General Motors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from General Motors Corporation)
Jump to: navigation, search
General Motors Company
Type Limited liability company
Industry Automotive
Founded 1908
reestablished 2009
Founder(s) William C. Durant
Headquarters Renaissance Center
Downtown Detroit, Michigan, USA
Area served Worldwide
Key people Edward Whitacre
(Chairman)
Daniel Akerson
(CEO)
Products Automobiles
Owner(s) -United States Department of the Treasury (61%)
-United Auto Workers Union Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (17.5%)
-Canada Development Investment Corporation (7.9%)
-Government of Ontario (3.8%)
-Bond holders of Motors Liquidation Company (9.8%)
Employees 204,000 (2009)[1]
Divisions Chevrolet
Buick
Cadillac
GMC
Subsidiaries AC Delco
General Motors Canada
General Motors do Brasil
GM Financial
General Motors India
General Motors Truck & Coach Division
General Motors Ventures
Global Hybrid Cooperation
General Motors South Africa
GM-AvtoVAZ
GM Daewoo (70.1%)
GM Holden Ltd
GM Performance Division
OnStar
Opel
Vauxhall
Website GM.com

The General Motors Company, also known as GM, is a United States-based automaker with its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The company manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries, recently employed 244,500 people around the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries.[2] By sales, GM ranked as the largest U.S. automaker and the world's second-largest for 2008,[2] having the third-highest 2008 global revenues among automakers on the Fortune Global 500.[3]

On June 1, 2009, the company filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, which was completed on July 10 of the same year. It was thereafter reorganized as a new entity that acquired the most valuable assets. GM became temporarily majority owned by the United States Treasury and, to a smaller extent, the Canada Development Investment Corporation[4] and the government of Ontario,[5][6][7] with the U.S. government investing US$57.6 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.[8]

The company focused its business on its four core North American brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. In Europe, following negotiation to sell a majority stake of German brand Opel, GM decided to retain full ownership.[9] GM sold Saab Automobile to Spyker Cars NV, and closed its doors to the Hummer,[10] Pontiac, and Saturn brands, the latter two dissolved under the former General Motors Corporation, now known as Motors Liquidation Company.

Contents

[edit] Company overview

The General Motors GMT800 truck assembly line. (2006)

In 2009, GM employed approximately 244,500 people around the world. The Renaissance Center, located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, is GM's global headquarters. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally.[11] GM is the majority shareholder in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea and has collaborations with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation of China, AvtoVAZ of Russia, and most recently, UzAvtoSanoat of Uzbekistan. GM has had collaborations with various automakers including Fiat (see GM/Fiat Premium platform) and the Ford Motor Company.[citation needed] GM retains various stakes in different automakers. GM's biggest success internationally has been its performance in China, where GM's sales rose 66.9 percent in 2009, selling 1,830,000 vehicles and accounting for 13.4 percent of the market.[12]

Year Total Global
Production
(thousands)[13]
2007 9,286
2008 8,144
2009 6,503
GM worldwide vehicle sales by country 2008[14]
(thousands)
Rank
in GM		 Country Vehicle
sales		 Market
share (%)
1  United States 2,981 22.1%
2  China 1,095 12.0%
3  Brazil 549 19.5%
4  United Kingdom 384 15.4%
5  Canada 359 21.4%
6  Russia 338 11.1%
7  Germany 300 8.8%
8  Mexico 212 19.8%
9  Australia 133 13.1%
10  South Korea 117 9.7%
11  France 114 4.4%
12  Spain 107 7.8%
13  Argentina 95 15.5%
14  Venezuela 91 33.3%
15  Colombia 80 36.3%
16  India 66 3.3%
Top-four markets/regions by vehicle sales in 2008 (thousands)
Rank
in GM		 Market/Region Vehicle
sales		 Market
share (%)
1 North America 3,552 21.9%
2 China 1,095 12.0%
3 European Union 905 12.3%
4 South America 815 20.8%

[edit] Structure

See also: Cadillac, Buick, GMC (automobile), Chevrolet, GM Daewoo, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, List of GM factories, and List of GM engines

GM is structured into the following segments:

Segment Number of employees
March 2010[15]
GMNA (GM North America) 103,000
GMIO (GM International Operations) 57,000
Adam Opel GmbH (Europe)[16][17] 47,000
Total number of employees 207,000

[edit] Management

The Renaissance Center in Detroit, GM's world headquarters.

On July 23, 2009, GM announced its new Board of Directors: Dan Akerson, David Bonderman, Robert D. Krebs, Patricia F. Russo and Ed Whitacre (GM Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer). Board members who are not GM employees will be paid US$200,000 annually.[18]

As of December 1, 2009, The General Motors Board of Directors accepted Frederick Henderson's resignation. In January 2010, chairman Whitacre was appointed permanent chief executive officer after previously serving in an interim capacity.[19]

On December 4, 2009, GM announced leadership changes in a press release.

For additional senior management see GM Senior Leadership Group

Whitacre was very active in GM's advertising. He appeared in an advertisement touting the company's 60-day, money-back guarantee soon after the company exited bankruptcy and a television advertisement that boasted the repayment of $6.7 billion loan from government ahead of schedule, which caused a controversy.[29] On August 12, 2010 GM announced that Whitacre would relinquish the CEO position effective September 1, 2010 and that of Chairman of the Board at the end of the year, to be replaced in those functions by current board member Dan Akerson.[30]

GM is a conglomerate.

