General Motors

EDWARD LAPHAM COMMENTARY 8/23/05: Can a U.S.-built car be the next great Euro roadster? By Edward Lapham Automotive News / August 23, 2005 General Motors execs expect big results from the low-volume Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters, which will be image-building halo vehicles for their brands. Initial Solstice sales make it popular, but production is being ramped up slowly, so Pontiac dealers are clamoring for more cars. Some Pontiac dealers are grumbling that GM shouldn't give Saturn dealers a version, even though it goes into production this year. What's less certain is how Europeans will accept the Opel roadster that is expected for 2007.…

What has caused "GM's Quality Quandry," and how can they fix it? Here's one view, from Mark Phelan in the Detroit Free Press.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061122/1042286.asp

Tenn. Saturn plant will switch to building Chevrolet crossover By ROSE FRENCH AP Artist Rendering by MJDecker SPRING HILL, Tenn. (AP) - General Motors Corp. announced Thursday that its plant in Spring Hill, which has built Saturn models for nearly 17 years, will be building a new brand. The brand's birthplace rolled out its last models for the Saturn brand this week as the plant gets ready to reconfigure its production lines to build new GM vehicles. GM executives and union officials who met with employees at the plant said the product will be a Chevrolet crossover vehicle, according to people familiar with the meeting who requested anonymity because the automaker h…

Conservative commentators stoke anger against 'Government Motors' By Paul A. Eisenstein msnbc.com contributor updated 7:06 a.m. ET, Fri., June 26, 2009 Barring an unexpected setback, a "new" General Motors will emerge soon from bankruptcy after eliminating most of its debt, hundreds of dealers and a fair share of its work force — saved by up to $50 billion in federal bailout funds. But while the once-dominant automaker certainly wouldn’t have been able to survive without that federal largesse, the question is whether it can survive its unlikely alliance with Washington — which will hold a 60 percent stake in the company that emerges from the Chapter 11 process. …

By Greg Migliore Automotive News / August 22, 2005 http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=13123 DETROIT -- Suzuki's redesigned 2006 Grand Vitara SUV is getting a $604 price increase for base models when it arrives in showrooms in September. The Grand Vitara has a new, light-weight unibody with a built-in ladder frame, which Suzuki says delivers a smoother ride. The vehicle also is 1.2 inches wider and 12 inches longer than the 2005 model. It is has a 2.7-liter V-6 engine that makes 185 hp. The base model has a five-speed manual transmission, six airbags and rear-wheel drive. It starts at $19,594 including $595 in shipping charges. Four-wheel drive is a…

GM needs only 2 big SUV plants Automaker plans to shift production to full-sized pickups By Jason Stein Automotive News / September 26, 2005 DETROIT - In the face of high gasoline prices, General Motors is counting on improved truck sales to offset modest expectations for its large SUVs. GM plans to build the next generation of its full-sized SUVs in two assembly plants, rather than the current three. But the automaker expects total full-sized truck capacity to stay about the same. GM will allocate more capacity to its full-sized pickups, chiefly the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM built about 1.7 million full-sized trucks and SUVs in North Amer…

here GM should be fighting Toyota, not itself. "But nagging questions remain: Will sales rise enough to justify Saturn's fatter marketing budget at a time when Pontiac and Buick must trim their own ad campaigns? And is Chevrolet, GM's strongest and biggest mass-market brand, actually a better candidate to battle the imports? Chevy dealers say they could easily fit mid-priced vehicles like the Outlook and Aura into their lineups. They also note that GM is promoting Chevrolet as its mass-market global brand."

