GM

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and Representatives Paul Ryan and Gwen Moore met with executives from Chrysler to urge a second look at keeping the automaker’s Kenosha facility open.

The delegation members met with Jim Press, Chrysler’s Vice Chairman and President, and John Bozzella, Chrysler’s Vice President of External Affairs. When Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 protection, it revealed its plans to close the Kenosha plant as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.    » read more »

“Cash for Clunkers” program will create and preserve Hoosier auto jobs, reduce dependence on oil

June 18, 2009 -- Washington – Senator Evan Bayh is supporting congressional efforts to boost car sales in Indiana and across the country, stimulate the struggling automotive sector, and reduce the nation’s overall dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Bayh is a cosponsor of the Drive America Forward Act of 2009, known more commonly as the “Cash for Clunkers” program. The legislation would provide financial incentives for the purchase of new, more fuel-efficient cars for consumers who trade in older vehicles with poor fuel-efficiency ratings.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Automakers today applauded the release of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s reauthorization proposal, "The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009." According to the blueprint released today, the bill will provide Highway Trust Fund money to states conditional upon whether they enact primary safety belt enforcement laws and mandate the use of ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance) praised the Senate for passage of the fleet modernization, or "Cash for Clunkers" legislation. The proposal will now go to President Obama where it is expected to be signed into law. The Department of Transportation has already started working on the program’s implementation and will be announcing more information soon.    » read more »

Statement of Troy Clarke, President, General Motors North America

2009-06-18 -- As part of its long-term viability plan and recent decision to phase out the Pontiac brand, General Motors has decided to discontinue production of the Pontiac Vibe by the end of August 2009.

The Vibe is produced at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) facility jointly operated by GM and Toyota in Fremont, California.

While no replacement for Vibe production has been determined, GM and Toyota remain in active discussions regarding potential future production at NUMMI.

Source: GM

Senator Rockefeller Calls On Companies To Do More To Protect Consumers, Dealers And Workers

June 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last week sent letters to the President of Chrysler and CEO of General Motors requesting responses on a number of issues regarding consumer, dealer and worker protections. The Committee received a response this week from both companies and Senator Jay Rockefeller IV issued the following statement:    » read more »

Senators want automakers to give car dealers adequate time and fair compensation in closing down

June 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson wants bailed-out automakers GM and Chrysler to compensate car dealers who have been told to close.

Nelson, joined by Sen. Bob Corker, of Tennessee, has filed legislation to require the two automakers to reimburse the dealers for inventory and parts they bought since last fall. They introduced the bill yesterday.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that Chrysler has revised its strategy for compensating dealers that are losing their franchises. Last week, Merkley sent a letter to Chrysler and GM taking issue with the lack of assistance.

In the letter to Fritz Henderson, CEO of General Motors, and James Press, President of Chrysler, Merkley expressed his belief that the market should determine whether or not a dealership closes. Merkley requested that, if these two companies insist on terminating contracts, the dealerships be compensated to minimize harm to businesses and communities.    » read more »

June 15, 2009 -- Washington – Senator Evan Bayh is urging the new leadership of General Motors to protect the pensions of salaried Delphi Corporation employees. The pensions of thousands of Hoosier retirees who worked at the automotive parts manufacturer are at risk during the automaker’s current bankruptcy proceedings.

Senator Bayh issued the following statement:

“As General Motors and Delphi emerge from bankruptcy, I hope GM’s new leader will consider steps to protect the hard-won pensions of Delphi workers who are facing steep cuts in their retirement benefits.    » read more »

Eco-Engineers from The Ohio State University Win 2009 EcoCAR Competition

TORONTO, CANADA, June 12, 2009 -- Today university students from The Ohio State University earned top honors at the 2009 finals of the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition in Toronto, Canada for their design of an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). The Ohio State University took first place out of 17 universities in the U.S. and Canada that competed in the first major milestone of this three-year competition which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors, and many others including the Government of Canada.    » read more »

Co-sponsors two bills that would restore franchise agreements and guard dealers’ rights

Washington, June 10, 2009 -- As General Motors and Chrysler start shuttering more than 2,000 dealerships across the country, Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District) wants to make sure Detroit and Washington do not trample on dealers’ rights to a transparent and fair process.

The congressman has sponsored two bills, H.R. 2743 and H.R. 2750, that would guard against General Motors (GM) and Chrysler arbitrarily stripping protections from state franchising laws by hiding behind federal government-ordered bankruptcy.    » read more »

Joint Statement of Senators Kohl and Feingold and Representatives Ryan and Baldwin on their Meeting with GM Executives Today

June 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Paul Ryan met with executives from General Motors (GM) to discuss the GM facility in Janesville.

The delegation members met with Troy Clarke, Head of GM’s North American Division, and Tim Lee, Vice President of Manufacturing for General Motors. Last week it was announced that the Janesville plant was one of three GM facilities under consideration for retooling to make small cars. Following the meeting, the delegation members jointly released the following statement:    » read more »

Senator Sherrod Brown Questions Officials on Federal Assistance to Auto Industry and Restructuring Plans; Banking Committee Discusses Federal Assistance to Domestic Auto Industry

June 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, attended a hearing today entitled “State of the Domestic Automobile Industry: Impact of Federal Assistance.” Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:

I want to thank our witnesses, Mr. Bloom and Dr. Montgomery, for joining us. I appreciate your service.

Over the past few months, I have had several conversations with each of you because the auto industry crisis is a crisis for my state.    » read more »

GM Statement re: recent changes in GM stock price and volume

009-06-10 -- GM management has noticed a recent elevation in the volume and price of its common stock.

While GM does not control the market or its stock price, GM management strongly believes that any recovery for the common stockholders in the chapter 11 bankruptcy process is highly unlikely, even under the most optimistic of scenarios.

Stockholders of a company in chapter 11 generally receive value only if all claims of the secured and unsecured creditors are fully satisfied.

Source: GM

Pricing announced for the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport

2009-06-10 -- DETROIT - At the June meeting of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association, Karen Rafferty, Chevrolet Product Marketing Director, today announced the recent production of the 1,500,000th Corvette at GM Bowling Green Assembly.

"The 1.5 millionth Corvette is a great example of how Chevy is America's Brand," Rafferty said. "For nearly 60 years we have built America's Sports Car and this milestone is a solid proof point."

The 1.5 millionth Corvette, built on May 28, is a white convertible 3LT with red interior and black top (similar to the first, 500,000th and 1 millionth Corvettes built in 1953, 1977 and 1992 respectively). The first Corvette rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953.    » read more »