[edit] History

Cadillac Place in New Center, Detroit served as the GM headquarters
Main article: History of General Motors

The company was first founded on September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan, as a holding company for Buick, then controlled by William C. Durant. GM's co-founder was Charles Stewart Mott, whose carriage company was merged into Buick prior to GM's creation. Over the years Mott became the largest single stockholder in GM and spent his life with his Mott Foundation, whose benefit was shone on the city of Flint, his adopted home. It acquired Oldsmobile later that year. In 1909, Durant brought in Cadillac, Elmore, Oakland and several others. Also in 1909, GM acquired the Reliance Motor Truck Company of Owosso, Michigan, and the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company of Pontiac, Michigan, the predecessors of GMC Truck. Durant lost control of GM in 1910 to a bankers' trust, because of the large amount of debt taken on in its acquisitions coupled with a collapse in new vehicle sales. The next year, Durant started the Chevrolet Motor Car Company and through this he secretly purchased a controlling interest in GM. Durant took back control of the company after one of the most dramatic proxy wars in American business history. Durant then reorganized General Motors Company into General Motors Corporation in 1916. Shortly after, he again lost control, this time for good, after the new vehicle market collapsed. Alfred P. Sloan was picked to take charge of the corporation and led it to its post-war global dominance. This unprecedented growth of GM would last into the early 1980s when it employed 349,000 workers and operated 150 assembly plants.

GM previously led in global sales for 77 consecutive years (1931 to 2008), longer than any other automaker.[31]

[edit] Chapter 11 reorganization

Main article: General Motors Chapter 11 reorganization

On July 10, 2009, a new entity, NGMCO Inc. purchased the ongoing operations and trademarks from General Motors Corporation.[32] The purchasing company, in turn, changed its name from NGMCO Inc. to General Motors Company, marking the emergence of a new operation from the "pre-packaged" Chapter 11 reorganization.[33][34][35] Under the reorganization process, termed a 363 sale (for Section 363 which is located in Title 11, Chapter 3, Subchapter IV of the United States Code, a part of the Bankruptcy Code), the purchaser of the assets of a company in bankruptcy proceedings is able to obtain approval for the purchase from the court prior to the submission of a re-organization plan, free of liens and other claims. It is used in most Chapter 11 cases that involve a sale of property or other assets. This process is typical of large organizations with complex branding and intellectual property rights issues upon exiting bankruptcy.[36][37][38][39] The new company plans to issue an initial public offering (IPO) of stock in 2010.[40]

GM's remaining pre-petition creditors' claims are paid from the remaining assets of Motors Liquidation Company, the new name of the former General Motors Corporation, although the directors of that company believe its debts far outweigh its assets.[35][40] This means that while the former GM's bondholders may recover a small portion of their investment, former GM shareholders (now shareholders of Motors Liquidation Company) will likely not receive anything.[41]

Also on July 10, 2009, GM announced plans to trim its U.S. workforce by 20,000 employees as part of its reorganization by the end of 2009 due to economic conditions.[42]

The following table is a comparison (estimates) of the new GM and the old GM:

Old GM (before July 10, 2009) New GM (after July 10, 2009)
Vauxhall, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMDaewoo (48.2%), Hummer, GMC, Saturn, Holden, Saab, Buick, Opel Brands Vauxhall, GMDaewoo (70.1%), Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Holden, Buick, Opel
5,900 U.S. Dealerships 5,000
Common shareholders, bondholders and secured creditors Ownership U.S. Treasury, Canada Development Investment Corporation, Government of Ontario, Old GM bondholders, and the United Auto Workers sponsored VEBA
47 U.S. Plants 34
US$94.7 billion Debt[43] US$17 billion
91,000 U.S. employees 68,500

On August 18, 2010 General Motors filed its IPO prospectus with the SEC, officially setting the wheels in motion to list its shares on stock exchange later that year.[44] ici

[edit] Controversies

Steven Rattner, head of auto task force between February to June 2009, criticized GM's culture and corporate practice before its reorganization in his book. He told that former CEO Wagoner refused to prepare for bankruptcy in 2008 even though GM was severely short of cash which ultimately cost taxpayers "a lot of money"; the company couldn't tell on any given day within $500 million how much cash it had because they didn't know where the cash was. He said insularity "combined with arrogance to contribute to GM's toxic culture" and concluded that the company was worse than anything he had imagined. But he also said in subsequent interview, that GM, under the new management, is making significant progress.[45]

[edit] North America

[edit] Core brand focus

In North America, GM will focus primarily on its four core brands — Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC — while selling, discontinuing, or scaling back its other brands. The White House characterized the GM restructuring as a shift toward a new leaner, greener GM, which will aim to break even with annual sales much lower than previously stated.[46] President Obama declared that the restructuring "will mark the end of an old GM, and the beginning of a new GM; a new GM that can produce the high-quality, safe, and fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow; that can lead America towards an energy independent future; and that is once more a symbol of America's success."[47]

In the middle of 2005, GM announced that its corporate chrome power emblem "Mark of Excellence" would begin appearing on all recently introduced and all-new 2006 model vehicles produced and sold in North America. However, in 2009 the "New GM" reversed this, saying that emphasis on its four core brands would dictate downplaying the GM name.[48]

[edit] Sales

[edit] U.S. sales figures

Calendar Year Total U.S. sales Chg/yr.
1998[49] 4,603,991
1999 5,017,150 ▲9.0%
2000[50] 4,953,163 ▼1.3%
2001 4,904,015 ▼1.0%
2002 4,858,705 ▼0.9%
2003 4,756,403 ▼2.1%
2004[51] 4,707,416 ▼1.0%
2005 4,517,730 ▼4.0%
2006[52] 4,124,645 ▼8.7%
2007 3,866,620 ▼6.3%
2008[53] 2,980,688 ▼22.9%
2009[54] 2,084,492 ▼30.1%