GM expects a $1,000 decline in its incentives per vehicle March 14, 2006 BY MICHAEL ELLIS FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER General Motors Corp. expects the amount it spends on sales incentives to fall by an average of $1,000 or more per vehicle this month, despite the launch this week of its March Madness sale. GM told dealers on Monday that from March 16 to April 4, it will offer a cash bonus of $500 or $1,000 on vehicles that have been sitting on dealer lots for 120 days or more. In addition to current incentives, consumers will get another $500 cash back on all cars and $1,000 back on Cadillacs, pickups, minivans and SUVs that arrived in dealer showrooms before Nov. 17…

AUTOS: Dealers support GM's Wagoner April 8, 2006 General Motors Corp. car dealers also threw their weight behind chief executive Rick Wagoner on Friday, days after the automaker's board of directors expressed a vote of confidence in him. Dealers, including the heads of AutoNation Inc. and UnitedAuto Group Inc., placed a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on Friday stating that "Rick Wagoner and GM are taking very bold steps and they are making a difference." "America loves a good comeback story, and GM is going to be one of the best." Full Article Direct URL: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...ESS07/604080332

Here is a link to photo's of one of the first line built Zetas testing down under. This is the first nearly clear look at the new pilot production VE Commadore. I beleieve this is the car due in August. CARS GUIDE .com au Tubo HMM?

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman is criticizing GM for offering to "cap" gas prices at $1.99 for certain GM vehicles sold in Florida and California. "Is there a company more dangerous to America's future than General Motors? Surely, the sooner this company gets taken over by Toyota, the better this country will be," Friedman wrote, comparing GM to "a crack dealer looking to keep his addicts on a tight leash" by making the offer. Bob Lutz has shot back that Friedman "is so 'over the top' that it borders on psychosis." ( Go get 'em, Bob!) To view the article, which appeared in the 6/1 Detroit News, click here.

This is welcomed news for GM and many planned future products. I would hope this will remove the hold on the future Zeta cars and move Alpha forward. Detroit will need to stay moving ahead in fuel milage to stave off any more problems with DC House puts off tougher fuel economy rules Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- House leaders decided Wednesday to put off a potentially divisive fight over auto fuel-economy rules, leaving until September the debate over how high a hurdle they'll set for the embattled domestic carmakers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said late Wednesday that the House will not consider competing proposals to change C…

General Motors has been seeing sales of their passenger cars take a sharp drop as buyers latch on to crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. The first half of 2017 has seen GM's passenger car sales drop 19 percent. In June, passenger cars went into freefall with a 36 percent drop. This has General Motors making some drastic decisions in terms of products and production sites. "We are talking to (GM) right now about the products that they currently have" at underused car plants such as Hamtramck in Michigan and Lordstown in Ohio, and whether they might be replaced with newer, more popular vehicles such as crossovers, said Dennis Williams, president of the UAW. According to…

If you happen to be an owner of a General Motors vehicle and are looking to earn some cash, then a new pilot program might be of interest. Bloomberg has learned from sources that GM is planning to launch a program where owners can rent out their vehicles when they aren't driving them - think AirBnb for cars. This will be launch through GM's Maven car-sharing service sometime this summer. A GM spokesman declined to comment. This appears to be another part of GM's plan to transition from manufacturer to mobility provider. GM already has their car-sharing service Maven and invested $500 million into ride-hailing service Lyft. This idea of allowing owners to rent ou…

By The Associated Press September 14, 2008 In its 100 years in business, General Motors Corp. has sold nearly a half-billion vehicles across the globe. The top sellers as GM approaches its 100th birthday Tuesday: Vehicle Sales 1. Chevrolet Impala 14 million plus 2. Opel/Vauxhall Corsa 12 million plus 3. Opel/Vauxhall Astra/Kadett 12 million plus 4. Oldsmobile Cutlass 11.9 million 5. Opel/Vauxhall Vectra 6.5 million 6. Chevrolet Cavalier 6.2 million 7. Buick LeSabre 6.0 million 8. Chevrolet Camaro 4.8 million 9. OpelAscona/Vauxhall Vectra 4.4 million 10. Pontiac Grand Am 4.0 million Link: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/20...me_top_sel…

* Not sure if this is in a bad spot so I put it here and in the hummer forum. ...Thanks! I loved the "Monster" commercial for the H3 and went to the official site today to find that Jennifer (Godzilla) has her own url that is about everything and nothing, all at the same time. Cambell E. or whichever design house that was responsible for not only the ad, but this mock webpage really hit it on the head with this one! http://www.hummer.com/monsters/index.html http://www.jenniferlovestherobot.com/ love that music smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif Kevin

Automotive News reported today that Steve Girsky, who was hired last August as a special adviser to Rick Wagoner and Vice Chairman John Devine, will be leaving GM. When Girsky joined them, Wagoner said, "His deep knowledge and experience in the global auto industry will enable Steve to contribute significantly in support of our key business strategies, including the turn-around of GM North America." What exactly did Girsky do in that short amount of time? Did he make a difference?

