Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: GM Archives

August 14, 2008

Sneak Peek at Production Version of GM Chevy Volt

The front styling of the production Volt builds on the successful themes used on the new Malibu. The flush headlights extend back into the fenders. The rear view shows a stylized Volt logo on the trunk lid below the Chevrolet bowtie. GM plans to start Volt production in November 2010.

August 13, 2008

Corvette kicks off GM's Woodward Dream Cruise activities

There's no better place for Chevy's performance icon to make an appearance than right in its own backyard on Woodward Avenue as General Motors kicks off its Woodward Dream Cruise activities with a special appearance of the latest model of the all American icon--the 2009 Corvette ZR1--at a private function for media on Thursday, August 14, at 3:45 pm at Athens Coney Island.

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GM to Invest $445 Million in New Plant, Thai Operations

Rayong, Thailand - General Motors is investing $445 million to build an engine plant and upgrade an existing vehicle assembly plant here, company Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today.

The new 14,492-square-meter (156,000-square-foot) facility will be GM's first diesel engine plant in Southeast Asia and will provide four-cylinder diesel engines for use by Chevrolet in Thailand and other global markets and brands.

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August 12, 2008

GM Offers More Fuel-efficient Pickup Trucks, SUVs

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is releasing new, more fuel-efficient versions of its full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles later this fall. The XFE -- or extra fuel economy -- versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will get one mile per gallon more in both city and highway fuel economy than non-XFE versions.

The boost will give them a total of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. The XFE pickups and SUVs will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

August 11, 2008

Researchers Work to Turn Car's Exhaust into Power

WARREN, Mich. -- The stinky, steaming air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas. Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

General Motors Corp. is close to reaching the goal, as is a BMW AG supplier working with Ohio State University. Their research into thermoelectrics - the science of using temperature differences to create electricity - couldn't come at a better time as high gas prices accelerate efforts to make vehicles as efficient as possible.

August 10, 2008

Chevrolet Launches New Advertising During Olympics

DETROIT - Chevrolet kicks off new advertising during Friday's Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. The ads highlight Malibu and the rest of Chevy's fuel-efficient lineup, Silverado as America's Best Truck and the all-new Traverse as the crossover with an unmatched combination of features.

They will play a prominent role in the brand's marketing initiatives for the remainder of 2008 and will be complemented online, with micro Web sites and other digital initiatives.

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Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Launch Underway

DETROIT, Mich. - The launch of the world's first hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, begins this month.

Achieving a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving, Escalade Hybrid arrives at Cadillac dealerships in the United States with an MSRP of $71,685. That represents a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade.

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GM on CNBC

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

Wednesday night, I watched Phil LeBeau's hour-long special on CNBC, which was titled "Saving GM." And I must say, I came away impressed -- and not just because they got my name right (although, not quite my title -- I am, after all, vice chairman of global product development, not global quality).

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Volunteers Join HUMMER Recreation Rescue Project In Sierra National Forest

DETROIT - More than 35 volunteers from local four-wheel-drive clubs, Tread Lightly! and HUMMER joined U.S. Forest Service employees on August 1, for a day of trail maintenance on the Bald Mountain OHV route in Sierra National Forest, east of Fresno, Calif.

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August 9, 2008

GM agrees to lend Delphi $300 million against bankruptcy

General Motors Corp agreed to lend Delphi Corp a further $300 million as the automaker's former parts unit struggles to exit bankruptcy protection, courts papers show.

Delphi, in court papers filed Wednesday, said GM would increase its loan to the auto parts supplier to $950 million from $650 million so Delphi can maintain a minimum level of liquidity.

A hearing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York is scheduled for August 26.

GM Presses Ad Agencies on Costs

In its latest attempt to save money, General Motors has asked its advertising agencies to slash their fees by as much as 20% this year and next, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Several ad executives familiar with GM say he cuts could translate into more than $20 million in total savings for General Motors, but likely will mean layoffs for the agencies involved. GM's push shows how Detroit's pain -- caused by a sharp drop in U.S. car sales due to soaring gas prices -- is creating ripples in other sectors.

August 6, 2008

Video: Taking a lap in the Cobalt SS

Join John Heinricy, an executive in GM's Performance Division, as he takes you for a ride in the new Chevy Cobalt SS!

Natural Gas: An Enticing Alternative

By Larry Burns, GM Vice President, Research & Development

Volatile oil prices have been dominating the news lately, underscoring growing unease about the automobile's heavy dependence on petroleum.

As these concerns reverberate from Main Street to Wall Street, General Motors is working toward new solutions that will answer the growing demand for personal transportation in an affordable and sustainable way.

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GM Certified Used Vehicles to List Entire Inventory Onine

DETROIT - GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used vehicle brand*, announced it has reached an agreement to list the entire national inventory of GM Certified Used Vehicles and Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles on EveryCarListed.com, a new consumer automotive listings site.

The EveryCarListed.com relationship provides shoppers a new online resource that makes it easy for them to research and find GM Certified Used Vehicles.

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August 2, 2008

GM Reports July Sales Down 26.7%

DETROIT - GM today announced July sales results, highlighted by continued strong performance in small and midsize cars and crossovers. GM dealers in the United States delivered 235,184 vehicles in July, down 26.7 percent.

Weak industry conditions caused by a challenging U.S. economic environment, higher fuel prices and inventory shortages in critical segments such as compact cars contributed to the overall sales decline for the month.

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August 1, 2008

General Motors to Showcase Historic Motorama Vehicles

More than fifty years ago, General Motors' traveling Motorama showcased dramatic concept "Dream Cars" as interpretations of future automobile design.

From 1949 through 1960, expressive vehicles including the Cadillac Lemans and Firebird I traveled the United States as a statement of General Motors design leadership.

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July 31, 2008

Tread Lightly! And HUMMER Help Maintain Trail In Sierra National Forest

DETROIT - At a time when recreation areas are closing from lack of funds, HUMMER and the nonprofit Tread Lightly! are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and volunteers from local four-wheel-drive clubs to maintain a section of the popular Bald Mountain OHV route, located in the Sierra National Forest, east of Fresno, Calif.

The project is the second trail maintenance event supported by a new Tread Lightly! program called HUMMER's Recreation Rescue.

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July 30, 2008

G.M. Cuts Jobs as Part of a Production Curb

G.M. said Monday that it would cut production of 117,000 pickups and S.U.V.'s as part of a larger effort to trim its North American manufacturing capacity by 300,000 vehicles by next year. The company also said it would idle several other assembly plants for various periods to address the shrinking demand for pickups and SUVs.

GM works quietly to acquire Hummer dealerships

With its dealers struggling to sell vehicles from a brand that might be sold, General Motors has paid Hummer dealers early bonuses and is in talks to buy out stores.

[Tim Kelly, a Hummer dealer in Chattanooga, Tenn.] said GM is "tiptoeing through a legal minefield" by trying to shed Hummer, trying to avoid the lawsuits that ensued when it killed Oldsmobile. He said he doesn't think that dealers "are going away without a fight, but I think GM is handling it the right way by making peace with each dealer, one by one."

Chrysler, GM and Nissan are Tops in Online Search Visibility

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- iCrossing, a global digital marketing company, today announced the findings of the Vertical Visibility Index: Automotive, the first in a series of studies analyzing the paid and natural search media visibility leaders within specific industry verticals.

iCrossing found that Chrysler, GM and Nissan North America are doing the best job of taking a synergistic search engine marketing approach, with the highest scores for combined visibility. Ford leads for natural search visibility and Hyundai has the greatest paid search visibility for the keyword set analyzed.

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OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" to Those Affected by Southern California Earthquake

DETROIT - OnStar reminds its subscribers in Southern California that a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles will put them in contact with the help they need. OnStar's Crisis Assist capabilities include specially trained Crisis Advisors who will help with:

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July 26, 2008

GM Prepares to Export Buick Enclaves to China

LANSING, Mich. - Discerning vehicle buyers in China are another step closer to experiencing what their U.S. counterparts have been raving about for the past year: the hot-selling Buick Enclave luxury crossover.

Chinese officials visited the Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant Thursday and Friday to observe operations in preparation for the manufacture of U.S.-built Enclaves crossovers for export to China. Pending approval, China-bound Enclaves could begin rolling off the assembly line as early as next month.

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July 25, 2008

GM Celebrates J.D. Power Recognition at Fairfax Assembly Plant

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The General Motors Fairfax Assembly team today celebrated their successful performance in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudyTM (IQS). The facility manufactures the Chevrolet Malibu and the Saturn Aura midsize sedans.

The all-new, 2008 Chevrolet Malibu earned a segment award in the very competitive Midsize Car Segment by achieving exceptionally high levels of quality. Additionally, the Fairfax Assembly facility was awarded the Bronze Plant Quality Award, for the least manufacturing defects and malfunctions, ranking the facility third out of 67 assembly facilities located in North and South America.

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GM Sales Soar Overseas, Struggling at Home

General Motors Corp. set sales records outside the United States in the first half of 2008, but was dragged down by the company's struggling home market, underscoring how critical it is for GM to successfully execute its North American turnaround.

GM reported global sales of 2.29 million vehicles in the second quarter, a 5 percent decline from a year earlier. It lost ground to Toyota Motor Corp. in the companies' continuing battle to be the global automotive leader. Toyota reported preliminary second-quarter sales of about 2.41 million, up about 1.8 percent from a year ago. GM sold 4.54 million vehicles in the first half of the year, while Toyota's total rose to 4.82 million.

GM to Broaden Employee Discounts

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp., hoping to boost demand amid a drastic downturn in the U.S. auto industry, will offer employee discounts to nonemployees on a limited basis.

GM Sales Chief Mark LaNeve rolled out the plan in an email to employees late Thursday. Employees can give one employee discount away between now and the end of July, a GM spokeswoman said.

"All active GM employees in the U.S. have the opportunity to provide one employee discount to anyone you know who is considering the purchase of a new vehicle," Mr. LaNeve said in the email.

GM's New Interactive Site Goes "Undercover" to Educate Consumers

DETROIT - What would happen if you turned more than 20 undercover film and surveillance professionals with eight cameras loose to show the potential drawbacks of buying a used vehicle that is not manufacturer certified?

That's what GM's Certified Used Vehicles team did and the results were not at all surprising.