[edit] SUV sales

In 2008, rapidly rising gasoline prices resulted in a 30 percent drop-off of sales of SUVs. These had been GM's most profitable product, often returning profits of US$10,000 to US$15,000 per vehicle. Sales of SUVs had been decreasing since 2004, and in May 2008, a US$2 billion investment program for a new SUV platform, the CXX program, was canceled.[55] During the first 6 months of 2008, GM lost $18.8 billion; by late October, its stock had dropped 76 percent, and it was considering a merger with Chrysler. In only twelve months (October 2007–2008), GM sales in the U.S. dropped 45 percent.[56] GM's concentration on SUVs as a profit center dated from the 1990s.[57]

The GM plant in Arlington, Texas, produces its largest SUVs.[58] On December 23, 2008, the Janesville, Wisconsin, plant, which produced the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Suburban, and the GMC Yukon, and the Moraine, Ohio, plant which produced the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the GMC Envoy idled production. GM has yet to confirm future product plans for the idled facilities.

[edit] Small car sales

"As part of General Motors Company (GM)'s restructuring, it plans to revive one of its idled U.S. factories for the production of a small car (the factories under consideration included one in Michigan, one in Wisconsin, and one in Tennessee; the factory in Michigan was ultimately selected to be revived, but only 1,200 out of a former 3,400 jobs will be left). The new small car will add to a group of small and fuel-efficient vehicles that the company is planning to roll out in the near future. The retooled plant will be capable of building 160,000 cars annually, including both small and compact vehicles.[59]

[edit] Canada

In March 2005, the Government of Canada provided C$200 million in incentives to GM for its Ontario plants to expand production and provide jobs, according to Jim Harris.[citation needed] Similar incentives were promised to non-North American auto companies like Toyota. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, said the money pledged for the project by the Government of Ontario and by the federal government was well spent.[60]

[edit] Asia

[edit] People's Republic of China

The Buick brand is especially strong in China, led by the Buick Excelle subcompact. The last emperor of China owned a Buick.[61] The Cadillac brand was introduced in China in 2004, starting with exports to China. GM pushed the marketing of the Chevrolet brand in China in 2005 as well, moving the former Buick Sail to that marque. The company manufactures most of its China market vehicles locally through Shanghai GM, a joint venture with the Chinese company SAIC, which was created on March 25, 1997. The Shanghai GM plant was officially opened on December 15, 1998, when the first Chinese-built Buick came off the assembly line. The SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile joint-venture is also successfully selling microvans under the Wuling marque (34 percent owned by GM).

In August 2009 the joint venture of FAW GM Light Duty Commercial Vehicle Co Ltd was formed that mainly produces Jiefang light-duty trucks.[62]

GM increased its sales in China by 68 percent to 230,048 vehicles in March 2010, outsold its U.S. sales of 188,546 by 22 percent. And the company said it is “on track” to sell more than 2 million vehicles in China in 2010, four years ahead of its plan.[63] GM plans to invest $250 million to create a research facility in Shanghai to develop hybrid cars and alternative fuel vehicles.[citation needed]

GM made Cadillac a chief sponsor of the state-run China Film Group Corporation's Birth of a Party, a film dramatizing the events leading to the creation of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 after Russia’s October Revolution in 1917.[64]

 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

[edit] Iran

In 1974 GM has bought the Jeep Company which is located in Tehran. Today the firm is known as Pars Khodro as a part of SAIPA. From 1974 up to 1980 and then from 1984 up to 1987 they were CKD assembling different GM vehicles. The first model was the Chevrolet Iran (1974–1976) followed by the Chevrolet Nova and the Buick Skylark. In 1977 GM introduced the Cadillac Civil to the Iranian market. Due to political disputes, GM has stopped the assembling of these models in the late 1980. After the Islamic Revolution, GM returned to Iran in 1984 with its Chevrolet Pickup. But there wasn't the hoped-for success. This was the reason why GM stopped its Iranian presence in 1987.

[edit] Uzbekistan

Since 2008 GM is manufacturing Chevrolet cars in Uzbekistan. The company was founded as a joint venture with the OJSC UzAvtosanoat and is known under its name GM Uzbekistan. A separate firm, known as GM Powertrain Uzbekistan is manufacturing engines for the local plant. But there are a lot of other firms of GM which are producing other components for GM Uzbekistan.

[edit] Africa

[edit] Egypt

General Motors has a long history in Egypt which began in the 1920s with the assembling of cars and light pickup trucks for the local market. In the mid of the 1950s, GM withdrew from the Egyptian market. Some year later, the Ghabbour Brothers began to assemble Cadillac, Chevrolet and Buick models up to the 1990s.

Since 1983 GM and Al-Monsour Automotive Company has founded the General Motors Egypt which is currently the only manufacturer of traditional GM branded vehicles in Egypt. The Speranza Motors is a big company which started in the 1990s with the SKD assembling of Daewoo cars. Today the main products of Speranza are from the Chinese Chery concern.

[edit] Global ranking

GM officially ranks as the world’s second largest manufacturer as measured by OICA in 2009.[65]

[edit] Labor relations

Main article: 2007 General Motors strike

On September 24, 2007, GM workers represented by the United Auto Workers union went on the first nationwide strike against the company since 1970. The ripple effect of the strike reached into Canada the following day as two car assembly plants and a transmission facility were forced to close. Overnight a tentative agreement was reached, however, and UAW officials declared the end of the strike in a news conference at 4 a.m. on September 26. By the following day, all GM workers in both countries were back to work.