Full Story: http://www.fia-wtcc.com/fiawtcc/sport_sto889619.shtml

From www.thetruthaboutcars.com Robert Farago 7-10-06 After carefully considering the potential benefits of a GM - Nissan - Renault alliance, auto industry analysts have concluded that the deal makes about as much sense as Finnegan’s Wake. Well duh. Anyone even vaguely familiar with GM’s current crisis knows there’s only one thing the General needs right now: vehicles that people want to buy, at a price that makes the company a profit. This they don’t have. And guess what? Neither does Nissan. The Japanese automaker’s sales are also in freefall, pending new product coming down the pike. Even if Nissan and GM and Renault could work together (a completely prepos…

I really like the Dodge Magnum Hemi/SRT8 vehicles. I am nowhere close to being a MOPAR guy and would love for GM, preferably Chevy, to build something comparable. I believe Pontiac would be the best served to pull it off. Any possiblilities? Keep in mind: fairly new member, very few posts, and continue to like the Dodge Magnum and trying not to admit it.

its a sad day... http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=3071399

The Employee Pricing Event does not seem to have had any effect on Buick sales in particular. Every lot I visit is chock full of 2008 models, despite this sale having been on for weeks now. After the employee pricing is over on September 30th what is GM going to come up with to move that iron? Is GMAC likely to increase their pull ahead?

crusing lots today I saw the new 06 Grand Vitara. VERY NICE. Nice interior. Exterior is a nice chiseled shape. Whole vehicle seems well made. Cabin seems spacious, very sporty looking. Yes, that's the new GM 3 spoke steering wheel. Seat cloth seems nice. In fact, its the nicest Suzuki interior I've seen and the whole Grand Vitara makes the Equinox and Vue seem like regurgitated puke in terms of looks and quality appearance. A lot sportier looking than an Escape. Engine is a 2.7l v6...not sure what that's from. Pricing was good and warranty is always good with Suzuki. I know this should go with worldwide marques boards, but i thought it would get mo…

General Motors Corporation (NYSE:GM) and Tracinda Corporation jointly announced today that, although the parties have had constructive discussions, they have not been able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement for Jerome York to join the Board of Directors of General Motors at this time. However, the parties expect that they may continue to have discussions in connection with this matter in the future.

You know, Thomas Friedman is one of the more moderate writers at the NYT and what he writes usually is sensible and presents both sides of the story. But today he penned the most hysterical anti-GM editorial which has appeared in newspapers across the country. He says that GM is the most destructive company in America. He says that GM makes SUVs that consume lots of oil and send money to the Middle East. He said that GM's new plan to subsidize gasoline will send even more money to the Middle East and result in many Americans being killed. He has called for GM to be taken over by Toyota for the safety of the country. The whole thing was foaming-at-the-mouth hysteric…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2012 There's a lot of questions dealing with Holden Commodore after 2017. The facelifted Commodore, the VF, will be debuting next year on the Zeta platform. But when 2017, Zeta will not be used at all. “Zeta is not a global platform for GM,” said Holden boss, Mike Devereux, during a tour of the Elizabeth production facility. Holden has confirmed that it will produce two new Australian-made cars based on two global platforms as part of a billion-dollar investment to guarantee building vehicles in Australia until 2022. The first vehicle will likely be the new Cruze which will be based on new platform which wi…

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autoshow_t...wNncmVlbi1jYXI-

Jamie LaReau Automotive News August 25, 2008 - 12:01 am ET DETROIT — General Motors' product lineup will be dramatically different next decade. "It's clear that the size of the American vehicle is going to shift radically, for all kinds of reasons — fuel economy; legislation; the gasoline price, which may or may not come down and may go up over time," Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of product development, told Automotive News. "So the U.S. fleet is going to be downsized, and I think the U.S. consumer is no longer going to associate size with luxury and price." GM's small cars will be developed on two global platforms: the Gamma and the slightly larger Delta c…