Continue reading "GM's New Interactive Site Goes "Undercover" to Educate Consumers"

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly

DETROIT - OnStar reminds its subscribers in Southeast Texas that a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles will put them in contact with specially-trained Crisis Advisors.

OnStar's Crisis Assist capabilities include specially trained Crisis Advisors, who will help with:

Continue reading "OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly"

John Middlebrook to Pace Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Corvette Z06

INDIANAPOLIS - In 1997, when John Middlebrook served as Chevrolet's general manager, he said: "Corvette is now, and will continue to remain Chevrolet's flagship.

It is our technological and image showcase. Even more importantly, Corvette stands as the most singularly dramatic example of what we mean by 'Genuine Chevrolet.' Corvette is much more than just a car. It's a love affair. Words alone fail to convey the passion it inspires."

Continue reading "John Middlebrook to Pace Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Corvette Z06"

General Motors Heritage Collection Comes To Saratoga Auto Museum

Saratoga Springs, NY - The Saratoga Automobile Museum will celebrate the General Motors Centennial with a focus on Cadillac, America's iconic luxury car.

A fabulous selection of historic Cadillacs, on loan from the General Motors Heritage Collection, will be on display from July 27 through November 2.

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U.S. Postal Service Receives Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle from General Motors

Irvine, Calif. -- General Motors Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service are joining forces again to deliver mail using hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.

The two organizations announced today that the U.S. Postal Service becomes the latest entry into Chevrolet's Project Driveway, the world's first and largest market test of fuel cell vehicles to date.

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July 24, 2008

GM's "Other" Plug-In: The Saturn Vue

by Larry Nitz, Executive Director, GM Hybrid Powertrain Engineering

With all of the excitement created by Bob Lutz's first drive of the Chevrolet Volt test mule vehicle recently, some may have forgotten GM has another plug-in vehicle that is approved for production and progressing through early program development stages.

As I revealed to the audience today at the Plug-in 2008 Conference in San Jose, CA, we currently are testing 11 Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV) at the GM proving grounds in Michigan and Arizona. In fact, we brought one with us to San Jose.

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GM Names CFO For North America

DETROIT -- General Motors today announced the appointment of Joseph G. Peter to GM North America vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective August 1.

He will report to Ray G. Young, GM executive vice president and CFO, and Troy A. Clarke, GM group vice-president and president, GM North America.

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July 23, 2008

GM Announces Second Quarter Global Sales of More Than 2.28 Million Vehicles

DETROIT - Record-setting sales performance in GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe regions during the second quarter of 2008 helped General Motors sell more than 2.28 million vehicles globally during the second quarter 2008.

GM sales outside of its North America region grew 10 percent (up 116,000 vehicles). Compared to second quarter 2007, GM's total sales were down 5 percent, reflecting continuing economic pressures and labor disruptions in the U.S. market, which pushed North America sales down 20 percent (236,000 vehicles).

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July 22, 2008

The Rebirth of Camaro

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

Well, it's finally here.

It feels like we've been talking about the Camaro for a long time, but it's just been a couple of years since the concept car's unveiling at the Detroit auto show, and now the production car is officially in the public eye, as of yesterday, July 21, 2008.

As promised, this is a Camaro for the new millennium, with subtle design nods to its rich heritage, and, I have to say, this is the best Camaro ever, in my opinion.

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Chevrolet Unveils The 2010 Camaro

DETROIT -Chevrolet introduced the production 2010 Camaro today. It is a heritage-inspired sports car for the 21 st century, combining great looks and performance; advanced technology and surprising efficiency - including 26-mpg estimated highway fuel economy. Sales begin in the first quarter of 2009.

Built on GM's new, global rear-wheel-drive architecture, the Camaro is offered in V-6-powered LS and LT models, as well as the V-8-powered SS. All models and powertrain combinations include fuel-saving six-speed transmissions.

Continue reading " Chevrolet Unveils The 2010 Camaro"

General Motors Partners to Commercialize Plug-in Vehicles

San Jose, CALIF - General Motors announced today that it will collaborate with the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) - more than 30 of the top electric utilities in the United States and Canada -- to accelerate the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles.

General Motors will work with EPRI and the utility companies on everything from codes and standards to grid capability to ensure that when the Volt goes to market, the infrastructure is ready - and customers can realize the full potential of these revolutionary vehicles as soon as they leave the showroom.

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GM Hosts Disabilities Matters Conference

DETROIT, MI - Members of GM's Fleet and Commercial organization will host a special conference designed to help companies collaborate on best practices for relating to people with disabilities.

This is an important topic, according to John Gaydash, director, GM Fleet & Commercial Operations, and something that is vital for companies like GM.

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Buick, Pontiac, GMC Channel Working

General Motors Corp. says its strategy of grouping its Buick, Pontiac and GMC brands into one distribution channel, which began in 2002, is working. The 1,600 dealers currently aligned with the B-P-G channel account for approximately 80 percent of the sales from the trio of GM nameplates.

"This is a great channel, with three strong differentiating brands and a strong dealer body," says Susan Docherty, named GM's North America vice president-BPG channel, three months ago. "The B-P-G channel has some good momentum, and we plan to build on that." Getting the dealers aligned into one channel has been one of GM's top priorities for the last three or four years. "And we are continuing to work to align dealers along the B-P-G channel, because this makes good business sense," she says.

July 21, 2008

GM Webcast to unveil 2010 Camaro

Today, Monday July 21, 2008 at 4 pm EDT Chevrolet will unveil the production version of the 2010 Camaro in a live webcast hosted by Ed Peper of Chevrolet and Ed Welburn of GM Design.

To watch the live Camaro reveal go to http://camaro.gmnext.com and click on the "Camaro webcast" link.

Chevrolet Kicks Off World Series Ticket Promotion

CHICAGO -- Chevrolet has launched the Chevy World Series Ticket Promotion on OnSite Network screens that are most watched by Cubs and White Sox fans. The campaign launched on July 18 and will run through the end of August.

To play, customers can visit any of the 18 leading independent sports bars that are participating in the promotion. OnSite screens in these locations will feature ads encouraging consumers to text in with information including the bar where they are watching the ad.

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July 18, 2008

Saturn Fans Invited To 'Kiss My Astra' In Online Photo Contest

DETROIT - Saturn today launched the "Kiss My Astra" national photo contest, offering Saturn fans an opportunity to show just how much they would love to win a new Saturn Astra.

Contestants can kiss their own Astra, a friend's Astra or drop by any Saturn retailer and kiss their Astra, and then upload a photo of the kiss at www.ImSaturn.com. The contestant with the funniest, most creative photo - as selected by the online Saturn community - will win a 2008 Saturn XR 5-door.

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General Motors Forging Ahead

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

As you've no doubt heard me say before, we've made a lot of progress in the past few years at General Motors. And we've delivered on what we said we would do. We've tackled the legacy costs. We've improved our quality. We went from having, at least in North America, some mediocre products to having acclaimed products that are selling extremely well, especially on the passenger car side. In June, for example, in a slow market, our retail car sales were up 8 percent.

We continue to reinvigorate our product portfolio. We're pursuing advanced propulsion technologies that will greatly reduce dependence on petroleum. And, we're reacting to the swiftly changing market conditions here in the U.S.

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July 15, 2008

GM to Bolster Liquidity by $15 Billion through 2009

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. today announced it is taking further steps to adapt its business to rapidly changing market conditions, marked by the weak U.S. economy, record high fuel prices, shifts in consumer vehicle preferences, and the lowest U.S. industry sales volumes in a decade.

"We are responding aggressively to the challenges of today's U.S. auto market," said GM Chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner. "We will continue to take the steps necessary to align our business structure with the lower vehicle sales volumes and shifts in sales mix. We remain committed to bringing to market great products that target changing consumer preferences for more fuel-efficient vehicles."

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GM CEO to Announce Company Actions to Align Business

Detroit, Mich. -- General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will hold a news conference on Tuesday, July 15 to discuss actions the company is taking to align the business to current market conditions.

Wagoner is expected to announce cuts in jobs and truck production.

July 14, 2008

GM Achieves Sales Record in Latin America, Africa and Middle East

Miramar, FL - General Motors Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GM LAAM) region broke another record in Q2 2008 selling 346,100 vehicles, up 52,100 units over the same period in 2007.

GM's volume increase of nearly 18 percent for the quarter again exceeded the industry growth rate of 13 percent. In addition, GM's market share in the region climbed to 17.5 percent for the quarter, up .7 share points year-over-year.

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GM, National Governors Association Team Up on E85

PHILADELPHIA - The National Governors Association and General Motors Corp. will work together to expand the nationwide infrastructure and distribution network for E85 ethanol aimed at being ready when next-generation ethanol made from a variety of non-grain sources is available.

The announcement was made Sunday by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty during the opening plenary session of the NGA Centennial Meeting in Philadelphia.

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July 13, 2008

HUMMER Announces Pricing for All-New H3T

DETROIT - HUMMER announced pricing today for its highly functional and capable H3T midsize pickup truck arriving in dealerships this fall in the U.S. and Canada. Pricing will start at $31,495, including a $745 destination charge.

The all-new H3T is based on the architecture of the popular H3, and features a five-passenger crew cab and a separate five-foot-long (1.5 meters) bed.

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July 12, 2008

GM's new small car to be built in Ohio

The first Chevrolet built on a new global platform will be called the Cruze and get 45 miles per gallon, General Motors Corp. said Wednesday.

The compact car, which replaces the Chevy Cobalt, will be built around the world including at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant.

"This is one of the first global vehicles GM has talked about and it will be a Chevrolet Cruze no matter where it's sold," said Nancy Libby, a Chevrolet spokeswoman.

Chevrolet developed the name as a derivative of "cruise," Libby said, noting, that "it's something we think will work globally."

GM now selling fuel economy

General Motors Corp. will shift its 2008 advertising for Buick, GMC and Pontiac to promote their fuel-economy edge over competitors after the three brands' U.S. sales fell 25 percent last month.

New commercials single out Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tundra pickup and 4Runner sport utility vehicle and other models as having lower efficiency than GM models.

"The market is flooded with fuel-economy messages, and we needed to tell our story," Frakes said. The "pump less and drive more" commercials emphasize the range and fuel economy of the models, she said.