A new labor contract was ratified by UAW members exactly one week after the tentative agreement was reached, passing by a majority 62 percent vote. In the contract are several product and employment guarantees stretching well into the next decade. One of GM's key future products, the Chevy Volt, was promised to the GM Poletown/Detroit-Hamtramck plant in 2010. Also included is a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association) which will transfer retiree health care obligations to the UAW by 2010. This eliminates more than $50 billion from GM's healthcare tab. It will be funded by $30 billion in cash and $1.4 billion in GM stock paid to the UAW over the next four years of the contract. It also eliminates 70 percent of the labor cost gap with GM's Japanese rivals.

A strike at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. will result in lost production of an additional 230,000 vehicles in the second quarter, with an estimated $1.8 billion impact on earnings before tax, and a total strike cost of $2.81 billion.[66]

Together with the UAW, GM created a joint venture dedicated to the quality of life needs of employees in 1985. The UAW-GM Center for human resources in Detroit is dedicated to providing GM salaried employees and GM UAW members programs and services related to medical care, diversity issues, education, training and tuition assistance, as well as programs related to work and family concerns, in addition to the traditional union-employer health and safety partnership.[67]

[edit] 2008 Canadian Auto Workers bargaining

In an unusual move, GM Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union ratified a new collective bargaining contract in May 2008, four months before the expiration of the existing contract. As part of the agreement, among other production commitments, GM pledged to maintain production at the Oshawa, Ontario pickup truck plant. Less than three weeks later, GM announced that rising gasoline prices and falling truck sales made it necessary to close certain truck and SUV plants, including the Oshawa pickup plant.[68] In response, CAW members staged a twelve-day blockade of the GM Canada headquarters. After further discussions with the CAW, GM agreed to compensate workers at the truck plant, as well as making product commitments for the Oshawa car assembly plant.[69]

On July 28, 2010 GM closed its last manufacturing plant in Windsor, Ont. Canada.[70] The plant had been in operation for over 90 years and built transmissions for the Chevy Malibu, Cobalt and HHR. The closure was announced in 2008 during contract talks with CAW and GM. At one time 2,800 workers were employed there.

[edit] Labor costs

GM announced elimination of lifetime health benefits for about 100,000 of its white collar retirees at the end of 2008.[71]

[edit] Auto racing

The company has an extensive history in numerous forms of racing. In particular, the Chevrolet Corvette has long been popular and successful in international road racing. GM also is a supplier of racing components, such as engines, transmissions, and electronics equipments.

GM's Oldsmobile Aurora engine platform was successful in the Indy Racing League (IRL) throughout the 1990s, winning many races in the small V-8 class. GM has also done much work in the development of electronics for GM auto racing. An unmodified Aurora V-8 in the Aerotech, captured 47 world records, including the record for speed endurance in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Recently, the Cadillac V-Series has entered motorsports racing. GM has also used many cars in the American racing series NASCAR. Currently the Chevrolet Impala is the only entry in the series but in the past the Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Malibu, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo were also used.

In touring cars (mainly in Europe), Vauxhall is a key player and former champion in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) series and competes with a Vauxhall Vectra in Super 2000 spec, although have announced plans to withdraw at the end of 2009. Opel used to participate in the DTM series and also in the 1980s in the World Rally Championship and other Rally Series with Group B Spec Opel Manta's before this category of Rallying was banned. Chevrolet competes with a Chevrolet Cruze in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Tempus Sport and RML also compete with privately run Lacettis in the BTCC.

In Australia, there is the V8 Supercar Championship which is battled out by the two main rivals of (GM) Holden and Ford. The current Holden Racing Team cars are based on the Holden Commodore and run a 5.0-litre V8-cylinder engine producing 635 bhp (474 kW). These cars have a top speed of 294 km/h (183 mph) and run 0–100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The Holden Racing Team is Australia's most successful team in Australian Touring Car History. In 2006 & 2007, the Drivers championship was won by the very closely linked HSV Dealer Team.

[edit] Alternative propulsion initiatives

The company has long worked on alternative-technology vehicles, and has recently led the industry with ethanol burning flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on either E85 (ethanol) or gasoline. The company was the first to use turbochargers and was an early proponent of V6 engines in the 1960s, but quickly lost interest as the muscle car race took hold. They demonstrated[72] gas turbine vehicles powered by kerosene, an area of interest throughout the industry, but abandoned the alternative engine configuration in view of the 1973 oil crisis. In the 1970s and 1980s, GM pushed the benefits of diesel engines and cylinder deactivation technologies with disastrous results due to poor durability in the Oldsmobile diesels and drivability issues in the Cadillac V8-6-4 variable cylinder engines. In 1987, GM, in conjunction with AeroVironment, built the Sunraycer, which won the inaugural World Solar Challenge and was a showcase of advanced technology. Much of the technology from Sunraycer found its way into the Impact prototype electric vehicle (also built by Aerovironment) and was the predecessor to the General Motors EV1.

GM supported a compromise version of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard increase from 27 mpg-US (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg-imp) to 35 mpg-US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg-imp), the first such increase in over 20 years.[73]

[edit] Hybrid electric initiative

Ambox outdated serious.svg
 This section may need to be updated. Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (August 2010)
Main article: Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt.
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2009.