Rumors of tomorrow's "important changes" at GM have approached a fevered pace, but the latest one we've heard is coming directly from someone who's directly related to someone who could be directly affected if the rumor is true. So, it must be true, right? Anyway, we've just been told by the family of a Chevy Volt engineering team member that not only is the untouchable Volt program on hold, GM's even letting some of the engineering team, aka "the chosen people," go. Hit the jump for the full rumor. "My uncle works on the Volt as an engineer. He's getting laid off Friday because apparantly the project (aka VOLT) is on hold indefinitely." We've put in a call to GM PR t…

When cars were America's idols STATUS: A Cadillac, this one a 1958 Eldorado, topped GM’s “Ladder of Success,” a shrewd marketing strategy that welded a link between who we are and what we drive. --- Dan Neil June 1, 2009 If you were to walk up to a typical New York executive in the 1960s -- think Don Draper in AMC's "Mad Men" -- and tell him that General Motors Corp. would be in bankruptcy by 2009, he would have thought you were delusional, or perhaps a Communist. GM was more than just the world's largest and most admired corporation; it was the final vindication of the American Way, the perfected and even divinely inspired example of democratic capitalism th…

Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of Toyota Motor Corp., first traded in 1949, rose to a record on optimism U.S. sales will grow, making the company's market value more than 14 times larger than that of General Motors Corp., the world's biggest producer of vehicles. Toyota shares, which have gained 41 percent this year, rose 4.4 percent to 5,890 yen at the close of trading in Tokyo, as a report yesterday showed U.S. factory production rose by the most in 17 months, which may spur demand. Toyota is forecasting its 12th consecutive sales record in the U.S. this year and the company's fourth consecutive year of record profit. That contrasts with GM, which has…

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?...109-000270-0950 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/busin...ng/13570760.htm

Limited recall riles GM owners NHTSA monitors brake callback in 20 states and D.C. as complaints mount. Jeff Plungis / Detroit News Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. last year recalled 1.35 million trucks and SUVs in 20 states and Washington, D.C., to clean brake sensors that could malfunction and cause accidents. Despite the recalls, though, GM is struggling to move beyond questions about the anti-lock brakes on its best-selling Chevrolet Silverado pickup and seven other models. Reports continue to pour in from states not covered under the recall -- and some from states like Michigan that are included -- of accidents and near-misses from truck own…

China losing cheap labor allure More U.S. companies find savings are drained by errors, shipping costs and engineering changes. By Ron French / The Detroit News STERLING HEIGHTS -- Hal Zaima was in love with China. The owner of KenSa, an auto parts supplier based in Sterling Heights, gazed at the other side of the globe and saw things of beauty: factories ready to make his automotive wire harnesses, a favorable exchange rate and a limitless supply of workers willing to work for pennies, with more getting off trains each day from the vast countryside. In fall 2004, KenSa sold its last American factory and was negotiating to form a joint venture in Wuhu, Ch…

Thinking about the recent thread of Buickman's "Return To Greatness" and the struggles GM has in overcoming the perception gap they face with import automakers, I decided to conduct my own little, very unscientific, yet real-world look at demand for GM cars in my little corner of the world in southern California. I took 30-40 minutes today and drove through some of the parking lots at the Aliso Viejo Town Center in my city and counted 237 cars. The Town Center is a mix of retail, bars, restaurants, and a 20-screen theatre adjacent to numerous office parks and a medical center. In case you are curious about the demographics and population of this area.…

Can Jerry York Save GM? Ace cost-cutter ratchets up pressure for major changes Bill Vlasic / The Detroit News DETROIT -- In the 1980s, it was a feisty Texan named Ross Perot who rattled the board of General Motors Corp. by calling his fellow directors "pet rocks" in the pocket of management. A decade later, retired Procter & Gamble Co. Chairman John Smale led a board-room coup that toppled a GM chairman and set a new standard for corporate governance. But no outsider ever joined the GM board with the expectations attached to Jerry York. The appointment to the board last week of York, the ace cost-cutter employed by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, is a pivot…