GM Says No Intention of Seeking Bankruptcy

The chief executive of General Motors dismissed speculation that the largest U.S. automaker might soon seek bankruptcy protection. Comments in the past week about a potential bankruptcy are "not at all constructive or accurate," Rick Wagoner said Thursday.

GM has $24 billion in cash and $7 billion in unused credit facilities, he said. Last week, a Merrill Lynch analyst cut his rating on GM stock and said "bankruptcy is not impossible" if the auto market continues to weaken. "Under any scenario we can imagine ... our cash position will remain robust through this year" and the company has options for raising cash beyond that, Wagoner said at a lunch meeting of Dallas business leaders.

July 10, 2008

GM posts record sales of 1.16 million vehicles in Europe

Zurich -- In the first half of 2008, General Motors (GM) sales in Europe reached a record of 1,160,935 vehicles, an increase of 31,613 units (or 2.8 percent) compared to the same period of 2007. The company market share was 9.5 percent.

"GM is successfully managing to keep its sales momentum in Europe, thanks to an aggressive strategy for growth in Eastern and Central Europe. Despite the headwinds in some of the major western markets, I'm proud to say that our multi-brand strategy is paying off and thanks to a great teamwork we are quickly managing to leverage growth in the key new markets of Europe," said Carl-Peter Forster, GM Europe President.

Continue reading "GM posts record sales of 1.16 million vehicles in Europe"

July 9, 2008

Cruze: Chevy names new global compact

Detroit - Chevrolet announced today that its all-new entry in the compact segment will be called Cruze. The new Chevrolet will make its global debut at the Paris Motor Show in early October.

Cruze was developed by a global design and engineering team and will be built in multiple locations around the world.

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July 8, 2008

GM Installing World's Largest Rooftop Solar Array

Zaragoza, Spain - General Motors announced today it is adding the world's largest rooftop solar photovoltaic power installation to its car assembly plant located in Figueruelas, Zaragoza, Spain.

When the project is completed in the fall of 2008, the Zaragoza solar installation will cover about 2,000,000 sq. ft. of roof at the plant and comprises about 85,000 solar panels.

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GM Denies Any More Brands Under Review

DETROIT -- A General Motors spokesman [yesterday] denied the automaker is reviewing any more brands besides Hummer for possible sale. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported today that GM could shed thousands of white-collar jobs and sell or cease producing certain brands as part of a strategy reevaluation.

The management may also suggest options for raising additional cash to help GM make it through the downturn, and may discuss cutting certain brands, the sources said. GM denied the report. "No other GM brand (besides Hummer) is under strategic review, GM spokesman Tony Cervone said in an e-mail to Automotive News [yesterday.]

July 7, 2008

Saturn Helps Habitat for Humanity Revitalize Detroit Neighborhood

Five Detroit families will realize the American dream of home ownership thanks to a partnership between Saturn, Detroit-area Saturn retailers, Jon Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Detroit and U-SNAP-BAC.

At a press conference to announce this initiative, the last remaining home on the lots will be razed and the first wall of a new home will be erected. A special guest from the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation will be on hand to lend support.

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GM Weighs More Layoffs, Sale of Brands

DETROIT -- Bruised by a deep sales slump and a half-century-low in its stock price, General Motors Corp. is preparing to cut thousands more white-collar jobs and is considering whether it should sell or shutter more of its brands, people familiar with the matter said.

Both moves are part of a broader re-evaluation of GM's strategy and of its ability to meet an internal projection of returning to profitability in 2010, these people said. The job cuts are likely to be approved when GM's board of directors meets in early August, these people said.

The company has already decided to put its Hummer division up for sale. Discussions among top executives about the number of brands have intensified in recent weeks, and signal a potential major shift in thinking by the company -- especially by Chief Executive Rick Wagoner. As top executives review future cars and trucks earmarked for various brands, "nothing is off the table," several people said. All but Cadillac and Chevrolet, which GM considers core to its business, are undergoing close scrutiny, other people said.

July 3, 2008

Detroit leans on deals to stay in the game

Detroit's Big Three are battling sagging vehicle sales by extending and ramping up consumer incentives, deals some analysts predict will get sweeter this summer as automakers look to move more trucks.

Chrysler LLC this week extended its $2.99 gas guarantee on most of its 2008 lineup through the end of July and added $1,000 rebates on four SUVs -- Chrysler Aspen, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander.

Ford Motor Co. is extending its employee pricing on F-series pickup trucks until July 7.

And General Motors Corp. will continue its zero percent financing for 72-month offers through the holiday weekend.

GM May Sell New Mini-Cars to U.S. Buyers

General Motors Corp., the automaker that popularized the Hummer, may sell a mini-car four feet (1.2 meters) shorter than its biggest offering and more than a foot shorter than anything else it markets in the U.S. to win back buyers scared off by high fuel prices.

GM may bring the production version of the Chevrolet Beat to the U.S., people familiar with the plan said. The car, which would normally be reserved for markets such as Asia and Latin America, gets as much as 40 miles a gallon, a fuel efficiency topped in the U.S. only by hybrids.

The possible American introduction of the Beat would be one step in a fleet downsizing and shift away from fossil fuel-based vehicles that the people said is already under way at Detroit- based GM.

July 2, 2008

GM Extends Zero Percent Financing Deals

DETROIT -- General Motors notified its dealers this morning that it will be extending its 0 percent financing sale through Monday, July 7.

The sale conditions remain the same -- 0 percent financing for 72 months on most GM vehicles. The so-called 72-hour sale ran from June 24 through June 30.

July 1, 2008

GM Reports June Sales Down 18.5%

DETROIT - GM today announced June sales results, highlighted by an 8 percent rise in retail car sales and continued strong performance in crossovers.

Despite the significant decline of industry market volume and the limited availability of some of GM's most popular models, GM dealers in the United States delivered 265,937 vehicles in June, down 8 percent (18.5 percent unadjusted). Truck sales declined 6 percent.

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GM Offers Low APR on Certified Used Vehicles

DETROIT - GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used vehicle brand*, today announced a nationwide GMAC rate incentive program on select GM Certified Used Vehicles, including Chevrolet Impala and Malibu models.

The new rate incentive offer, effective July 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008, provides well-qualified GM Certified Used Vehicles buyers with 2.9% APR financing for terms up to 48 months, or 3.9% APR financing for terms up to 60 months from GMAC Financial Services on 2003-2008 models of Chevrolet Impala and Malibu** vehicles purchased from participating GM Certified Used Vehicles dealers.

Continue reading "GM Offers Low APR on Certified Used Vehicles"

June 30, 2008

GMnext Takes Music Fans Backstage At Rothbury Festival

DETROIT - The adventure continues as GMnext Plug In marks the halfway point of its global tour of music festivals, with Tenacious D's Kyle Gass interviewing bands backstage at the Rothbury Festival, July 3 - 6.

Following his recent appearances at the Rock on the Range Festival in Columbus , Ohio, Southside Festival in Germany and Pinkpop in the Netherlands, Kyle will once again be the face of GMnext Plug In at Rothbury.

Continue reading "GMnext Takes Music Fans Backstage At Rothbury Festival"

June 29, 2008

Saturn to Announce Major Partnership

Saturn and Detroit-area Saturn retailers join Jon Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation in announcing a major initiative with Habitat for Humanity Detroit.

A special guest from the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation will be on hand to help make the announcement. More details will be released in an upcoming news advisory.

WHEN:
Monday, July 7, 3 p.m. ET. Media are asked to arrive by 2 p.m. ET.

June 27, 2008

Chevrolet Announces Pricing For The 2009 Traverse

DETROIT - Chevrolet announced the 2009 Traverse crossover will carry a MSRP of $28,990, including a $735 destination charge, for the 2WD LS model. It goes on sale this fall.

"With its great styling, leading fuel economy and comprehensive roster of equipment, the Traverse is a great expression of Chevrolet value," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.

Continue reading "Chevrolet Announces Pricing For The 2009 Traverse"

Shell and General Motors Open Hydrogen Fueling Station in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA - The first public hydrogen refueling station in California with integrated hydrogen and gasoline refueling is now open, providing drivers in Chevrolet's Project Driveway another location to refuel their Equinox fuel cell vehicles, currently on the roads throughout Southern California.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and Graeme Sweeney, Executive Vice President for Shell Future Fuels and CO2 were among those who participated in today's dedication ceremony.

Continue reading "Shell and General Motors Open Hydrogen Fueling Station in Los Angeles"

June 26, 2008

General Motors Supports 2008 Student Arts Competition

Washington, DC - - Congressional leaders and General Motors today honored more than 300 students from around the country at a ceremony to officially open the Congressional High School Arts Exhibition in the Cannon House Office Building.

Organized by the Congressional Arts Caucus, the exhibit is the result of high school art competitions conducted in congressional districts sponsored by participating House members.

Continue reading "General Motors Supports 2008 Student Arts Competition"

June 25, 2008

Chevy Traverse's Wind-Cheating Design Delivers Fuel Economy

DETROIT - Besides its bowtie insignia, the all-new Traverse crossover shares something important with Chevy's midsize cars: an exceptional aerodynamic drag coefficient (cd) that enables great fuel economy. Its cd is only 0.33 - making it the sleekest crossover in the segment.

When it hits showrooms this fall, the Traverse is expected to have the segment's best highway fuel economy (EPA certification is pending).

Continue reading "Chevy Traverse's Wind-Cheating Design Delivers Fuel Economy"

Chevrolet Roars Into Houston for "Chevy's Freedom Over Texas"

HOUSTON - Whether the idea of a perfect Fourth of July celebration includes a sneak peek at hot concept cars and trucks, hanging out with NASCAR's finest 200 mph race cars, enjoying a brilliant fireworks display, or kicking back with friends and family to the sounds of electrifying live entertainment, Chevrolet and the City Of Houston have everything covered for "Chevy's Freedom Over Texas" July 4 at Eleanor Tinsley Park.

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June 24, 2008

GM Offers Sweeping Rebates

On the verge of ceding its crown as America's best-selling car company, General Motors Corp. announced further production cuts as well as sweeping new incentives on many 2008 models -- a reversal of recent strategy and a fresh sign of how badly rising gasoline prices are slamming auto makers.

In hopes of spurring vehicle sales, GM said it would offer zero-percent loans for up to 72 months or cash rebates of up to $7,000.

While offering incentives on 2008 models, GM said it intends to raise prices on 2009 vehicles an average of 3.5% to help offset a surge in steel prices and rises in the costs of other materials.