In May 2004, GM delivered the world's first full sized hybrid pickups, the 1/2-ton Silverado/Sierra. These hybrids did not use electrical energy for propulsion, like GM's later designs. In 2005, the Opel Astra diesel Hybrid concept vehicle was introduced. The 2006 Saturn Vue Green Line was the first hybrid passenger vehicle from GM and is also a mild design. GM has hinted at new hybrid technologies to be employed that will be optimized for higher speeds in freeway driving.

GM currently offers two types of hybrid systems. The first type, used in the Saturn Vue, Saturn Aura, and Chevrolet Malibu, is what GM calls the BAS Hybrid system a type of mild hybrid which was canceled in 2009. The second hybrid drive system, co-developed with Daimler AG and BMW, is called a "Two-Mode Hybrid". The two-mode is used by the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon and will later be used on the Saturn Vue (cancelled), Cadillac Escalade, GM 1/2-ton pickups and possibly other vehicles.[74]

GM's current[clarification needed] hybrid electric models:

GM has recently introduced the concept cars Chevrolet Volt and Saturn Flextreme, which are electric vehicles with back-up generators, powered by gasoline, E85, or fuel cells. According to GM, a production Chevrolet Volt will be available by late 2010 as a 2011 model.

The GM Magic Bus is a hybrid powered bus.[75]

GM sold 843 hybrids of all types during the first quarter of 2008, according to the industry newspaper Automotive News. Compare that with Ford, which sold 5,225 hybrids during that time. CSM Worldwide expects GM to seriously increase its hybrid output, turning the automaker into a serious contender within the next few years. He expects it to produce 40,000 to 50,000 hybrids this year, more than doubling last year's production.[76]

[edit] All-electric vehicles

Main article: General Motors EV1
Electric car EV1 shown plugged into charging station

GM was the first American company (in the modern era) to release an all-electric automobile. In 1990, GM debuted the revolutionary "Impact" concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It was the first car with zero-emissions marketed in the US in over three decades. The Impact was eventually produced as the EV1 for the 1996 model year. It was available through dealers located in only a few regions (e.g., California, Arizona, Georgia). Vehicles were leased, rather than sold, to individuals. In 1999 GM decided to cease production of the vehicles. When the individual leases had expired, they declined to renew the leases or allow the lessors to purchase them. All of the EV1's were eventually returned to General Motors and, with the exception of a few which were donated to museums, all were destroyed.

General Motors has announced that it is building a prototype two-seat electric vehicle with Segway. An early prototype of the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility vehicle—dubbed Project P.U.M.A. -- will be shown off in New York a day ahead of the press previews for the 2009 New York International Auto Show.[77]

On September 16, 2008, as part of its 100th anniversary celebration, GM unveiled the "production" version of the Chevrolet Volt at the GM headquarters in Detroit.[78]

[edit] Battery packs for electric vehicles

GM will build battery packs with LG Chem in Michigan. GM also plans to build an automotive battery laboratory in Michigan.[79] GM will be responsible for battery management systems and power electronics. The company will build a new factory in Michigan, but a specific site has yet to be announced, in part because negotiations are ongoing with state and local authorities on the usual financial incentives and approvals. LG Chem's U.S. subsidiary, Compact Power of Troy, Michigan, has been building the prototype packs for the development vehicles and will continue to provide integration support and act as a liaison for the program.

[edit] Hydrogen initiative

Sequel, a fuel cell-powered vehicle from GM.

GM has prided its research and prototype development of hydrogen powered vehicles, to be produced in early 2010, using a support infrastructure still in a prototype state. The economic feasibility of the technically challenging hydrogen car, and the low-cost production of hydrogen to fuel it, has also been discussed by other automobile manufacturers such as Ford and Chrysler.

In June 2007, Larry Burns, vice president of research and development, said he's not yet willing to say exactly when hydrogen vehicles will be mass produced, but he said it should happen before 2020, the year many experts have predicted. He said "I sure would be disappointed if we weren't there" before 2020.[80]

[edit] Flexible-fuel vehicles

[edit] North American market

The E85, FlexFuel, Chevrolet Impala LT 2009.

GM produces several flexible-fuel vehicles that can operate on E85 ethanol fuel or gasoline, or any blend of both. Since 2006 GM started featuring a bright yellow gas cap to remind drivers of the E85 capabilities,[81][82][83][84] and also using badging with the text "Flexfuel/E85 Ethanol" to clearly mark the car as an E85 FFV.[85][86]

GM is the North American leader in E85 flex fuel vehicles, with over 3 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road in the U.S. As of 2009, GM offers 18 ethanol-enabled FlexFuel cars and trucks in the US, and produce more than one million new FlexFuel vehicles. GM's goal is to have half of their annual vehicle production be E85 or biodiesel capable by 2012.[87]

Despite the significant amount of flex fuel vehicles sold in the US and Canada, the percentage of users actually using ethanol has been very low as many owners are not aware they owned an E85 flex or not enough E85 fueling stations are available nearby, except for the Corn Belt states, where there is a great concentration of E85 stations, as most corn ethanol is produced there.[88][89] A 2005 survey found that 68 percent of American flex-fuel car owners were not aware they owned an E85 flex.[90] Several critics have argued that GM and the other American automakers have been producing E85 flex models motivated by a loophole in the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements, that allows for a fuel economy credit for every flex-fuel vehicle sold, whether or not in practice these vehicles are fueled with E85.[89][91][92] This loophole might have allowed the car industry to meet the CAFE targets in fuel economy just by spending between USD 100 to USD 200 that it cost to turn a conventional vehicle into a flex-fuel, without investing in new technology to improve fuel economy, and saving them the potential fines for not achieving that standard in a given model year.[91][93]

[edit] Brazilian market

Brazilian Chevrolet Celta FlexPower.