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/04/25/big_en...reut/index.html

Tom Walsh: You know GM's back in black when... When will we know that General Motors Corp. has fully emerged from its 30-year funk? This question arises as GM Chairman Rick Wagoner, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and other GM brass begin walking and talking with a touch of swagger now that they've run off pesky billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, who cashed out his 10% GM stake, and brushed off SuperCEO Carlos Ghosn of Renault and Nissan in his bid to lure GM into a super-synergistic-sucker's auto alliance. Things are indeed looking up for GM, but remember, this is still a company only 11 months removed from a $10.6-billion loss in 2006. So how can we tell when GM has really turned th…

Today I was curious and went to the online order/reference guide and they had 2008 up but no guides were available, except for the Buick Enclave, but no other Buick was listed and the following are the dates for when the info will be released for the other companies. Chevrolet - February 5th Saturn - February 5th Pontiac - April 2nd Cadillac - April 2nd HUMMER - April 30th GMC - April 30th Hope you guys find this information useful.

personaly i hate the Aveo i liked the metro beter? soi think suzu should bring back the 3 cylinder beast( :P ) and sell it for 7,500 with nothing but a radio Also im trying to figure out how to make a poll

November 24, 2005 GM promises product benefits from business cuts by Alex Law , Auto123 Fate may play a card or two that will change things for everyone concerned, but it looks like future General Motors' consumers will benefit from the company's recent decision to close a bunch of plants and damage the lives of thousands and thousands of its workers and their families. This is apparently the accepted modus operandi in today's global auto society. GM CEO Rick Wagoner (Photo: General Motors of Canada) For consumers, it will mean more money for GM to spend on new and improved products and technologies, or so says Rick Wagoner, the company's CEO and…

There's more of this coming as GM continues to decline: ANDERSON, Ind., Feb. 16 — General Motors once had so many plants here that it had to stagger their schedules so that the streets would not be clogged with traffic when the workday ended. At the city's peak, 35 years ago, one of every three people in Anderson worked for G.M. Now there is not a single G.M. plant left, and just two parts plants that G.M. once owned still survive. Anderson, about 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis, had 70,000 people in 1970 and now has fewer than 58,000. But in many ways, Anderson is still just as dependent on G.M. as it once was. Only now, rather than being dependent on General Mot…

Link Lori Queen, General Motors executive on C/R: "the most unprofessional group of people I have ever worked with." "They are totally nonobjective and go to great extremes to paint a picture for their paid subscription readers". "They buy the cheapest car they can find and then base all their opinions on a limited sample." More at link

Link To Article

Innovative, Compact Six-Speed FWD and AWD Transmission Handles High Torque and Boasts Smooth Shifting, Aids Fuel Efficiency -On-axis design enables spacious packaging -Advanced clutch-to-clutch shift operation -Wide 6.04:1 overall ratio spread -Co-developed by GM and Ford Motor Co. -Engine torque capacity from 280 lb.-ft. to 300 lb.-ft. -Shift speeds up to 7000 rpm -Calibrated for quick launch and fuel-efficient cruising -Built at GM Powertrain's transmission plant in Warren, Mich. WARREN, Mich. - The new Hydra-Matic 6T70 and 6T75 front- and all-wheel drive six-speed automatic transmissions will debut in several GM models in 2007. The Saturn Aur…

Jamie LaReau Automotive News August 25, 2008 - 12:01 am ET DETROIT — The world in which General Motors operates is a very different place from what it was a year ago. Gasoline prices are at unprecedented highs, the green movement has gained momentum that likely won't be reversed, the slump in housing has killed the demand for high-profit pickups and SUVs, and the Detroit 3 are running out of cash. Add to that strict new federal fuel economy regulations. Although GM has vowed to not let those factors diminish its future product lineup, they are affecting how many products the automaker will build. Economic conditions turned so severe that in June, GM put its…

