General Motors

Just as GM and Toyota worked together in bringing us the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix, GM and Honda now plan to bring us a series of affordable EVs targeting the world's most popular vehicle segment, SUVs. To quote Doug Parks, GM executive VP, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Our plans include a new all-electric product for North America positioned at a price point lower than the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV, building on the 2 million units of EV capacity the company plans to install by the end of 2025.” New EV series planned to go on sale in 2027 starting in North America Honda and GM collaboration designed to e…

The picture you see here is the brand new 2013 Cadillac XTS. The picture was accidentally posted on Cadillac's home page today before being taken off. Luckily, a reader from Jalopnik captured the picture for all of us to see. Since then, Cadillac has confirmed this will be the XTS we see next week at the LA Auto Show. The production model is almost a carbon copy of the XTS Platinum concept shown at last year's Detroit Auto Show, with a different design for head and foglights. The XTS will also have Cadillac's new CUE infotainment system. Source: Jalopnik Edit: GM has since officially released the XTS photograph. I've updated the photo in this article with the GM Media …

DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- General Motors Co. will mark its first serious foray into the U.S. premium compact-car segment early next decade when it launches a compact Buick, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Friday. The move will be a virtually untested venture for Detroit, where small cars have long been synonymous with entry-level, lower-budget offerings. It is a sign of things to come for the U.S. auto industry as stricter fuel-economy regulations take hold and force car makers to turn out smaller, more fuel- efficient cars. GM has sold compact Buicks in the past, but not with the features, upscale design and higher price point planned for Buick, Lutz said. He said GM aims…

Mayday! Some Cars Will Lose OnStar Link By KEN BELSON Published: November 19, 2006 Link to Original Article @ NYTimes FOR the last decade, OnStar has promoted itself as a paragon of convenience and peace of mind for car owners. Best known for its ability to bail out customers in a jam — and even make an automatic call for help when an air bag has been deployed in an accident — the service has about four million subscribers. OnStar makes its pitch in a series of alarming radio advertisements that use recordings of actual emergency calls to demonstrate how operators in an OnStar call center are standing by to summon an ambulance, open a car with a child locked insi…

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6227157/editor...-e85/index.html

I just noticed something strange yesterday. My local GMC-Pontiac-Buick store and the Cadillac-Hummer (no Saab) store are owned by the same dealer but in different locations about a mile apart. They have just combined all 5 franchises into the older GMC-Pontiac-Buick lot (which sits right next to a successful Lexus dealer). A Volkswagen dealer will move into the former Cadillac-Hummer property next to the Infiniti store (which is also owned by the GM dealer). The pylon sign hasn't been changed yet, but the dealer has put up crummy "Cadillac" and "Hummer" block letter signs. "Oldsmobile" can still be read on the window as you walk into the showroom. Now, I live in an…

Inspired by a statement made by Josh late yesterday regarding the use of portholes (a Buick trademark) on the '07 Cadillac Escalade: Original Thread My question, is which GM brand you think is strongest aside from Cadillac and Chevrolet. I've excluded GM's "bookend" brands because they're clearly going nowhere. Brands composed only of trucks (GMC and HUMMER) have also been left out. Be sure to consider the strength of the brand's current and near-future lineups (what's in the pipeline?), along with the brand's position in relation to other GM brands (too much overlap with another division?). Each has several pros a…

On my way out of Lexington this morning, I spotted a billboard that said: "We'll see your 10... and raise you 44. 54 plants in the U.S." And it had all the brands underneath and the big blue GM badge on the right-hand side. Thats probably one of the best ads I've seen from GM in a while. I wasn't even aware that they were doing this. I think its a great jab back at Toyota.

GM and Honda presented before the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Honda's presentation had some interesting items (http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/germantestimony.doc), but buried deep inside are some stats from The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) on plug-in hybrids. According to a report from Sept 2006, a plug-in hybrid with a 40 mile range would require a $17,500 battery. As the Volt can go 64 miles, that would equate to roughly a $28,000 battery (a hybrid, by comparison, currently has a $2,000 battery) Currently, according to the ACEEE and Honda, the payback for the hybrid portion of a hybrid is 7.…

GM Production Schedule Through 2013! Production Commitments At GM Assembly Facilities Major truck/SUV developments Major car developments Arlington, Texas *GMT-900 truck and SUV continued until 2012 *C3XX full-sized truck and SUV replacement beginning 2013 Bowling Green, KY *Corvette and Cadillac XLR continue until 2011 *Corvette and XLR replacement products beginning 2012 Detroit Hamtramck, Mich. *Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS continue until 2010 *Global Delta MPV7 beginning in 2009 *Global Delta Volt beginning in 2010 *Global Epsilon Chevrolet beginning in 2012 Fairfax, KS *Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura continue until 2011 *Global Epsilon Buick and Saturn beg…