GM's largest overseas subsidiary is General Motors do Brasil, which started producing flexible-fuel vehicles since its inception in the Brazilian market in 2003. Like other Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles, GM's flex fuel cars and light-duty trucks are optimized to run on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100 percent hydrous ethanol fuel (E100).[90] GM launched its first flex fuel in June 2003, the Chevrolet Corsa 1.8 FlexPower, just two months after the first flex car was launched by another Brazilian carmaker.[94][95]

GM do Brasil also introduced the MultiPower engine in August 2004, which was capable of using natural gas (CNG), ethanol and gasoline (E20-E25 blend) as fuel, and it was used in the multifuel Chevrolet Astra 2.0 model 2005, aimed at the local taxi cab market.[96][97] The Brazilian GM Powertrain unit also developed the EconoFlex technology, used for the first time in the Chevrolet Prisma 1.4, which allows the flex fuel engine to maximize fuel economy and power.[98]

Due to the success and rapid consumer acceptance of the flex versions, GM sold 192,613 flex vehicles and 135,636 gasoline-powered automobiles in 2005,[99] jumping to 501,681 flex-fuel vehicles, while only 949 cars and 6,834 light trucks powered by gasoline were sold in 2007,[100] and reaching new car sales of 535.454 flex fuels in 2008, representing 97 percent of all cars and light duty trucks sold in that year.[101]

[edit] Philanthropy

Since 1996, General Motors has been the exclusive source of funding for Safe Kids USA's "Safe Kids Buckle Up" program, a national initiative to ensure child automobile safety through education and inspection.[102] Through 2002, the Pace Awards program led by GM, EDS, and SUN Microsystems, gave over $1.2 billion of in-kind contributions which includes computers to over 18 universities to support engineering education.[103] In 2009, the GM led group has helped the Pace Awards program worldwide.[104] General Motors is a leading contributor to charity. In 2004, GM gave $51,200,000 in cash contributions and $17,200,000 in-kind donations to charitable causes.[105]

[edit] Politics

In the 2008 election cycle, General Motors contributed $802,414, with 52 percent of that amount going to the Democrats and 48 percent to the Republicans.[106] GM's Saturn division put up a display at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show congratulating Barack Obama on his election as the first African-American president of the United States.[107]

[edit] Environmental issues

In the middle of 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed 23,000 cubic yards (18,000 m3) of contaminated sediments and soil from the General Motors site in Massena, New York for disposal at a licensed facility in Utah. The amount contained 13,000 cubic yards (9,900 m3) of contaminated sediments dredged from the St. Lawrence River. The sediments had been stored on the site since 1995. There was also 10,000 cubic yards (7,600 m3) of contaminated sludge from the active wastewater treatment plant on the General Motors property.[108] The Political Economy Research Institute ranks GM 18th among corporations emitting airborne pollutants in the United States. The ranking is based on the emission quantity (8 million pounds in 2005) and toxicity.[109]

In September 2006, the state of California filed suit against General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, and Ford. The companies were accused of producing cars that emitted over 289 million metric tons of carbon per year in the United States, accounting for nearly 20 percent of carbon emissions in the United States and 30 percent of carbon emissions in California. This lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in September 2007.[110]

The Union of Concerned Scientists ranked General Motors as seventh out of the eight world's largest automakers in 2007 for environmental performance. The report noted that GM manufactured the most vehicles achieving 30 mpg-US (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg-imp) or better, but also the most vehicles under 15 mpg-US (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg-imp).[111]

[edit] Brands

[edit] Current brands

Marque Years used Markets
United States Buick since 1908 North America, China, Israel, Taiwan
United States Cadillac since 1909 Global (except South America, India, SE Asia, Australia)
United States GMC since 1912 North America, Middle East
United States Chevrolet since 1917 Global (except Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam)
United Kingdom Vauxhall since 1925 United Kingdom
Germany Opel since 1929 Europe (except UK), Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America
Australia Holden since 1948 Australia, New Zealand
South Korea Daewoo since 2002 South Korea, Vietnam

[edit] Discontinued brands

[edit] Sold brands

[edit] Former affiliates

[edit] Spin-offs

[edit] See also

Factory 1b.svg Companies portal

[edit] People

[edit] Books and films

  • Final Offer (1985) — a Canadian television documentary that shows the 1984 GM contract negotiations that resulted in the union split of the Canadian arm of the UAW.
  • Roger & Me (1989) — an American documentary film directed by independent filmmaker/author Michael Moore (his first). The film criticizes GM for closing down its factories in Moore's home-town of Flint, Michigan, despite record profits. After many Flint residents lose jobs at GM, Moore claims, the town descends into economic chaos.
  • Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) — a documentary film written and directed by Chris Paine that explores the creation, limited commercialization, and subsequent destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the U.S., specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s.
  • Taken for a Ride * A film showing how GM created U.S Automobile Dependency.