Citibank Hired to Explore Hummer Options

General Motors Corp. has hired Citibank to help it review the options for the Hummer brand, the automaker told dealers [yesterday] in a conference call held by the automaker's head of North American sales, service and marketing.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced on June 3 that the company is considering "all options" for the brand, including a complete revamp of its product lineup, a joint venture or its sale.

Schaeffler Group South Africa is GM Supplier of the Year 2007

TROY, Mich. -- Schaeffler South Africa has been honored with the 2007 "Supplier of the Year" award in the Powertrain category by General Motors Corp. South Africa at the annual GM South Africa supplier awards function recently held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

This is the 12th year that Schaeffler South Africa has received an award from GM South Africa.

Continue reading "Schaeffler Group South Africa is GM Supplier of the Year 2007"

June 23, 2008

General Motors, Carnegie Mellon Commit To Develop Driverless Vehicles

PITTSBURGH--General Motors Corp. and Carnegie Mellon University today announced a new Collaborative Research Lab (CRL) and a renewed commitment to work jointly on technologies that will accelerate the emerging field of autonomous driving -- a family of electronics and software technologies that could influence the way drivers and their vehicles interact in the future.

The GM-Carnegie Mellon Autonomous Driving Collaborative Research Lab is being established under the terms of a five-year, $5 million agreement. The lab will operate as an extension of GM's Global Research & Development network and will be located at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh.

Continue reading "General Motors, Carnegie Mellon Commit To Develop Driverless Vehicles"

June 22, 2008

General Motors Awards DuPont for Coatings Achievements

TROY, Mich. -- General Motors, the world's largest automaker, recently presented a 2007 Supplier of the Year award to DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings, which provides coatings to major automotive manufacturers globally.

DuPont (NYSE:DD) received a General Motors 2007 Supplier of the Year award for its "contributions to GM's global product and performance achievements." The award acknowledged DuPont for the successful introduction and commercialization of new globally approved technologies. DuPont has provided coatings systems to General Motors continuously for the last 99 years.

Continue reading "General Motors Awards DuPont for Coatings Achievements"

June 21, 2008

"Kiss My Astra" Contest To Win Backstage Passes To Bon Jovi

Saturn is offering 16 contestants the opportunity to prove just how much they love Jon Bon Jovi, by kissing the Saturn Astra. Contestants who compete in the car-kissing marathon will compete for a chance to win backstage passes to a Bon Jovi concert, and will help raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity projects in the Detroit area.

WHEN:
Detroit River Days, Sat., June 21; 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Continue reading ""Kiss My Astra" Contest To Win Backstage Passes To Bon Jovi"

June 20, 2008

Video: Pontiac G8 Design

Mike Simcoe, GM's global design director, explains styling cues on the new Pontiac G8.

June 19, 2008

Chevy Corvette ZR1 By The Numbers

DETROIT - The Corvette ZR1 has a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h), making it the fastest Corvette ever produced and ranking it among the global super cars of commensurate performance. None of those other super cars, however, equals the ZR1's performance-per-dollar ratio.

The official Corvette ZR1 numbers are in and they're good. Very good:

Continue reading "Chevy Corvette ZR1 By The Numbers"

Camaro Convertible Revealed

By Ed Peper, North America Vice President, Chevrolet

A few months ago, we showed you some official "spy shots" of the pre-production version of the new Camaro coupe.

To say the least, response to that post was overwhelmingly enthusiastic - something that was extremely gratifying to all of us here at Chevrolet, who have been hard at work testing and retesting the Camaro development models.

Continue reading "Camaro Convertible Revealed"

June 17, 2008

Chevrolet Announces Pricing For 2009 Aveo And Aveo5

DETROIT - Chevrolet has announced pricing for the 2009 Aveo lineup - including the redesigned Aveo5 five-door hatchback - begins at $12,120 (including a $660 destination charge) for Aveo LS and Aveo5 LS, making it one of the most affordable cars on the market.

It costs hundreds less than many competitors and comes standard with features such as side-impact air bags and OnStar.

Continue reading " Chevrolet Announces Pricing For 2009 Aveo And Aveo5"

GM says Hummer sale likely

Several global companies have shown interest in Hummer, making the sale of the brand a strong option, the head of General Motors' premium sales channel told dealers last week.

Hummer dealers reported the comments after attending meetings with Mark McNabb, 47, GM's new vice president of the premium channel.

June 15, 2008

Safe Kids Program Hits Major Milestone

LOS ANGELES -- Safe Kids Buckle Up, the child passenger safety program of Safe Kids USA sponsored by General Motors and Chevrolet, has reached a milestone no other program can claim: one million child safety seats checked for proper installation.

"A Safe Kids child seat inspection provides hands-on training for parents and caregivers," said Mitch Stoller, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide."

Continue reading "Safe Kids Program Hits Major Milestone"

General Motors Working to Expand Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure

Detroit, Mich. and Seal Beach, Calif. -- General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced today Clean Energy will open a hydrogen fueling station in Los Angeles with support from GM. The two companies also announced that they are exploring further opportunities to expand the hydrogen infrastructure.

As the first step in this effort, a hydrogen fueling station will be developed and located at Clean Energy's compressed natural gas (CNG) facility near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Continue reading "General Motors Working to Expand Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure"

GM joins campaign to educate Californians about oil changes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - General Motors, the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) announced today that they are joining forces to encourage drivers to follow their vehicle manufacturer's recommendations on oil changes, which for millions of GM vehicles could be much longer than the decades-old standard of 3,000 miles between changes.

This summer, General Motors will support public outreach efforts by the Cal/EPA and the CIWMB to help motorists understand how frequently they need to change their engine oil, and the proper methods of doing so.

Continue reading "GM joins campaign to educate Californians about oil changes"

New Book, Co-edited by GM Researcher, Tells How to Make the Most of Global Partnerships

WARREN, Mich. - Business today spans cultures, languages, and continents. Partnerships have become an increasingly important tool for coping in the global economy, yet 60-80 percent of partnerships fail.

A new book by GM anthropologist Elizabeth K. Briody and Professor Robert T. Trotter II offers important insights and practical suggestions for partnering effectively across organizational and national cultures.

Continue reading "New Book, Co-edited by GM Researcher, Tells How to Make the Most of Global Partnerships"

New Appointments Build GM Brand Channel Alignment

DETROIT - General Motors announced personnel moves today in support of its four retail channels: Chevrolet; Premium (Cadillac, Hummer, Saab); Buick-Pontiac-GMC; and Saturn. The moves streamline the organization by combining or eliminating job functions. This will help the brands better deliver world-class products to customers, and build value for GM and its dealers.

The following appointments are effective July 1st; however these individuals will begin to transition into their new roles immediately.

Continue reading "New Appointments Build GM Brand Channel Alignment"

June 14, 2008

GM Rolls Out Military Discount

DETROIT - General Motors today announced an online vehicle discount program for active and reserve military members that can save military families thousands of dollars when purchasing a new car or truck from Chevrolet, Saturn, Pontiac, Buick, Saab, Cadillac, GMC or HUMMER.

"The GM Military Discount Program" is an online web site that enables active and reserve members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard to get a new vehicle discount. Under the program, military members can receive as much as a $1,500 discount off the MSRP of a new Buick Enclave crossover; $2,200 off a new Chevrolet Impala sedan; or as much as $4,200 off a new GMC Sierra pickup truck.

Continue reading "GM Rolls Out Military Discount"

June 13, 2008

eBay Motors Launches Hub for Certified Used Vehicles

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- eBay Motors (www.ebaymotors.com), the Internet's largest marketplace for buying and selling all things automotive, today unveils the eBay Motors Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Showroom. Designed to house franchise dealer inventory, this hub is exclusively sponsored by Lexus and provides eBay Motors' 12 million monthly unique visitors1 with even more selection.

Lexus, General Motors and Chrysler are the first brands to be featured in the new eBay Motors CPO Showroom. GM Certified Used Vehicles announced its commitment to list its entire national inventory on eBay Motors at no cost to dealers in February.

Continue reading "eBay Motors Launches Hub for Certified Used Vehicles"

June 12, 2008

GM Certified Used Vehicles Live on eBay Motors

DETROIT - GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling manufacturer-certified used vehicle brand, announced today that its 60,000-plus-vehicle inventory from 3,900-plus U.S. dealers is now listed on eBay Motors (www.ebaymotors.com), the Internet's largest marketplace for buying and selling all things automotive.

Continue reading "GM Certified Used Vehicles Live on eBay Motors"

June 10, 2008

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower

MILFORD, Mich. - As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac's upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world's highest-performing cars.

Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V:

Continue reading "2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower"

June 9, 2008

Robbie Knievel Jumps 21 Hummers

FORT WORTH, Texas — Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel successfully completed a shortened jump Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

Knievel jumped over 21 Hummer vehicles, four less than had originally been planned because of a headwind gusting more than 30 mph. The landing ramp protected the last three of the large SUVs in the line, though Knievel easily cleared all the vehicles and avoided crashing even after hitting the landing ramp off-center.

"I love you Texas, bye-bye," Knievel said after the jump.

June 8, 2008

Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

This week we announced that the GM Board has approved the Chevrolet Volt program. Yes, development work has been going on in earnest, but now it’s official. In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.

Continue reading "Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule"

A Note from HUMMER: Let the Speculating Begin

By Martin Walsh, General Manager, HUMMER

In preparing for the announcement about General Motor’s putting HUMMER up for strategic review this week, we anticipated that subsequent rumors and speculation about the brand’s fate would soon begin.

They have, and we can expect these things to swirl while we examine possible outcomes. But I want you to know that in the end I believe the HUMMER name, and it’s line-up of iconic vehicles, will still be purchased and enjoyed by customers around the world.

Continue reading "A Note from HUMMER: Let the Speculating Begin"

Video: General Motors Exec Buys Vectrix Scooter

General Motors electric car champion Bob Lutz has upped his personal commitment to battery-powered transportation with the purchase of an electric scooter.

The GM vice chairman has bought a Vectrix scooter that uses a nickel metal hydride battery pack to give it a range of 45-60 miles and a top speed of about 60 mph. Watch the video of Lutz taking delivery of the scooter.