General Motors will be heading to court on January 11th to face the first of several planned 'bellwether' cases over its defective ignition switch. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan rejected GM's claims to dismiss the case as the plaintiff provided sufficient evidence to justify letting a jury hear whether or not the switch caused or enhanced injuries in a crash. The case in question was brought to court by Robert Scheuer who crashed into two trees in Oklahoma on May 28, 2014. The Saturn Ion he was driving did not deploy the front airbags, which he says is a result of a defective ignition switch. Furman's decision "paves the way for t…

GMI is reporting that the DTS replacement, Zeta Caddy, is dead. That would leave only Camaro, precariously on Zeta.

Obviously everyone is looking forward to what we KNOW is coming. The 08 CTS, 08 Malibu, production Enclave, etc. But I'm talking about surprises. Honestly, I'd love to see, at least in concept form, a RWD sedan for Pontiac. Nothing would tickle me more than the hope that GM will give me a BMW 3-series-sized-Pontiac-priced RWD sedan.

http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servle...y/Business/home

Anybody hear tonights news, with the nonchalant announcement that gas will hit $3.00/gal in the next few weeks, but that by next summer, it could be up another $.25 ! Then the newscaster said that "the Big TWO" are pointing fingers at the large oil companies and accusing them of gouging, and the oil companies are answering back that Detroit has not done anything to improve efficiency in the past 10 years! Who in the hell cares?!!!! I'd throw them both in jail for raping the U.S public! This nonchalant attitude about these sky-rocketing prices, with no rational explanations is going to kill American industry, and cause one helluva crash! Then nobody will b…

Well, I have read it here a million times, and heard it bitched about over and over by the GM fans around me. After seeing Chrysler's conundrum about how to launch their new minivans, I thought it would be a great thread to see what the brains here at C & G would come up with to better promote the GM products we all know and love. What changes would you like to see in the marketing? ( I personally think the marketing sucks all around - sorry ) Hell, I am starting to LIKE the Tundra ads because the actually show a vehicle doing something it is supposedly designed for. Compare that to a guy looking at his watch one minute then the bezel flies out the window and becom…

Not good http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4B50CL20081212

I personally blame the UAW 100%. Why is it they feel they are owed special wages and benefits compared to the rest of the American workforce?

Detroit's new plan: Drive point to Congress Fuel-efficient caravan would roll to hearing BY TOM WALSH and MARK PHELAN • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS • November 24, 2008 A plan is taking shape for auto suppliers, dealers and the UAW to participate in a cavalcade of fuel-efficient American-brand vehicles to Washington, D.C., in December, when Congress reconsiders the industry's plea for quick action on low-interest loans. Advertisement The aim is to put a populist face on the need for the American auto industry's survival and to build grassroots support for federal aid, in the wake of criticism that the Detroit Three chief executive officers and UAW President Ron G…

http://jalopnik.com/398599/rick-wagoner-le...ze-cadillac-srx Link Fixed

Fresh on the news that Ford invested $500 million into electric truck startup Rivian in order to gain access to the startup's EV platform, General Motors CE) Mary Barra confirmed that General Motors is working on an EV pickup of their own. This was during an investors earnings call when Barra said GM has "an industry-leading truck franchise as well as EV capability" and that the company "would not cede our leadership on either front". Talks between Rivian and GM were rumored to have broken down over GM's insistence that they have exclusive access to the platform. If that is the case, then there is a possibility that Ford may not be the only manufacturer other t…

Can New Chevy Camaro Muscle Up Sales? Posted By: Phil LeBeau -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For pure "car lovers", the re-birth of the Chevy Camaro is like an early Christmas gift. A modern day muscle car (base sticker $22,995) built for people who live for the thrill of the drive. Its return, like the return of the Dodge Challenger or the Bullitt Mustang, reminds us of the glory days for American cars. Too bad this Camaro come out when GM is gasping for air and Chevy showrooms are quiet. It wasn't supposed to be like this. When GM introduced the Camaro at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, people drooled over the …

