GM

New requirement to win is good rating for protection in rollovers

ARLINGTON, VA — Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010 For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests.

Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, General Motors announced that it plans to start repaying its government loans more than five years ahead of schedule and that it generated $3.3 billion in cash in the third quarter. Although the automaker did not post a profit, it exceeded expectations and increased revenue by 21 percent from the second quarter.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus and a native of Flint, MI, the birthplace of G.M., Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) has worked tirelessly to return the company to productivity and profitability and welcomed this encouraging news. Congressman Kildee released the following statement:    » read more »

Veteran Congressman Asks: Why Are Republicans Rooting for GM To Fail?

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks after General Motors (GM) announced the company would repay the United States more than $1 billion dollars next month, years earlier than required.

“Today, General Motors has come forth with good news. The company is on its way to fulfilling its promise to America’s taxpayers – much sooner than expected or required. The new GM has a healthier balance sheet, reduced inventories and a competitive cost structure, putting it on a path towards repaying its debts and rebuilding the company’s value. The company is better situated to deal with economic hardship.    » read more »

Operating actions result in EBIT loss before special items of $261 million and managerial net loss of $1.2 billion; Accelerated plan to repay U.S. and Canadian taxpayers; first $1.2 billion payment in December

November 16, 2009 -- DETROIT – General Motors Company (GM) released today preliminary non-GAAP managerial results1 for its first 83 days of operation, providing an initial look at its financial performance since it began operations as a new company on July 10, 2009.    » read more »

Search for New CEO Underway

November 10, 2009 -- DETROIT – Nick Reilly, GM executive vice president and president, GM International Operations, will immediately assume responsibility for the operations of Opel/Vauxhall Europe while an external search for a new CEO commences, it was announced today.    » read more »

Shows Nearly 200 Models Available That Achieve 30mpg Or More On Highway

November 5, 2009 -- According to the recently released Department of Energy-Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Guide, for 2010 there will be 193 models available that achieve fuel economy ratings of 30 miles per gallon or greater on the highway. This signifies a 47 percent increase over 2009 and further underscores automakers’ commitment to bringing cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles to consumers.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- Shanghai – General Motors Company announced that the automaker and its joint ventures in China today surpassed 1.5 million units in sales for 2009. With a strong October, the GM China family continued its string of record monthly sales that began at the start of the year.

“This has been a year of records for GM in China,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “It is GM’s priority to put the customer at the center of everything we do. This is reflected in our vehicle design, engineering and production.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Wilmington, DE -- As part of the of the Administration’s commitment to jumpstarting the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America, Vice President Joe Biden today announced Fisker Automotive is re-opening a shuttered former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, to produce long-range, plug-in, electric hybrid vehicles. The Wilmington assembly plant was selected by Fisker Automotive for its primary global production facility based on its size, production capacity; and access to shipping ports, rail lines and skilled workforce.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Today’s announcement that auto production will be returning to the old GM’s assembly facility in Wilmington, DE, is an example of how successful partnerships can help transform the American auto industry of the future.

The White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers has worked closely with the state of Delaware, federal agencies and the old GM to help support this successful announcement, and will continue working with states and agencies across the country to support positive economic transitions in auto communities.

Mission of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Wilmington, DE – As part of the of the Administration’s commitment to jumpstarting the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America, Vice President Joe Biden today announced Fisker Automotive is re-opening a shuttered former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, to produce long-range, plug-in, electric hybrid vehicles.

The Wilmington assembly plant was selected by Fisker Automotive for its primary global production facility based on its size, production capacity; and access to shipping ports, rail lines and skilled workforce.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., announced today that Michigan researchers will receive more than $5 million for work on clean energy technologies for motor vehicles. The funding comes from the Department of Energy’s recently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). General Motors will receive $2,655,174 and Michigan State University will receive $2,540,631.

“Michigan has always been a leader in manufacturing and the auto industry, and these grants will keep this cutting-edge work happening in our state,” Levin said. “Achieving energy independence is critical to our economic and environmental interests.”    » read more »

Prevents High-Speed Chase

2009-10-19 -- Detroit, Mich. – GM and OnStar announce the use of OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Slowdown (SVS) service to help safely recover a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe that was carjacked at gunpoint from a subscriber in Visalia, California. This is the first time that SVS has been activated to help a subscriber in a carjacking situation.

At approximately 3:18 a.m. PDT on Sunday, Oct. 18, Lindsay, California resident Jose Ruiz and his cousin were carjacked by a lone assailant wielding a shotgun. The perpetrator ordered the two men out of the vehicle, robbed them of personal belongings and sped off in the Tahoe.    » read more »

Facility represents successful scale-up of company's technology and showcase for the world's first commercially-viable flex ethanol process

2009-10-15 -- Madison, PA - Coskata Inc., a leading developer of next-generation biofuels, today announced the successful start-up of its semi-commercial flex-ethanol facility located in Madison, PA. The accomplishment represents the successful scale-up of the company's technology, and will serve as a showcase for the world's first commercially viable flex-ethanol process.    » read more »

DETROIT and SICHUAN, Oct. 9, 2009 - General Motors (GM) and Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd (Tengzhong), today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement that will allow Tengzhong to acquire GM's premium all-terrain HUMMER brand.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the buyer will acquire the ownership of the HUMMER brand, trademark and tradenames, as well as specific IP license rights necessary for the manufacture of HUMMER vehicles. The buyer will also assume the existing dealer agreements relating to HUMMER's dealership network.    » read more »

More competitive operating model and streamlined leadership structure in place

2009-10-07 -- DETROIT - General Motors today outlined progress it has made toward achieving commitments in its business plan, including implementing a leaner structure, building stronger brands, and driving a company culture that puts the customer at the center of everything it does.    » read more »