For more scooter news, read ScooteringUSA.com

Chevy to award five lucky high school grads with new cars

Nashville, Tenn. – During Fall 2008, high school seniors at more than 200 schools in 26 Tennessee counties learned that having perfect attendance would make them eligible to win a new 2008 Chevy Cobalt sedan this June. Close to 500 students faithfully attended all 180 days during the school year.

Five of these students will be awarded new Chevy Cobalts in a drawing held at the Sommet Center on 501 Broadway in Nashville on June 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Continue reading "Chevy to award five lucky high school grads with new cars"

GM Dealer Group Helps Habitat For Humanity

PONTIAC, Mich. - The Suburban Collection is working on a very special gift to commemorate General Motors' 100th anniversary, but instead of giving it to the automaker, the company is helping a deserving Oakland County family.

That's because this anniversary present is a brand-new home that will be built in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County.

Continue reading "GM Dealer Group Helps Habitat For Humanity"

June 7, 2008

Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009

ATLANTA – All models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two, General Motors announced Friday.

And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost.

The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, join the previously announced 2009 Chevrolet HHR, Buick Lucerne and Hummer H2 and H2 SUT as additions to GM’s industry-leading flex-fuel lineup.

Continue reading "Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009"

GM Continue Improvement in Harbour Productivity Report

DETROIT- General Motors Corp. improved overall productivity, despite an 8 percent production volume decrease last year, according to "The Harbour Report North America 2008." The Harbour Report measures North American automotive manufacturers' assembly, powertrain and stamping plant productivity.

GM is the only manufacturer to consistently improve year-over-year overall in the history of the annual report.

Continue reading "GM Continue Improvement in Harbour Productivity Report"

June 6, 2008

2009 Caddy XLR Amps up the Drama

Detroit, Mich. -- Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world's finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.

Only the finest editions of Cadillac's retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009: The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V.

Continue reading "2009 Caddy XLR Amps up the Drama"

GM looks beyond improved quality scores

By Jamie Hresko, GM Vice President, Quality

There are many gate-checks, so to speak, here at GM when it comes to quality. However, the ones that matter most to you, the customer, the driver, are the external measures that tell you if we’re all wet or if we’re running hard and clean. J.D. Power & Associates has announced its Initial Quality Survey results. I won’t re-iterate the content of the press release.

Continue reading "GM looks beyond improved quality scores"

Winners Unveiled at Auto Interiors Show

DETROIT -- For the first time in several years, foreign nameplates outshined domestic competitors for top honors in the 2008 Ward's "Interior of the Year" Awards. And unlike previous years, no brand won more than a single award.

Chosen by the editors of Ward's Automotive Group, the prestigious awards were presented today to executives of the automakers at a special program held on the floor of the Ward's Auto Interiors Show at Detroit's Cobo Center.

Continue reading "Winners Unveiled at Auto Interiors Show"

June 5, 2008

Best Selling Pickups in the United States for May 2008

Pickup truck sales dropped 36.1% in the U.S. in May, and as they say, that's gonna' leave a mark.

For the year to date pickup sales are down 21%, with only the Toyota Tundra selling more than last year [8.5%].

Even with plant idlings and closings, it's becoming pretty obvious there is overcapacity in the market, and we wouldn't be surprised if one of the manufacturers pulls out or shuts down pickup truck production altogether.

Best selling pickups trucks for May 2008:

Continue reading "Best Selling Pickups in the United States for May 2008"

Saab Turbo X Lands In The United States

Detroit – The all-black Saab Turbo X, which made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show last year, is now arriving at Saab dealership around the United States.

Celebrating thee decades of Saab turbocharging leadership and the first to feature Saab’s state-of-the art Cross-Wheel Drive system, the limited-edition Turbo X is a driver-focused performance car that is already being hailed as an instant classic.

Continue reading "Saab Turbo X Lands In The United States"

Report: Initial Auto Quality Improves Considerably

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Initial quality in the automotive industry has improved significantly in 2008, with substantial gains demonstrated by nearly three-fourths of the 36 ranked nameplates, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released today.

Overall quality improves to 118 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2008, down from 125 PP100 in 2007.

Continue reading "Report: Initial Auto Quality Improves Considerably"

June 4, 2008

Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008

With total SUV sales down 19.5% in May, not even the crossover segment was able to escape unscathed -- the smaller ute/station wagon category was also down 5%, as consumers decided they didn't even want mini-SUVs over more fuel efficient cars.

Besides the usual suspects a couple vehicles did well in consumers' quest for smaller wagons, including the Dodge Journey, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. Also of note is that GM placed both the GMC Acadia and Saturn Vue in the top 15, which is good news for that new platform, and for the parent company that suffered a big blow for the month.

After the jump, the top 15 best selling crossovers for May 2008:

Continue reading "Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008"

Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008

American consumers voted with their wallets at car dealerships in May, and overwhelmingly chose fuel efficient cars over trucks and SUVs, by the highest margin in recent history. Nearly 60% of vehicles bought were cars, while bigger vehicles dropped to 43% of purchases.

There was big news in the battle for the best selling car, as the Honda Civic pulled in front of Toyota's Camry and Corolla, with the Nissan Altima taking its usual fifth spot behind the Honda Accord.

But even the domestics did well in this new reality environment, as Chevy posted three best sellers to the top ten, and Ford had two, with the Focus that has been doing well, but also with the Fusion sedan that had its best sales month ever.

Top Ten Best Selling Car in the United States for May 2008:

Continue reading "Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008"

June 3, 2008

GM plans new Chevy compact, updated Aveo

General Motors has announced plans to build a new compact Chevy at their Lordstown, Ohio, plant, in the middle of 2010. The new vehicle will be a "global" car, meaning it will simultaneously be built and marketed in other countries besides the United States.

The new Chevy will come equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is expected to yield an additional 9 mpg over their current small car offerings.

Chevy will also move forward with a next generation of the Aveo subcompact. Based on a global architecture, the Aveo is also expected to have segment-leading fuel economy when it goes on sale in the U.S. market in the second half of 2010.

GM Increases Small Car Production, Closes Four Truck Plants

General Motors has announced they are increasing small car production in Michigan and Ohio, at plants that make the Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6 and the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5, to keep up with increased consumer demand of small and mid-size cars.

GM also said they will shut down four truck plants, in Canada, Ohio, Wisconsin and Mexico.

One plant will stop making the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra in 2009, while another that makes the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x, will end production at the end of the 2010 model run, or sooner, if demand dictates. A Wisconsin plant will cease production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009, and of the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon in 2010, or sooner, if market demand dictates. Chevrolet Kodiak medium-duty truck production will also end in Toluca, Mexico, by the end of this year.

GM expects these actions will save more than $1 billion by 2010 and plans to have to work with unions to handle even more layoffs, due to "long-term changes in consumer demand for trucks and SUVs."

GM Considering Hummer Sale

General Motors has announced they are putting the Hummer brand into "strategic review" which will include looking at the product, which is basically the H3 SUV, as well as a potential complete or partial sale of the brand.

Wow -- GM might sell Hummer. But understand that a statement of that magnitude is important for what it implies -- given current gas prices and consumers abandoning big SUVs, if no one wants to buy Hummer it could also be shut down.

GM Reports May Sales Down 28%

DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 272,363 vehicles in May.

The sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossover vehicles could not make up for soft truck demand and a decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike.

Approximately 15-18,000 sales were lost in May, or will be retimed, due to various work stoppages including the American Axle strike. Compared with a strong May 2007, total sales were down 30 percent (28 percent unadjusted). Truck sales declined 39 percent.

Continue reading "GM Reports May Sales Down 28%"

HUMMER first in class to finish Baja

DETROIT - Off-road racing legend and Team HUMMER owner Rod Hall, Reno, Nev., entered the record books once again as he earned his record-breaking 18th career Baja 500 win in the 2008 SCORE International Baja 500.

Hall and Mike Winkel, also of Reno, piloted his Rod Hall Racing HUMMER H3 to first place in the Stock Mini class in a time of 14:42:54.

Continue reading "HUMMER first in class to finish Baja"

Hyundai Elantra Tops Toyota Corolla in Small Sedan Test

YONKERS, N.Y. -- After testing a group of compacts and subcompacts, Consumer Reports judged the Hyundai Elantra SE best with an "Excellent" overall road test score. But three other compact cars, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, also achieved "Very Good" ratings in a report on gas-saving sedans published in the July issue.

The Corolla achieved a very impressive 32 mpg overall in Consumer Reports' real-world fuel economy tests. That's among the best gas mileage CR has seen in a conventional gasoline-powered car with an automatic transmission. Only the smaller Honda Fit (32 mpg) and Toyota Yaris (33 mpg) subcompacts do as well or better.

Continue reading "Hyundai Elantra Tops Toyota Corolla in Small Sedan Test"

May 31, 2008

Toyota may build Prius in the United States

Toyota may be considering building the Prius hybrid at a California plant the company shares with General Motors, according to a published report in the Tokyo Shimbun.

The Tokyo Shimbun said major parts for the Prius would be shipped to the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, where the vehicle would be assembled. Set up in 1984, NUMMI, or New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., produces the Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.

May 30, 2008

GM to give locksmiths access to key info

GM is implementing a nationwide process for registered locksmiths to obtain information to make replacement keys and obtain immobilizer PIN information for GM vehicles.

Effective May 30, 2008, using a process established in December 2007 to comply with California law, any licensed (where licensing is required) and bonded locksmiths in the U.S. who have complied with the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) Secure Data Release Model verification process will be able to access key code and immobilizer (when applicable) information when the verified registered owner / lessee of a vehicle requests the locksmith to produce a key to enter, start, and operate the vehicle.

Continue reading "GM to give locksmiths access to key info"

Saab Yellow Making Only 140 People Yell Hello

Forget about mellow. This yellow's designed to agitate. Invigorate. And accelerate. The Limited Edition 2008 Saab 9-3 Lynx Yellow Convertible takes the pursuit of freedom in a stylish new direction — from its unique, eye-catching color to its spoiler, 17'' alloy wheels and 6-disc CD changer.

And under the hood, you'll be happy to discover, it's still pure Saab. A 4-cylinder, 210-hp turbo engine delivers more excitement than some people can handle. But something tells us you're probably up for it.