Detroit Free Press covered the annual GM Analysts call this week and with the second quarter results it showed that GM has lost $800 million in the quarter but over all North American Earnings were breakeven and this was with 8 weeks of shutdown. Over all the Stock beat wall streets estimates and yet still sold off in large numbers during the pandemic closure. Analysts had plenty of questions for GM with a major question of will GM consider spinning off their technology arm which would include electric vehicles operations into a stand alone company? The idea of a stand alone GM Tech company is to recognize the advanced tech GM has over other auto companies and t…

3 large pickups don't live up to brawny image in side tests; none rates better than marginal for occupant protection ARLINGTON, VA — The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titan are billed as workhorses, but the side crash protection these 2009 model large pickups provide is wimpy, at best. The trio earns either poor or marginal ratings in side tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Even with side airbags, occupant protection in these crew-cab pickups is no better than marginal. "The size, weight, and height of these large pickups should help them ace the side tests just like the other large pickups we've tested. Not these three," says …

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103041

I JUST SAW THAT IN THE CAR AND DRIVER MAGAZINE TEST THE 2006 CORVETTE Z06 AND HIT THE 60MPH IN 3.6 SECS AND THE 1/4 MILE IN 11.7 SECS WITH THAT SPECS I THINK THAT THE CORVETTE Z06 CAN EASILY BEAT THE DODGE VIPER,FORD GT AND FERRARI F430 WHAT DO YOU THINK'

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/cgi-bin/artic...articleId=28180

Here are the pics..... Sorry, GM/Scott S. has asked that every website remove the pics. - Northstar.

Most Americans will not buy from bankrupt automaker-survey DETROIT, Dec 28 (Reuters) Almost three of every four American consumers polled would not buy a car from a manufacturer that had declared bankruptcy, according to arecent survey, giving struggling U.S. automaker General MotorsCorp. <GM.N> something else to think about. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they would not purchase or lease a new car from a bankrupt automaker, according to a survey released by Cincinnati-based research firm Directions Research Inc. Twenty-six percent said they would buy from a manufacturer in that position. GM executives have denied speculation they would seek Chapter 1…

This is a nice article written in response to the Friedman article. Very factual and paints a picture of how GM is way more important to America than Toyota. It's not even close. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13447045/site/newsweek/

Bob Lutz has a few things to say about it http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financi...dea646c&k=13708

Oh Jalopnik, gotta love them for the new photos of the 2008 Corvette and it's LS3! Just because the new Corvette LS3's not expected to be unveiled until Saturday, doesn't mean you don't deserve to see it early. Luckily some shots have already snuck out of Bowling Green of what looks to be the new engine for the 2008 big bad-ass from the bargain brand at the General. A poster over at DigitalCorvettes did the dirty work to show us the rumored 430 hp engine that we've heard will be the new standard for the '08 Corvette. It's no "Corvette SS," but whatevs. Anyway, we'll just let you look at the new n' pretty five-spoke wheels and the big side-bolstered red leather seats, an…

Article General Motors Wants You To Help Write Its Memoirs Date posted: 02-08-2008 DETROIT — As part of the celebration of its 100th anniversary, General Motors is asking the public to "share their personal, first-person experiences" with the automaker. "We welcome everyone to share their stories and build a rich and continuously evolving history of GM's people and products," said Steve Harris, GM vice-president of communications. To submit a reminiscence, writers are asked to contribute to the Generations of GM Wiki on GMnext.com, where they can post a picture, write a story or read what others have written. Apparently, censorship will be kept to a minimum, …

You made the right choice when you put your confidence in General Motors, and we appreciate your past support. I want to assure you that we are making our best vehicles ever, and we have exciting plans for the future. But we need your help now. Simply put, we need you to join us to let Congress know that a bridge loan to help U.S. automakers also helps strengthen the U.S. economy and preserve millions of American jobs. Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid. The U.S. economy is at a crossroads due to the worldwide credit crisis, and all Americans are feeling the effects of the worst economic down…

http://www.autonet.ca/News/story.cfm?story...1549930-cp.html Too bad this list doesn't include j-bodies...I could really use $6,000