[edit] Industry associations

[edit] Competitions

[edit] Lists

[edit] Category

[edit] Lawsuits

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Company Profile". General Motors. 2010. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/company.jsp. Retrieved May 7, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Strott, Elizabeth (January, 21 2009). "Toyota Takes Sales Crown from GM". MSN. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/Toyota-takes-sales-crown-from-GM.aspx. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  3. ^ "Global 500 2009". CNN. July 20, 2009. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2009/industries/19/index.html. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  4. ^ Elizabeth II (May 28, 2009). Financial Administration Act. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. 2009-0815. http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/OIC-DDC.asp?lang=eng&Page=secretariats&txtOICID=2009-1040&txtFromDate=&txtToDate=&txtPrecis=&txtDepartment=&txtAct=&txtChapterNo=&txtChapterYear=&txtBillNo=&rdoComingIntoForce=&DoSearch=Search+%2F+List&pg=46&viewattach=20644. Retrieved April 21, 2010 
  5. ^ Ferguson, Rob; Van Alphen, Tony (June 2, 2009). "From General to Government Motors". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/Article/643958. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 
  6. ^ Kuhnhenn, Jim (May 27, 2009). "Washington Wags Call GM 'Government Motors'". The Street. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10506245/1/washington-wags-call-gm-governmentmotors.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 
  7. ^ Ikenson, Daniel J.; Wial, Howard (June 5, 2009). "Will Government Motors Do Better than General Motors?". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-oew-ikenson-wial5-2009jun05,0,5593785.story. Retrieved September 6, 2009. 
  8. ^ King, Neil (October 30, 2009). "Politicians Butt In at Bailed-Out GM". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125677552001414699.html. Retrieved October 30, 2009. 
  9. ^ "GM Decides to Keep Opel, Kills Sale Agreement With Magna". Wardsauto.com. November 3, 2009. http://wardsauto.com/home/gm_keep_opel_091103/. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  10. ^ "Spyker Cars Finalizes Purchase of Saab Automobile from GM". Detroit: GM. February 23, 2010. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Feb/0223_Saab. Retrieved April 21, 2010. 
  11. ^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. January 21, 2009. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=828&docid=51535. Retrieved June 6, 2009. [dead link]
  12. ^ "GM's China Vehicle Sales in 2009 Rose 66.9%". 4wheelsnow.com. January 5, 2009. http://www.4wheelsnews.com/gms-china-vehicle-sales-in-2009-rose-669-percent/. Retrieved January 25, 2010. 
  13. ^ GM IPO Prospectus dd August 18, 2010 P.69 Vehicle sales and production volume
  14. ^ "Going Global". The New York Times. June 4, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/06/04/business/04overseas.graf01.ready.html. Retrieved June 6, 2009. 
  15. ^ General Motors Company SEC Filing 10-Q 1st-Quarter 2010, p. 80
  16. ^ http://media.opel.com/media/intl/en/news.brand_opel.html?/archives/130-Going-forward,-there-will-be-two-organizations-in-Europe-OpelVauxhall-and-Chevrolet-Europe..html
  17. ^ http://media.gm.com/media/intl/en/company.brand_opel.html
  18. ^[dead link]Staff writer (July 23, 2009). "GM Names Its Government-Appointed Board Members - Automotive". Reuters (via CNBC). http://www.cnbc.com/id/32108453. Retrieved October 10, 2009. 
  19. ^ Bennett, Jeff; Lublin, Joann (January 26, 2010). "Chairman of GM Taps CEO: Himself". The Wall Street Journal; abstract (for full article (subscription required)). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575024933533722148.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_business. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/lutz.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  21. ^ "Chris Liddell Named GM Vice Chairman and CFO". GM. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1221_Liddell. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 
  22. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers - Stephens". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/stephens.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  23. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/reuss.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  24. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/reilly.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  25. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/lee.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  26. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/young.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  27. ^ "Young to Play Key Role in International Operations". GM. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1214_young. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
  28. ^ "Senior Leadership Group and Staff Officers - Welburn". GM. http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/bios/welburn.jsp. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  29. ^ Terlep, Sharon (May 3, 2010). "GM To Take New Chevy Campaigns for a Spin". The Wall Street Journal; abstract (for full article (subscription required)). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704608104575220144290856632.html?. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 
  30. ^ http://www.detnews.com/article/20100812/AUTO01/8120437/1148/auto01/Whitacre-to-step-down-as-GM-CEO--Akerson-to-take-over
  31. ^ Strott, Elizabeth (January 21, 2009). "Toyota Takes Sales Crown from GM". MSN Money (Microsoft Money). http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/Toyota-takes-sales-crown-from-GM.aspx. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  32. ^[dead link]GM Press release. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  33. ^ (registration required) de la Merced, Michael (July 10, 2009). "With Sale of Good Assets, G.M. Out of Bankruptcy". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/business/11auto.html. Retrieved July 10, 2009. 
  34. ^ (registration required)Maynard, Micheline (July 10, 2009). "A Primer on the New General Motors". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/business/11primer.html. Retrieved July 10, 2009. 
  35. ^ a b[verification needed] Stoll, John D.; King Jr., Neil (July 10, 2009).GM Emerges from Bankruptcy. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on July 10, 2009.
  36. ^ Evarts, Eric (June 23, 2009). "Consumer Groups Object to GM Bankruptcy". blog at Consumer Reports. http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/06/consumer-groups-object-to-gm-bankruptcy-over-lemon-law-and-product-liability-claims.html. Retrieved July 11, 2010. 