Continue reading "Saab Yellow Making Only 140 People Yell Hello"

May 29, 2008

Cadillac Top Brand for Vehicle Satisfaction

by Jim Taylor, General Manager, Cadillac

We all have our favorites, our own loyalties and preferences. But in a survey of new vehicle buyers released today, only one brand can be at the top.

The number one brand in the US in owner satisfaction in 2008 is Cadillac, according to AutoPacific’s annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) study.

Continue reading "Cadillac Top Brand for Vehicle Satisfaction"

GM Announces California Public Policy Partners for Fuel Cell Project

DETROIT - As a further demonstration of its commitment to fuel cell technology, General Motors handed the keys to four Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to a group of key government partners who are participating in Chevrolet's Project Driveway - the largest-ever market test of fuel cell-electric vehicles.

More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are being placed in the hands of drivers in New York, California and Washington, DC. Selected drivers include general public, media, influencers, celebrities, business and public policy partners.

Continue reading "GM Announces California Public Policy Partners for Fuel Cell Project"

Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

TUSTIN, Calif. -- A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

Continue reading "Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards"

May 28, 2008

DOE Takes Delivery of A Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Fuel Cell

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the addition of a Chevy Equinox fuel cell electric vehicle to its fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today joined the team of pioneers - from regular families to media, celebrities and businesses - helping to make fuel cell vehicles a reality.

For the next six months, DOE employees will use the Chevy Equinox electric vehicle to conduct day-to-day business while sharing real-world performance data.

Continue reading "DOE Takes Delivery of A Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hydrogen Fuel Cell"

May 23, 2008

OnStar Receives Honors at Telematics Update Awards

Detroit – OnStar by GM captured the “Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product Award” at the 2008 Detroit Telematics Awards event.

Awards are judged by independent industry experts and are open to all companies in the automotive and mobile telematics eco-system that develop and provide compelling products, services, and content.

Continue reading "OnStar Receives Honors at Telematics Update Awards"

May 22, 2008

GMC Offers Free Valet Parking in Acadia Promo

DETROIT -- Through the end of May, GMC is showering the driving public with compliments and complimentary services. More than 50,000 drivers across the country will be treated to free valet parking as they pull into their favorite shopping centers.

During the same period, thousands of coffee drinkers nationwide will get their caffeine fixes free. And with playful compliments like "Your hair looks really, really good today." and "Looks like someone woke up on the skinny side of the bed" placed on millions of valet parking tickets and coffee cup sleeves, their egos will get a stroke or two at the same time.

Continue reading "GMC Offers Free Valet Parking in Acadia Promo"

U.S. DOE and GM Select 17 College Teams For "EcoCAR" Competition

Washington - The U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Natural Resources Canada today announced the 17 teams selected to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, a collegiate vehicle engineering competition set to begin in the Fall of 2008.

EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a Saturn VUE to achieve improved fuel economy and reduced green house gas emissions, while retaining the vehicle's performance and consumer appeal.

Continue reading "U.S. DOE and GM Select 17 College Teams For "EcoCAR" Competition"

Challenge X Crosses the Finish Line

By Beth Lowery, Vice President, GM Environment, Energy & Safety Policy

Today I had the privilege of waving the checkered flag at the final Challenge X finish line.

The Mississippi State University Challenge X team with its Chevrolet Equinox

This is the second time in my life that I’ve been an official at an important race. Two years ago, I was the Official Starter at the GM FlexFuel 250 at Daytona International Speedway, which opened the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Continue reading "Challenge X Crosses the Finish Line"

Emerson Fittipaldi to Participate in Ethanol Summit at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, ethanol refiner and driver of the Corvette Z06 Indy 500 pace car powered by E85 Ethanol for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500, Emerson Fittipaldi will participate in the third annual Ethanol Summit and panel discussion held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 22 from 9:30-11 am in the North Pavilion.

Participants in the Ethanol Summit include:

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May 21, 2008

GM Europe Launches "Driving Conversations" Blog

By Keith Childs, GM Europe Communications

Credit where credit is due: FastLane has inspired us to launch a blog that will talk about GM brands that we market in Europe.

Although FastLane does cover global subjects, we felt it was time to have a blog that primarily focused on initiatives and issues important to a European audience.

Continue reading "GM Europe Launches "Driving Conversations" Blog"

EcoCAR: The Next Competition from DOE and GM

EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge is a new national collegiate competition series that kicks off in the Fall of 2008.

Sponsored by the DOE and GM as well as Natural Resources Canada and others, EcoCAR will challenge university engineering students across North America to design and build advanced propulsion solutions that are based on the vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations.

Continue reading "EcoCAR: The Next Competition from DOE and GM"

Mississippi State Students Win GM and DOE Challenge X 2008 Competition

Washington, D.C. -- Mississippi State University, for the second consecutive year, has earned top honors in General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy's Challenge X student engineering competition.

Over the past nine months, the 2008 Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainability competition challenged 17 university teams from the U.S. and Canada to reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox that employs advanced powertrain technologies.

Continue reading "Mississippi State Students Win GM and DOE Challenge X 2008 Competition"

GM Partners with Discovery Channel on Planet Green

New York, N.Y. General Motors and Discovery Communications today unveiled a multifaceted GM advertising sponsorship of Planet Green, the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle network coming to 50 million homes beginning June 4.

For GM, the partnership includes premier sponsorship of the network's landmark series "Greensburg," various vehicle and program integrations, short-form content and an online component.

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May 20, 2008

GM Pledges Aid to Disaster Victims in China, Myanmar

DETROIT - General Motors today announced that the General Motors Foundation and GM China have donated in excess of $1 million to support relief victims in China and Myanmar.

GM China has made donations of over $850,000 for local efforts; the GM Foundation has donated $200,000 to the American Red Cross, China Disaster Response Fund and $50,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme to aid victims of the cyclone in Myanmar.

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GM's Jamie Hresko touts quality gains

by Jamie Hresko, GM Vice President, Quality

So, I’m watching the NFL draft a few weeks ago and it hits me. It occurred to me that there is a complete incongruity (thank you word-a-day calendar) between hope and reality.

Don’t get me wrong, hope is very important. Hope, however, is not active. It doesn’t drive results. Do you think any of the draftees just sat on the bench hoping to play … hoping to be spotted … hoping to be picked? Of course not. They worked hard. They had a plan. They actively pursued their goal of playing football well.

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May 19, 2008

Buick Open Celebrates 50th Anniversary

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Buick, the automaker that served as the foundation when General Motors was created in 1908, is celebrating more than GM’s centennial this year. Buick Motor Division is also commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first Buick Open golf tournament.

When Buick executives, then headquartered in nearby Flint, decided to sponsor a professional golf tournament here in 1958, one reason was to help GM, Buick’s corporate parent, celebrate its 50th birthday.

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Buick Open Tiger Woods Golf Clinic To Take Place At Comerica Park

DETROIT- The Buick Open, Michigan's only PGA Tour event, will host a unique golf clinic featuring Tiger Woods at Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 24.

The clinic, scheduled from 3-4 p.m., marks the first time that Woods will conduct a golf clinic in a ballpark. The event is part of the week long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Buick Open.

Continue reading "Buick Open Tiger Woods Golf Clinic To Take Place At Comerica Park"

GM Statement Regarding Michigan Safety Belt Campaign

Attributable to Beth Lowery, Vice President, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy

GM commends the work of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and law enforcement agencies throughout the state as they embark on another campaign to increase safety belt use and save lives.

Continue reading "GM Statement Regarding Michigan Safety Belt Campaign"

May 16, 2008

General Motors Powertrain Europe opens doors for Tech Show

Turin/Italy -- GM Powertrain Europe’s comprehensive Tech Show provides answers about how cars will be propelled in the future.

As part of the global GM Powertrain organization, GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility for small diesel engines, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Its footprint encompasses 15 facilities in 7 European countries, employing 9,000 people and producing on average more than 17,000 engines and transmissions per day.

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Chevy donates horsepower to Wayne County

DETROIT, Mich. – Chevrolet today donated 365 horses to the Restore the Horse Foundation for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office mounted police unit.

The horses are corralled under the hood of a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500 "dually" pickup truck, which along with a horse trailer donated by Restore the Horse, will be used to maintain and enhance the local mounted unit – the last of its kind in the state of Michigan.

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GM Announces Two New Fuel Efficient Engines for Europe

Turin/Italy – General Motors Corp. will introduce, starting in 2009, two new engines with significant fuel efficiency gains for vehicles marketed in Europe and other regions.

The 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used in vehicles worldwide starting in 2010. The 1.6-liter Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be introduced in the Opel Zafira in 2009.

Continue reading "GM Announces Two New Fuel Efficient Engines for Europe"

Istanbul, Turkey Gets Trams Equipped With GM-Allison Hybrid System

DETROIT, Mich. – An order by Istanbul Transportation Authority for 50 Metrobus trams equipped with the GM-Allison hybrid system will make the Turkish city home to Europe’s largest fleet of efficient diesel-electric hybrid trams by next year.

The first of the 50 trams, built by Dutch bus company Advance Public Transport Systems BV (APTS), was recently delivered. The remainder of the order will be fulfilled this year and in 2009.

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May 15, 2008

GM Student Design Competition fuels creativity at Imagine 2008

CHICAGO – Tonight, one-of-a-kind fashions inspired by General Motors vehicles and created by students from the International Academy of Design and Technology (the Academy) will be on display and paraded down the runway at the Academy’s annual fashion show, Imagine 2008.

Sponsored by GM for the sixth consecutive year, Imagine 2008 celebrates the creativity of the Academy’s talented fashion and design students, including five winners of the 2008 GM Student Design Competition who designed a unique collection of garments inspired by GM’s hottest new products.

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May 14, 2008

GM River Days Returns To Detroit Riverfront

DETROIT - Details for the 2008 GM River Days, last year's summer success, were announced today at Rivard Plaza. Organized by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, The Parade Company and General Motors, the festival will kick off Friday, June 20 and culminate on Monday, June 23 with the 50th Annual Target Fireworks.

GM River Days will once again take over the Detroit International Riverfront on Friday from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. and 10 - 9 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

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May 13, 2008

Cadillac badge, as big as a dinner plate

This pic of a Cadillac badge was taken while stopped in traffic, and it struck us that it has to be as big as a dinner plate, or at least big enough to prompt a rapper to think, "wow, that's kind of in poor taste."

