From what I’ve read Japanese auto companies have 100-year plans. Something tells me they developed contingency plans for just such a time. Now what will it be? Marty’s 2014 date sounds right. This gives COF time to begin developing other business opportunities.

When GM closed in the early ’80s, the impacts on Fremont were minimal, but the impacts spread across the region from Gilroy to Richmond. Senior management types from GM were moved to other facilities, so the brunt of the closing fell on production workers. Many of them transferred to other GM facilities in places like Oklahoma City and St Louis. Today, that is not an option.

As mayor, I met with Toyota in late 2004, trying to convince them we were the place to build the Prius. The governor tried at the same time. We could not get a response and see where we are.

As I type this, I recall a meeting with the GM people in 1979, when I was a new councilmember. They had just eliminated the swing shift. Congressman Don Edwards covened a large meeting with local electeds and GM to try to convince them to build their new “x-car” in Fremont. The plant manager, in his infinite wisdom, said “Americans don’t want small cars” and closed his ears. I pointed through the window to the parking lot, half filled with Volkswagens. He, as did GM, ignored that obvious fact. They continued to build big cars that we didn’t buy and in a very few years, the plant was closed. My faith in the management of America’s auto industry began to die at that meeting.

Questions Raised About Nummi Plant’s Future
FREMONT, Calif. (KCBS) – Fremont officials are waiting nervously to see what becomes of the Nummi plant, now that General Motors says it’s pulling out of its longtime joint venture with Toyota.

At least one Bay Area congressman is looking to see whether the federal government should step in to offer assistance.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-CA, told KCBS that he has talked to a high level Toyota executive, who told him they have to reassess everything from the state of the auto industry to the economy, to how they operate without GM support – issues that simply cannot be resolved in a week’s time.

Listen KCBS’ Holly Quan reports

There is no indicating that all of the federal help being given to GM would tricked down to GM’s partners, and Stark is not pleased about that reality. “It’s an American plant, I mean, they have a Toyota name on it but operations like that don’t get to be much more American,” declared Stark. “We’ve got 4,000, 5,000 jobs.”

On the other hand, he’s not thrilled about all the government help being given to help bail out other for-profit companies like Wall Street banks, either.

In addition to its direct workers Nummi supports another 35,000 jobs in the region through warehousing and parts suppliers.

I’ve heard numbers more in the 7,500 – 10,000 range given the number of suppliers, truckers, etc. that service NUMMI.