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=149649

PONTIAC , Mich. – GM Powertrain announced today it will deliver a 3.6-liter V-6 gasoline engine with direct injection and variable valve timing (VVT) technologies in the 2008 model year. A vehicle application will be announced later in the year. Additionally, it was forecast that by the end of 2008, GM will produce as many as 200,000 vehicles globally with direct injection technology, and by 2010, GM projects one out of every six GM vehicles in North America will be equipped with a direct injection engine. The application of direct injection technology to the 3.6-liter VVT engine – a member of GM Powertrain’s family of high-feature V-6 powerplants used on cars and tru…

General Motors CEO Mary Barra spoke yesterday at the Barclays Global Automotive Conference in New York. During her talk, Barra said the company expects to make a profit off electric vehicles once they launch their next-generation EV platform. “We are working to provide desirable, obtainable and profitable vehicles that deliver a range of over 300 miles. There’s a lot of really creative things we’re doing to achieve that profitability point for that new platform,” Barra said to investors. The next-generation modular platform, due in 2021 will play a pivotal role in GM's plan to launch 20 all-new electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2023. The platform will …

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/12/report-...-u-s-consumers/

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews...20080728?rpc=44 So it sounds like the W-Body impala will be hanging around for another 5-6 years, unless they plan retool the Plant for EPII which there has been no mention of that I've seen

Detroit's carmakers are entering a period of crisis. For the next half-year car sales are likely to decline because of rising interest rates, bad news from Iraq and, above all, the climb in the price of gasoline. Even as that price retreats below $3, the damage has been done. People will have reason to worry about buying fuel, and that's bad for the car business. It is especially bad for Detroit's car business, dependent as it is on pickup trucks and big sport utility vehicles: Chevy Silverados and Suburbans, Ford (nyse: F - news - people ) F150s and Expeditions, Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees. These parts of the business are hurting the most. The Japanese and…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 5, 2012 Today, General Motors announcing pricing for the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Spark. The Spark will start at $12,995 (includes destination) for the base LS model. The base LS includes 10 airbags, air conditioning, power windows, OnStar and 15-inch alloys. Next up is the 1LT trim, costing $14,495. The 1LT will include seven-inch color touchscreen, USB connectivity, satellite radio, keyless entry, power mirrors, cruise control, Bluetooth, visor mirrors, and floor mats. The top level 2LT, costing $15,795 will include a unique set of 15-inch wheels, sportier body-color fascias, fog lamps, exterior brightwork, …

Rick Kranz Automotive News December 7, 2007 - 10:33 am ET SAN DIEGO — A massive change to General Motors’ future product plans is expected if the 35 mpg CAFÉ fleet average favored by Congress is enacted into law. “The minute we have confirmation of the 35 mpg rule, that is the point where we go through all of our forward product plans and probably introduce, frankly, massive restructuring of the product plan,” said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. “A 35 mpg fleet mix means there is a bunch of stuff out there that is going to have to be 40 and 50 mpg.” The House bill passed last month calls for a 35 mpg nationwide fleet average by 2020, roughly a 40 percent increas…

I think I'm going to projectile vomit. Cruze!? I was waiting for GM to come out with a replacement for my Cobalt and now they think I'm going to buy a Chevy Cruze!? Who in Gods name came out with that idiotic, moronic, witless name? I didnt think they should change the name at all but I would have had no problem if they changed it to Nova, Chevelle, Monza, even Optra. To make matters worse they are waiting until 2010 in their weakest market to sell the replacement while not improving the current Cobalt at all! What do they think the resale value will be on current Cobalts? What about all the Cobalt fansites that exist now? Cruze? Oh man, I think I am going to have …

Where, Oh Where Did The Pontiac Owners Go? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 12, 2011 When Pontiac shut their doors in 2010, the question of whether GM could keep owners in the fold was asked. Polk automotive has finished up a survey that sheds some light on where former Pontiac owners went. Out of the 57,641 Pontiac owners who bought new cars in 2010, GM was able to retain 53.3% (about 30,723 owners). 35.5% of Pontiac owners went with Chevrolet, 11.7% with GMC, 6.7% to Buick, and 1.5% to Cadillac. Other domestic brands also took a nice chunk of Pontiac owners. Ford got 10.5% while Chrysler got 4.9% of owners. Imports took nearl…

GM Confirms the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Is a Go Robert Dillman, September 28th, 2009 Story Link The fifth generation Camaro is currently flying off the showroom floors and perspective buyers have a few model choices when it comes to decision time. There are the LT and LS models with respectable V6 engines or the supped-up SS variant with a crowd-pleasing 6.2-liter V8. However, there is still one Camaro we have all been waiting for, and now GM is saying (again) that we will get it. During the Frankfurt Motor Show, representatives from General Motors confirmed suspicions of the Camaro Z28 being built and sold sometime in late 2011. Not very convenient co…