Considering it's on the back of an Escalade, it might be that it's proportional to the side of a barn it's announcing, but the incremental creep of badge size is going a little too far -- and it's just not Caddy, have you seen the front badge on the new Mercedes C-Class? Even Poseidon wouldn't want to be caught dead carrying that trident around.

Henry Leland, Father of Cadillac and Lincoln

Investor's Business Daily has an interesting article about Henry Leland, a hard-working engineer who was involved in the early day of three iconic American car brands -- Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Lincoln.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the American auto industry was struggling to invent itself, and in the early days, most of the cars were miraculous for the fact that they ran at all, never mind for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Henry Leland was an engineer who pioneered the concept of identical mass production of parts, machined to exact tolerances, so that they could be switched in and out of models. His reputation landed him transmission and engine work at Oldsmobile, and that reputation got him the job of taking over the early Cadillac. Once he turned that brand around, the firm was sold to General Motors -- prompting Leland to go off on his own to found the Lincoln brand of cars, which was later sold to Ford.

GM Hosts Collegiate Advanced Tech Vehicles

Culminating four years of competition General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy will host a finish line ceremony and press conference featuring vehicles from the collegiate engineering competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility.

The event marks the end of the Challenge X competition and concludes a 350-mile road rally from New York City to Washington, D.C. Following the press conference, select vehicles will be available for brief ride and drive opportunities.

Continue reading "GM Hosts Collegiate Advanced Tech Vehicles"

May 12, 2008

2008 Fuel Economy Guide Available for Download

The EPA has issued a comprehensive PDF guide to fuel economy of all 2008 vehicles, which you can download by right-clicking here.

In today's gas market, buyers are more sensitive than ever about buying cars that get good mileage, and more important, they want the government ratings to be as accurate as possible -- nobody wants to buy a vehicle that gets 10% worse mileage in the real world than the sticker rating.

To address this situation, the EPA has started using an updated test to assign more accurate MPG ratings to new vehicles, and you can learn about that by watching the video in this post.

May 10, 2008

2009 Cadillac CTS-V breaks record on famed track

In testing this morning at Germany's Nurburgring, Cadillac's upcoming new 2009 CTS-V completed a lap of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32. This blistering time appears to be the fastest ever publicly documented for a production sedan.

Cadillac is nearing the completion of testing of the highly anticipated CTS-V, the limited-edition high-performance model based on the award-winning CTS sport sedan.

Continue reading "2009 Cadillac CTS-V breaks record on famed track"

GM's Provides Web-Based Training for Drivers of Large Vans

DETROIT -- General Motors continues to make training available for its large van consumers. For several years, Coaching Systems LLC, which designed a unique course for GM large van consumers, has teamed up with GM to offer training at a 40 percent discount to GM’s large van consumers. This training is designed to reinforce information that may be helpful for drivers of large vans.

Coaching Systems developed this course for GM’s large van consumers, building on van driver training that started in 1991 in conjunction with the National Safety Council.

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Survey: Quest for Fuel Efficiency Changing Americans' Car Consciousness

Detroit, Mich. – With rising gas prices, today’s car buyers admit fuel efficiency and diversity is not just a necessity, it’s also fashion forward.

If Americans had to choose between driving a car that was beautiful on the outside vs. one that was “greener” on the inside, nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) who plan to buy or lease a car within the next two years would choose the greener car.

Continue reading "Survey: Quest for Fuel Efficiency Changing Americans' Car Consciousness"

Student Teams Show Off "Green" Vehicles at New Jersey Ride and Drive

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM) will host a behind-the-scenes opportunity to see the vehicles from the collegiate engineering competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility in action.

The event is May 15, at Old Bridge Township Motorsports Park and is a stop on a road rally from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. Seventeen Chevrolet Equinoxes have been re-engineered by student teams using a range of cutting-edge clean vehicle technologies such as hybrid, plug-in or fuel cell propulsion systems.

Continue reading "Student Teams Show Off "Green" Vehicles at New Jersey Ride and Drive"

GM And Isuzu Partner To Focus On Commercial Vehicles In Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia -- General Motors Corporation and Isuzu Motors Limited announced their new joint venture, GM-Isuzu Camiones Andinos de Colombia Ltda., today. The purpose of which is to strengthen their strategic partnership and expand their truck and bus sales in Colombia.

The joint venture builds on the long-standing partnership that GM and Isuzu have enjoyed in the region by establishing a company that is dedicated to the marketing, sales, service and after-sales of commercial vehicles.

Continue reading "GM And Isuzu Partner To Focus On Commercial Vehicles In Colombia"

May 9, 2008

Tenacious D Goes Backstage for GM at Music Fests

DETROIT -- GMnext is going backstage at some of the world's biggest rock festivals this summer - providing music fans exclusive access through a series of video, photo and blog updates.

GMnext Plug In is a celebration of the 100+ year relationship between cars and music. From AM to FM, 8-track to cassette, compact disc to mp3, music is almost always a part of the driving experience.

Continue reading "Tenacious D Goes Backstage for GM at Music Fests"

May 6, 2008

GM Announces Quarterly Dividend

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) today announced a second-quarter dividend of $0.25 per share on GM common stock.

The dividend is payable June 10, 2008, to holders of record as of May 16, 2008. The dividend is unchanged from the previous quarter.

GM Mentors Local Kids About Environmental Awareness

PONTIAC, Mich. - Students, teachers and General Motors employees will get their feet wet in environmental science - quite literally - at Riverside Park on the Clinton River, in Auburn Hills, as part of the Clinton River Watershed Council's Stream Leaders program this Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

Approximately 80 kids will conduct water quality monitoring, learn scientific techniques and assess the stream's general health under the watchful tutelage of their teachers and volunteer mentors from GM's Pontiac Assembly Center, Pontiac Centerpoint campus and Pontiac Metal Center.

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Chevrolet to unveil new midget racing engine

On Wednesday, May 7th, GM racing representatives and United States Auto Club (USAC) team owner Tony Stewart will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to unveil the all-new Chevy engine for the USAC National Midget Car Series.

Continue reading "Chevrolet to unveil new midget racing engine"

May 5, 2008

Pontiac Rebates for May 2008

Pontiac is offering up to a $2,500 rebate on the G6 model line, $1,500 on the G5 and $1,000 on the Solstice roadster. Low interest financing is also available.

Programs end 5/21/08.

If you would like to research current auto rebates for all make and models for sale in the United States, check out CurrentAutoRebates.com, a fabulous service that allows you to check up on all rebate programs through a handy PDF report. The service is free and available now!

Hummer Rebates for May 2008

Hummer is offering up to a $2,000 rebate on the Hummer H2 SUV and $3,000 on the Hummer H3. Low-interest rate financing is also available. Program ends 5/21/08.

GMC Rebates for May 2008

GMC is offering up to a $2,000 rebate on the Sierra 1500 pickup, $2,000 on the Envoy SUV and $500 on the new Acadia SUV. Low-interest rate financing is also available. Program ends 5/21/08.

GM Rebates for May 2008

General Motors is offering a wide variety of rebate programs that cover Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac Saab and Saturn brands. Amounts range from $2,000 on the Chevy Silverado pickup to $3,000 on the Hummer H3 and $1,000 on the Pontiac Solstice. Low interest rate financing is available across all brand and model lines.

Chevy Rebates for May 2008

Chevy is offering up to a $2,000 rebate on the 2008 Silverado pickup truck, $1,500 on the Cobalt, $2,500 on the Impala, $2,000 on the Trailblazer and has a host of low interest financing programs available. Programs end 5/21/08.

Cadillac Rebates for May 2008

Cadillac is offering 1.9% financing on the CTS model line, a $4,000 rebate or 2.9% financing on the DTS, a $1,000 rebate or 2.9% financing on the XLR and a $2,000 rebate or 2.9% APR on the Escalade SUV. Programs end 5/21/08.

Buick Rebates for May 2008

Buick is offering up to a $2,500 rebate on the Lucerne sedan, $2,000 on the LaCrosse and 5.9% APR financing on the Enclave SUV. Low-interest rate financing is also available. Programs end 5/21/08.

f you would like to research current auto rebates for all make and models for sale in the United States, check out CurrentAutoRebates.com, a fabulous service that allows you to check up on all rebate programs through a handy PDF report. The service is free and available now!

May 4, 2008

Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008

Americans rediscovered cars in April 2008, with small cars in particular accounting for nearly one in five of all vehicles sold in an otherwise down month.

Toyota had four vehicles in the top twenty, General Motors had three; Nissan, Hyundai and Kia had two apiece. And Dodge has a hit with the Caliber, which made the list at number 9.

With people paying nearly $4 per gallon of gas nationwide, it appears that the free market has achieved what environmentalists have been clamoring about for years -- to conserve fuel by buying smaller vehicles.

The top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008"

Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008

Overall, pickups and SUV sales were down 17.4% in April and are down 13.5% for the year to date. The one bright spot is the crossover and small wagon category, which was down 0.4% for the month but has edge up 1.9% for the year.

In general, crossover utility vehicles are built on car platforms, while traditional SUVs are built on truck frames. CUVs are smaller, lighter and get better gas mileage than big SUVs -- one way to think of them is that they are really modern station wagons, but shorter and with a higher profile.

This months list of the top ten selling crossovers features three vehicles from General Motors, and two each from Ford and Toyota. Also of note, the new Nissan Rogue made the list at number ten.

The top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008"

Top ten best selling cars for April 2008

With gas prices at record highs in the U.S., consumers are buying cars in greater percentage than light trucks and SUVs, a reversal of a long-term trend.

In April, 52.6% of vehicles sold were cars, a gain of 5.2% over the same month last year.

Of particular note is that both General Motors and Toyota both notched three cars apiece in the top ten.

The top ten best selling cars for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top ten best selling cars for April 2008"

May 2, 2008

Buick Invicta Progress Report

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

Recently we unveiled the Buick Invicta concept car at the Beijing motor show. It was a natural choice to have the sleek concept sedan’s debut in China, where Buick is an established, respected premium luxury brand.

The Invicta is a vehicle that GM Global Product Development can be proud of on many levels, not the least of which is, I think, that it’s a beautifully designed car.

Continue reading "Buick Invicta Progress Report"

GM Enlists D.C. Drivers to Test Hydrogen Vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the Shell station on Benning Road Northeast, General Motors President and Chief Operating Officer, Fritz Henderson, presented the keys to the area's first motorists to be selected to test drive away in advanced technology hydrogen fuel cell powered Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicles.