Harald Hamprecht | Automotive News / May 22, 2006 General Motors is looking at low-cost production sites in Thailand, India and Mexico for a new global family of small crossover vehicles. The five-passenger vehicles would be smaller than the Saturn Vue and Chevrolet Equinox, GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said last week at a design event in Ruesselsheim, Germany. They would be marketed by Saturn, Opel and possibly GMC and Hummer. "It won't be badge engineering," Lutz said. "We'll carefully protect the brand identities." Still to be determined is the vehicle architecture. Once that and the assembly site are selected, production could begin in 37 months, Lutz said. Th…

New Delhi, Jun 1: General Motors (GM) India today said it recorded a jump of 56.1 per cent in May sales at 5,432 units as against 3,478 units in the same period a year ago. ''GM India has registered a consistent surge in monthly sales in 2007 which is a clear sign of growing market demand of our flagship brand Chevrolet in the country. The recently launched Chevrolet Spark is already making serious inroads into the small car segment,'' GM India' Vice-President (Marketing, Sales and Aftersales) Ankush Arora said in a statement. General Motors India is also planning to launch the Chevrolet Optra TCDi (Diesel) in the near future. Gearing up for a major drive to grab 10…

Makes a few good and bad points. http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_comment...00512080857.asp

Rich Ceppos The Madeleine Effect By RICH CEPPOS AutoWeek | Published 01/23/06, 3:00 pm et So there we were, Anne Asensio and me, on the GM stand during press days at the North American Interna-tional Auto Show in Detroit. We watched workers ease the retro-inspired Camaro concept onto its turntable. Asensio is French. She has spent much of her career designing cars for Renault, and is now the executive in charge of GM’s advanced design studios, where this most red-blooded of American concepts began life. Though Asensio would be the first to say she didn’t pen the car that won AutoWeek’s Best in Show award—and is a cinch for production according to hig…

UAW/GM Janesville Assembly Plant Produces 500,000th E85 FlexFuel Vehicle Local plant aids GM's efforts to help address U.S. energy concerns JANESVILLE, Wisc. – The General Motors Janesville Assembly plant achieved a milestone of producing more than 500,000 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, full-size sport utility vehicles, with E85 FlexFuel-capable engines. The Janesville employees were recognized in a ceremony at the plant which included Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Since 2002, the UAW Local 95 /GM Janesville Assembly workforce has been assembling SUVs with the 5.3L V8 engine that has the capability of using either gasoline, E85 ethanol (a blend…

Rick Kranz | | Automotive News / April 24, 2006 - 6:00 am NEW YORK - While newspapers have been filled with headlines about job cuts at General Motors, the automaker's design studio has been adding jobs. "The corporation believes in what we are doing," Ed Welburn, vice president for global design, said in an interview this month at the New York auto show. "They realize the importance of design and having choices, design alternatives for the leadership to make those tough decisions. So we are continuing to hire." GM's studios across the globe have been expanding. Welburn was unable to say how many jobs were added, but said: "Last year we hired 14 designers alone …

I don't know if Autoweek will have this later in the week, but for now I won't post all of it - just the good stuff ------------------------------------------------------- Lutz: 'I would give myself a B+ or an A-' Dave Guilford | Jamie LaReau | Automotive News / May 22, 2006 http://autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?...B/60517019/1003 To say General Motors had a bad year last year is putting it mildly: It lost $10.57 billion. But Vice Chairman Robert Lutz, 74, says attitudes inside GM are changing. He says a new culture led by a product renaissance will help the company complete its turnaround. News Editor Dave Guilford and Staff Reporter Jamie LaReau sat do…

Has anyone else seen GM's new logo? I wasn't sure if this is old news or not....

Here are some surrvey numbers from Autobytel.com Not sure how accurate these are but it might be worth checking them out as they are not what I expected. Hybrid owners are 40% Republican 36% Democrat 21% live in the Midwest 31% in the Northeast and 16% on the West Coast 57% are over 45 years old 49% do not have collage degrees 33% make less than $40,000 a year Now I know this most likley includes many Flex Fuel Taurus and pick up trucks in Iowa. But need less to say I still figured the tree hugging West Coasters would have been more dominate just with the Prius and Honda Hybrids. I think it would be real interesting to see some real demographics on who a…