Articles like this keep me from getting too enthused about 400 hp Camaros and 650 hp Corvettes. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...mplate=printart Bush fuel standards would cost industry $100 billion over seven years, Congress hears today David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau President Bush's fuel economy proposal would cost the automotive industry $100 billion between 2010 and 2017, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, testified today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. General Motors Corp. alone would spend $40 billion in that period to attain the fuel mileage gains proposed by Bush in his January State of the Union address, Upton…

General Motors got a rude awakening if they picked up a copy of the Detroit Free Press or Detroit News. Right on the front page is a large ad by Canadian union Unifor accusing GM executives of having the lack of support toward Canadian and U.S. plant workers after announcing certain products would be "unallocated" and bringing up the possible worry of plant closures. One ad says, "U.S. and Canadian workers made GM," that follows with the question, "Why should our jobs and our products go to Mexico? Keep our plants open." Automotive News notes that the ads weren't in any Candian papers. The most likely reason for that is that Unifor officials would be meeting wit…

Link: http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518037

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...3/1002/BUSINESS BY JUSTIN HYDE FREE PRESS WASHINGTON BUREAU May 23, 2006 A federal judge may soon rule whether General Motors Corp. will face a national class action accusing GM of selling millions of vehicles with a faulty coolant. The suits stem from GM's use of Dex-Cool, a coolant it first introduced in its vehicles in 1995 and sold in more than 35 million cars and trucks between 1995 and 2004. According to GM, 14 federal and state lawsuits seeking class-action status have been filed against GM over a variety of engine problems linked to Dex-Cool. Customers have complained of problems ranging from small coolant leaks t…

Noticed that Ford and Toyota have both posted their Feb sales numbers (both down, btw), so I thought I'd browse out to media.gm.com and see if GM had posted their sales numbers yet (they haven't). Did see a post titled: "GM To Make Major Technology Announcement At Geneva Motor Show" http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet...amp;docid=43974 Details are skimpy: At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will make a major announcement regarding hybrid technology. Media are invited to view the event via webcast. WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2008, 8:45 a.m. EST/2:45 p.m. CET WHERE: GM press conference during Geneva Motor Show View the …

A very good read about how Americans are still hesitant to buy American cars. Comments are appreciated! http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/bamw/bamw-061129-auto.shtml

Came across the new GM commercial on GM.com today. It's about time GM injected some 'attitude' into their advertising. Overall I think this is a great commerical. Good job GM ! Click the link to watch the commercial. http://www.gm.com/then_and_now/then_and_now.html

FOR RELEASE: 2006-12-11 GM Investing $225 Million in Tennessee Plant in Preparation For Future Vehicle Production SPRING HILL, Tenn. – General Motors today announced it plans to invest approximately $225 million in its Spring Hill manufacturing complex to renovate the plant’s paint shop in preparation for future vehicle production. The investment is contingent on GM securing incentives from the state of Tennessee. Based on the strong performance of the Spring Hill team, General Motors’ pending investment affirms the company’s commitment to its Tennessee operations. “GM’s planned $225 million investment in Spring Hill is proof that this facility remains an import…

DETROIT – General Motors today announced the best warranty of any full-line automaker, with coverage up to 100,000 miles or five years across its entire 2007 car and light-duty truck lineup in the United States and Canada, reflecting its success in dramatically improving the quality and durability of its vehicles. GM’s new 100,000 Mile Warranty coverage is a fully transferable five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty with no deductible. GM also has decided to expand its roadside assistance and courtesy transportation programs to match the powertrain warranty term. Altogether, it’s the best coverage in the auto industry. “We’ve been telling everyone how strong…

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml Watch the Prieview - Nice Screen Shot at the End for Someone to Capture

GM - Saturn - Penske deal is DEAD! Today we learned that Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn. This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of dedicated employees and Saturn retailers who tried to make the new Saturn a reality. PAG's announcement explained that their decision was not based on interactions with GM or Saturn retailers; rather it was because of the inability to source new products beyond what it had asked GM to build on contract. As a result of PAG's decision, we will be winding down the Saturn brand and dealership network, in accordance with the wind-…

On August 08, 2006, GM trademarked the name '8 Speed'.

Now that I'm back in the saddle again, I keep hearing these persistent rumours that the KAPPA cars are dead. In particular I hear that the KAPPAS won't be moved to Bowling Green and that the next generation has been canceled. I am looking into it. Edit: Thanks to those who e-mailed me about this.