Identified at the 2008 Washington Auto Show, Tom Albert of Alexandria, Va., and Nick Williams of Washington D.C., will join drivers from Southern California and the New York metropolitan area in GM's "Project Driveway" -- the world's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and first comprehensive market test of this innovative technology.

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GM Reports April Sales Down 16%

DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 260,922 vehicles in April. Retail car and crossover sales were up more than 9 percent.

A sharp sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossovers could not make up for soft truck demand and a sharp decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike. On a non-adjusted basis, retail sales were down 11.5 percent and total sales for the month were down 16 percent.

Continue reading "GM Reports April Sales Down 16%"

May 1, 2008

GM and Mascoma Enter into Non-Food Biofuels Relationship

WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. and Mascoma Corp. today announced a strategic relationship to develop cellulosic ethanol focused on Mascoma's single-step biochemical conversion of non-grain biomass into low-carbon alternative fuels to help address increasing energy demand.

The relationship, which includes an undisclosed equity investment by GM, complements an earlier investment in a cellulosic ethanol startup that uses a thermo-chemical process to make ethanol from non-grain sources.

Continue reading "GM and Mascoma Enter into Non-Food Biofuels Relationship"

General Motors To Announce Second Advanced Biofuels Relationship

On May 1, at 10:30 a.m., GM President Fritz Henderson will announce General Motors’ Corp’s second partnership with a cellulosic ethanol manufacturer. Non-grain based sustainable biofuels are critical to meet rising energy needs and decrease dependence on foreign oil.

GM leads the auto industry in offering vehicles that can run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 – a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline – or any combination of the two. There are more than 7 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads, 3 million of which are GM cars and trucks.

April 30, 2008

GM Reports Preliminary First Quarter Financial Results

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2008, marked by improved adjusted automotive operating performance, rapid growth in emerging markets, continued cost performance in GM North America (GMNA) operations and liquidity of nearly $24 billion, despite the impact of the American Axle strike on North American operations and weakness in the U.S. auto industry.

"We continue to leverage our global product portfolio to take advantage of tremendous growth in key emerging markets, while at the same time taking the appropriate actions to deal with the challenging economic conditions in the U.S.," said GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Wagoner.

Continue reading "GM Reports Preliminary First Quarter Financial Results"

April 29, 2008

Chevy offers Cobalt "XFE" that delivers 36 mpg

DETROIT - Consumers looking to squeeze the most mileage from every gallon of gas will find much to appreciate with the new Chevy Cobalt XFE. It delivers a segment-best 36 mpg in highway driving, outdistancing competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

The Cobalt XFE - for Xtra Fuel Economy - is on sale now and includes LS and 1LT coupe and sedan models with the manual transmission.

Continue reading "Chevy offers Cobalt "XFE" that delivers 36 mpg"

April 28, 2008

GM to Reduce Full-Size Truck Production

DETROIT – GM announced today that it is eliminating one shift of production at its full-size pickup truck assembly plants in Pontiac, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; and Oshawa, Ontario; and its full-size SUV assembly plant in Janesville, Wis. The decisions were made to bring production capacity more in line with market demand.

Under this plan, approximately 88,000 units of full-size pickup and 50,000 units of full-size SUV production will be removed from GM’s North American production capacity for the remainder of the 2008 calendar year.

Continue reading "GM to Reduce Full-Size Truck Production"

General Motors Honors Hoegh Autoliners as Corporation of the Year

Detroit -- On Saturday, April 26, General Motors Corporation honored Höegh Autoliners with its prestigious Corporation of the Year award. The award was presented during GM's 16th annual Supplier of the Year ceremony in Jacksonville, Fla.

Höegh has been a GM Supplier of the Year winner five times since the program began in 1992. It is an international logistics company with an annual transportation volume of close to 1.9 million car equivalent units

Continue reading "General Motors Honors Hoegh Autoliners as Corporation of the Year"

Lear Honored by GM as a 2007 Supplier of the Year

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Lear Corporation, received the General Motors 2007 Supplier of the Year award for its significant contributions to GM's global product and performance achievements.

The 16th annual award -- themed the "Best of the Best" -- was presented to Lear during ceremonies Saturday, April 26 at the Sawgrass Marriott Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla.

"GM is proud to honor Lear Corporation as a GM Supplier of the Year winner, " said Bo Andersson, GM group vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Continue reading "Lear Honored by GM as a 2007 Supplier of the Year"

Jones Lang LaSalle Recognized by GM as a 2007 Supplier of the Year

CHICAGO -- Jones Lang LaSalle, the leading global real estate money management and services firm, received the General Motors 2007 Supplier of the Year award for its significant contributions to GM's global product and performance achievements. The 16th annual award -- themed the "Best of the Best" -- was given during ceremonies Saturday, April 26 at the Sawgrass Marriott Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla.

"GM is proud to honor Jones Lang LaSalle as one of our Supplier of the Year winners in 2007," said Bo Andersson, GM group vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.

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April 27, 2008

General Motors Recognizes Best Suppliers

JACKSONVILLE , FLA. – General Motors Corp. recognized 97 companies today with its highly coveted Supplier of the Year Award at the 16 th annual awards presentation held at the Sawgrass Marriott Hotel.

There are 57 multiple-year winners among this year’s nominees.

Continue reading "General Motors Recognizes Best Suppliers"

April 26, 2008

UAW-GM nationwide to Observe Workers Memorial Day on April 28th

DETROIT -- Monday, April 28 is the annual observance of Workers Memorial Day. UAW-represented GM locations will hold events to commemorate workers who have lost their lives or been injured on the job, and to promote awareness of workplace safety.

At General Motors' facilities across the country, UAW members and GM salaried employees will observe Workers Memorial Day in a variety of ways.

Continue reading "UAW-GM nationwide to Observe Workers Memorial Day on April 28th"

GM Schedules Annual Stockholders' Meeting for June 3

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) today issued its annual report to stockholders and filed its proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company also announced that E. Neville Isdell, chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company, has been nominated to serve on the GM Board of Directors.

Continue reading "GM Schedules Annual Stockholders' Meeting for June 3"

April 25, 2008

Hummer provides grants to recreation sites

OGDEN, UTAH – General Motor’s HUMMER division and the nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! announced today the launch of a new partnership called HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue, which will provide grants to outdoor recreation sites. The grants will be dedicated towards land use education, management and trail maintenance.

“This partnership comes at a critical time, especially for recreation activities involving the use of off-highway vehicles,” said Tread Lightly!’s executive director Lori McCullough.

Continue reading "Hummer provides grants to recreation sites"

GM's Tech History Behind Coskata's Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

MADISON, Pa. – General Motors Corp.’s role in helping Coskata Inc. bring its next-generation cellulosic ethanol to market traces back a quarter of a century to technology developed for a GM iron foundry in northwest Ohio.

Coskata announced Friday that its pilot plant will be located at the Westinghouse Plasma Center in Madison, the current site of a pilot-plant gasifier.

Continue reading "GM's Tech History Behind Coskata's Cellulosic Ethanol Plant"

Car Buyer's Notebook

Recent Stories

Topics

August 14, 2008

Sneak Peek at Production Version of GM Chevy Volt

August 13, 2008

Corvette kicks off GM's Woodward Dream Cruise activities

GM to Invest $445 Million in New Plant, Thai Operations

August 12, 2008

GM Offers More Fuel-efficient Pickup Trucks, SUVs

August 11, 2008

Researchers Work to Turn Car's Exhaust into Power

August 10, 2008

Chevrolet Launches New Advertising During Olympics

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Launch Underway

GM on CNBC

Volunteers Join HUMMER Recreation Rescue Project In Sierra National Forest

August 9, 2008

GM agrees to lend Delphi $300 million against bankruptcy

GM Presses Ad Agencies on Costs

August 6, 2008

Video: Taking a lap in the Cobalt SS

Natural Gas: An Enticing Alternative

GM Certified Used Vehicles to List Entire Inventory Onine

August 2, 2008

GM Reports July Sales Down 26.7%

August 1, 2008

General Motors to Showcase Historic Motorama Vehicles

July 31, 2008

Tread Lightly! And HUMMER Help Maintain Trail In Sierra National Forest

July 30, 2008

G.M. Cuts Jobs as Part of a Production Curb

GM works quietly to acquire Hummer dealerships

Chrysler, GM and Nissan are Tops in Online Search Visibility

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" to Those Affected by Southern California Earthquake

July 26, 2008

GM Prepares to Export Buick Enclaves to China

July 25, 2008

GM Celebrates J.D. Power Recognition at Fairfax Assembly Plant

GM Sales Soar Overseas, Struggling at Home

GM to Broaden Employee Discounts

GM's New Interactive Site Goes "Undercover" to Educate Consumers

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly

John Middlebrook to Pace Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in Corvette Z06

General Motors Heritage Collection Comes To Saratoga Auto Museum

U.S. Postal Service Receives Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle from General Motors

July 24, 2008

GM's "Other" Plug-In: The Saturn Vue

GM Names CFO For North America

July 23, 2008

GM Announces Second Quarter Global Sales of More Than 2.28 Million Vehicles

July 22, 2008

The Rebirth of Camaro

Chevrolet Unveils The 2010 Camaro

General Motors Partners to Commercialize Plug-in Vehicles

GM Hosts Disabilities Matters Conference

Buick, Pontiac, GMC Channel Working

July 21, 2008

GM Webcast to unveil 2010 Camaro

Chevrolet Kicks Off World Series Ticket Promotion

July 18, 2008

Saturn Fans Invited To 'Kiss My Astra' In Online Photo Contest

General Motors Forging Ahead

July 15, 2008

GM to Bolster Liquidity by $15 Billion through 2009

GM CEO to Announce Company Actions to Align Business

July 14, 2008

GM Achieves Sales Record in Latin America, Africa and Middle East

GM, National Governors Association Team Up on E85

July 13, 2008

HUMMER Announces Pricing for All-New H3T

July 12, 2008

GM's new small car to be built in Ohio

GM now selling fuel economy

GM Says No Intention of Seeking Bankruptcy

July 10, 2008

GM posts record sales of 1.16 million vehicles in Europe

July 9, 2008

Cruze: Chevy names new global compact

July 8, 2008