 percent at GM and 20 percent at Ford. Detroit automakers idle more plants. * Oct. 6: UAW memo reveals that Delphi is pushing <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/06/A01-340433.htm> for unprecedented wage and benefits cuts from 33,000 union workers. UAW negotiations <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/07/0auto-341117.htm> with GM to head off Delphi bankruptcy appear to be going nowhere. * Oct. 8: Delphi files for Chapter 11 <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/08/> bankruptcy protection, the largest bankruptcy in the history of the auto industry. The bankruptcy is expected to trigger major job losses, factory closures, and increase financial pressure on smaller suppliers. * <http://www.detnews.com/pix/2005/11/13/timelineart/miller.jpg> Delphi Corp. Chairman and CEO Robert S. "Steve" Miller says legacy costs are strangling the industry. <http://www.detnews.com/pix/folios/dot.gif> The calls from Delphi Corp. directors in Japan, Germany, South America and New York started coming into the company's Troy headquarters just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Sitting in Delphi's sixth-floor boardroom were key senior executives, Chief Operating Officer Rodney O'Neal and Chairman Robert S. "Steve" Miller, the turnaround guru who arrived at Delphi in July with a clear assignment to fix its ailing operations with the cooperation of the United Auto Workers and former parent General Motors Corp. <javascript:companybox('GM')> , or without it. "I made the recommendation," Miller said in an interview. "They crisply understand what choices we had. Many of them did put it into the context of this being a watershed moment in the history of the auto industry ... and of what happens here being a precursor to what may happen to the Big Three." <http://www.detnews.com/pix/staticimages/general/arrow-red-small.gif> Timeline: Delphi's history <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/10/A09-341807.htm> * Oct. 11: Delphi signals intent to launch major overhaul <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/12/A01-346329.htm> of U.S. operations in the first court hearing since bankruptcy. * Oct. 12: UAW local in Lockport, N.Y., tells workers to prepare <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/12/ny-346721.htm> for strike against Delphi. Delphi Chairman Robert S. Miller holds press conference in Troy and says <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/13/A01-347304.htm> paying "$65 an hour for someone mowing the lawn at one of our plants is just not going to cut it anywhere in industrial America for very long." * Oct. 13: Ford announces that Anne Stevens <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/13/C01-347039.htm> will become COO of the Americas division. The move is part of a larger executive shakeup at Ford. * Oct. 17: GM reports $1.6 billion third-quarter loss <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/17/0auto-351322.htm> - its largest loss since 1992. GM also announces deal with UAW to slash health care expenses <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/17/A01-351398.htm> , which is expected to trigger similar deals with Ford and Chrysler. GM insiders acknowledge that Wagoner's credibility with the GM board would have been severely damaged had he not had the health care deal to announce. GM begins exploring sale of a controlling interest in GMAC <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/17/01-351671.htm> . Delphi executives announce they will take pay cuts <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/17/A09-351360.htm> . Financier Wilbur Ross announces he will team up with Lear Corp. <javascript:companybox('LEA')> in bid for bankrupt supplier Collins & Aikman <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/18/C08-352207.htm> . * Oct. 20: Ford announced third-quarter loss <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/20/A01-355524.htm> and Bill Ford promises a sweeping turnaround plan by early next year. The plan is expected to include significant plant closings and job cuts. Bill Ford says all levels of Ford will share in the pain. Ford says quality related costs have risen sharply this year. UAW leaders endorse health care deal with GM <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/20/01-355803.htm> . Deal must be ratified by union members. * Oct. 21: Executives at Japanese companies exude optimism at Tokyo motor show <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/21/C01-356365.htm> , in stark contrast to troubles in Detroit. Japanese executives express concern about the health of the Big Three. * <http://www.detnews.com/pix/2005/11/13/asec/a013-fordhed_11-13-2005_379LTTL. jpg> Oct. 25: Delphi's first offer to the UAW comes to light and the cuts are worse than expected <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/26/> and raise the possibility of a strike. Virtually every major benefit in the UAW's labor contract would be reduced or eliminated under the proposal <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/26/01-360665.htm> . Chrysler announces $374 million third-quarter profit, making it the only Detroit automaker to make money in the period. * Oct. 26: GM is subpoenaed <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/27/C01-362809.htm> by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding its pension practices, retiree benefits and certain transactions between the automaker and its former parts unit, Delphi Corp. * Oct. 28: Detroit News reports that GM has cut health care benefits <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/28/A01-364349.htm> for salaried workers. * Oct. 31: Economist Patrick Anderson releases study that says Delphi bankruptcy is biggest event to hit Michigan economy for decades <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/01/A01-367975.htm> . He expects the Chapter 11 filing to permanently lower wages and benefits for Michigan workers and eventually cost the state $10 billion. October ends on sour note <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/01/auto-368611.htm> when sales at Detroit automakers drop 18 percent and their combined market share hits an all-time low of 52.4 percent during the month. Previous Story <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/A01-380513b.htm> Autos Insider * Autos Insider index for Sunday, November 13, 2005 <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/index.htm> * Black October: How one month changed the course of the auto industry <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/A01-380513.htm> * Black October: Part 2 <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/A01-380513b.htm> * Black October: A timeline <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/0auto-380249.htm> * UAW ranks took plunge in 2004 <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/D01-380422.htm> * GM opts to bring back big discounts <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/D01-380420.htm> * GM workers agree to pay more toward health care <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/autos-379586.htm> * DaimlerChrysler sells its 12.4 percent stake in Mitsubishi <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/autos-379587.htm> * Probe says two former VW execs spent company money on luxury trips, private parties <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/autos-379588.htm> * Chrysler promises millions to Iacocca's diabetes foundation <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/0auto-379323.htm> * Wall Street bets against GM <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/A01-379282.htm> * Saab aims to raise its profile <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-379101.htm> * DaimlerChrysler to produce Mercedes E-Class completely in Germany <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/aut01-379503.htm> * VW taps Audi board member to be new personnel director <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/01-379497.htm> * Nissan cites lower costs in Nashville move <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-379100.htm> * Iacocca praises Miller's pay cut at Delphi <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/0auto-378396.htm> * Mitsubishi trims losses as it continues to fight scandal image <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/0auto-378394.htm> * GM misstated '01 income by up to $400 million <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-377889.htm> * Can new Escalade remain king of bling? <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-377887.htm> * New Ford engine levels field <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-377888.htm> * Nissan expected to move HQ to Nashville <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C01-377892.htm> * Delphi losses grow to $788 million in quarter <http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0511/13/C03-377885.htm> 5