More at link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24383373/ The good news is that most of the loss was due to one-time charges with GMAC and Delphi. GM stock is actually up right now. Automotive operations only lost $350 million.

This week, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, and General Motors begin talks with Unifor, Canada’s auto workers union for new agreements. GM will likely have the most contentious talks as workers at GM's Oshawa plant don't know what the future holds after 2018. The plant has already lost a third shift and about 1,000 jobs when it moved production of the Camaro to Lansing last year. Next year will see the end of production of the Chevrolet Equinox, leaving just the Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS. GM has said time and time again for the past two years that it needs to know labor costs before making any decisions on the plant, only causing the worry to increase. “The com…

Aside from announcing fourth-quarter sales numbers, General Motors had another big announcement today. GM's Product chief Mark Reuss will succeed Dan Ammann as the company's president. The appointment is effective immediately according to the company. “I am very proud to have spent my entire career at General Motors, and to now take on this new role is truly a great honor. With our current lineup of outstanding cars, trucks, and crossovers around the world, I’m looking forward to keeping our momentum going at full speed,” said Reuss in a statement. In November, GM announced Ammann would step down as GM President to take charge of GM's Cruise Automation unit. …

General Motors and Bechtel are teaming up to form a new company to deploy a widespread fast-charging network. Neither company plans to put any money into the project, outside investors are being solicited. The network will help General Motors, which plans to introduce 20 new EVs by 2023. It will also help other manufacturers of EVs. General Motors will provide data to help decide where to locate the EV charging stations and Bechtel will use its own experts for the engineering and building of the stations. Much of the data will come from GM's OnStar system to help learn where people tend to park. Data from both electric and gasoline powered vehicles will be used. …

When the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra begin rolling off the assembly line sometime later this year, there will be a larger number of crew cabs. GM's vice president of global product development, Mark Reuss tells Automotive News that the company has been "constrained' when it comes to the output of their crew cab pickups, a segment that has seen its popularity increase in recent years. Reuss said the company is planning to increase capacity for crew cabs with their next-generation pickups. A Chevrolet spokesman said that crew cabs have grown from more than 50 percent of GM's truck sales in 2013 to more than 60 percent. Source: Automotive News (Sub…

You've heard of the wedding crashers. How 'bout the party crashers? Toyota Motor Corp., riding high and living large thanks to its status as the most profitable automaker in world history, spent $800,000 to rent out Chicago's Millennium Park Thursday fora VIP-only dealer event. Since the park opened a little more tha a year ago, tourists have flocked to see its fountains, Frank Gehry architecture and Cloud Gate, a 110-ton, beanshaped stainless-steel sculpture. Luckily, General MOtors Corp. came to the rescue of bummed-out sightseers shut out of the park. A cadre of GM reps showed up and handed out Fisher-Price slide viewers with images of the Cloud Gate…

There will be one less engine option for the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain come the 2020 model year. The Car Connection first reported the news on the Equinox yesterday morning, while Autoblog followed with the Terrain news later in the day. Both stories reported the same reason for cancellation, they didn't sell. "We did discontinue the diesel engine option in the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox due to low demand," said Chevrolet spokesman Kevin Kelly. The news doesn't come as a shock to us. Diesel engines have gotten a bad rap since the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal came to light, causing sales to drop. The value argument was also tough for both models. A dies…

Good talk with LaNeve. http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0.../C01-386225.htm

GM ready for Toyota trucks Tundra will claim some of the pickup market, but Detroit automaker is confident in its products. David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau Link to Original Article @ DetNews WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said Toyota's redesigned Tundra pickup, hitting showrooms in February, is likely to be a strong seller, but GM doesn't expect to cede much market share to the Asian automaker. "They'll do well," Lutz said in a brief interview with reporters Monday in Washington, but he doesn't think the Tundra will steal much from GM's full-size truck sales, which add up to about 1 million units annually. Toyota Mot…

Lutz Talks Back Part I "Hey Bob...what's up with all the concept cars that never go into production" In the first of what promises to be several installments where Vice Chairman Bob Lutz talks face-to-face with the camera to respond to some boiling questions about the present and future of GM, its divisions, and individual products, Mr. Lutz answers the perennial question of what the heck is the deal with stunning concepts not being produced? In short summation... Velite - 'Prioritized out' as a result of increased spending towards fuel-efficiency and alternative fuel/propulsion Bel Air - Not a 'compellingly-beautiful car' to fund. Sixteen - No. Period. From a 'pu…