  37. ^ Harrison, Edward (June 10, 2009). "Guest Post: Is the GM Section 363 Bankruptcy Plan Really a Stealth Re-organization Plan?". blog at Naked Capitalism. http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/06/guest-post-is-gm-section-363-bankruptcy.html. Retrieved July 11, 2010. 
  38. ^ (subscription required)Beene, Ryan (April 1, 2009). "How a 'Section 363' Sale Creates a New GM". Automotive News. http://www.autonews.com/article/20090401/ANA02/904019958. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
  39. ^ 11 U.S.C. ch.3 subch.IV
  40. ^ a b Abstract ((subscription required) for full article) — Stoll, John D.; McLaughlin, David (July 2, 2009). "General Motors Aims for IPO Next Year — General Motors Aims for IPO Next Year U.S., Canada To Coordinate Efforts To Sell All of Their Controversial Stakes No Later than 2018". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124646098696280443.html. Retrieved July 11, 2010. 
  41. ^[dead link]"Court Documents and Claims Register". Motors Liquidation Company. July 10, 2009. http://www.motorsliquidation.com. 
  42. ^ Isidore, Chris (July 10, 2009). "'New' GM Is Born — Automaker Closes Deal with Government. CEO Henderson: 'We'll work hard to repay the trust, and the money, that so many have invested in GM.'". CNNMoney.com. http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/10/news/companies/new_gm/?postversion=2009071016. Retrieved July 11, 2010. 
  43. ^ Press release (November 19, 2009). "General Motors Announces the New Company’s July 10–September 30 Preliminary Managerial Results". General Motors Corporation. Accessed July 11, 2010.
  44. ^ http://www.renaissancecapital.com/ipohome/news/General-Motors-files-for-an-IPO-8396.html
  45. ^ David Barkholz (2010-09-20). "Book says GM had clueless 'culture of losing'". Autonews. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100920/OEM02/309209964/1423#ixzz105msZY7e. 
  46. ^ Kim, Soyoung (June 1, 2009). "Factbox — General Motors Bankruptcy Filing". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5502VY20090601. Retrieved July 9, 2009. 
  47. ^ "EERE News: Restructured GM to Build a New Small Car in the United States". Apps1.eere.energy.gov. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12550. Retrieved June 6, 2009. 
  48. ^ Johnson, Kimberly S. (August 27, 2009). "GM To Remove Its Mark from Vehicles To Emphasize Brand". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-08-25-gm-logo_N.htm. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  49. ^ "mediaOnline". Media.gm.com. January 5, 2000. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20040602014537/http%3A//media.gm.com/news/releases/g000105a.html. Retrieved July 19, 2009. 
  50. ^ "mediaOnline". Media.gm.com. January 3, 2002. Archived from the original on March 14, 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20040314185653/http%3A//www.media.gm.com/news/releases/020103decembersales.html. Retrieved July 19, 2009. 
  51. ^ "GM Reports December 2005 and Year Results". Theautochannel.com. January 5, 2006. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/05/205609.html. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  52. ^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. January 3, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070621063220/http%3A//media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet%3Ftarget%3Dhttp%3A//image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do%3Fdomain%3D6%26docid%3D31596. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  53. ^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. January 5, 2009. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=51161. Retrieved June 1, 2009. [dead link]
  54. ^ "Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Post Sales Gains - DETROIT, January 5. /PRNewswire/". Michigan: Prnewswire.com. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chevrolet-buick-gmc-and-cadillac-post-sales-gains-80720277.html. Retrieved February 18, 2010. 
  55. ^ "GM Cancels All Future Full-Size SUVs". Worldcarfans. http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081028.003/gm-cancels-all-future-full-size-suvs. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  56. ^ 19:57:37. "Авто@Mail.Ru". Auto.mail.ru. http://auto.mail.ru/text.html?id=27985. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  57. ^ Vlasic, Bill; Bunkley, Nick (October 25, 2008). "General Motors, Driven to the Brink". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/business/26jane.html. Retrieved October 27, 2008. 
  58. ^ Bunkley, Nick; Vlasic, Bill (December 23, 2008). "Nearly the End of the Line for S.U.V.’s". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/business/24auto.html. Retrieved December 23, 2008. 
  59. ^ "Restructured GM To Build a New Small Car in the United States". United States Department of Energy. June 3, 2009. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12550. 
  60. ^ "Canadian auto industry gets bailout too". CNN. December 20, 2008. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/20/canada.auto.bailout/index.html. Retrieved July 13, 2009. 
  61. ^ 1:25 p.m. ET (June 15, 2006). "In China, Buick Bucks the Trend - Nightly News with Brian Williams- msnbc.com". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12801549/ns/nightly_news_with_brian_williams/. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  62. ^ "FAW-GM Increases Capacity, Having No Plan to Introduce GMC Yet". ChinaAutoWeb.com. http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/09/faw-gm-increases-capacity-having-no-plan-to-introduce-gmc-yet/. 
  63. ^ Wong, Stephanie (April 11, 2010). "GM To Introduce 25 New and Updated Models in China". Bloomberg Businessweek. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-11/gm-to-introduce-25-new-and-updated-models-in-china-update1-.html. Retrieved April 28, 2010. 
  64. ^ "Cadillac Sponsors Communist Propaganda Film". ChinaAutoWeb.com. http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/09/cadillac-sponsors-communist-propaganda-film/. 
  65. ^ "World Ranking of manufacturers year 2009". OICA. 2010-07-27. http://oica.net/wp-content/uploads/ranking-2009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-29. 
  66. ^ GM's Cost - Auto News Report
  67. ^ "Welcome to the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources". UAW-GM Joint Activity System. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
  68. ^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. June 3, 2008. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=46161. Retrieved June 1, 2009. [dead link]
  69. ^ "This page is available to GlobePlus subscribers". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080728.RGM28/TPStory/Business. Retrieved June 11, 2009. 
  70. ^ . The Windsor Star. July 28, 2010. http://www.windsorstar.com/ends+manufacturing+presence+Windsor/3329737/story.html. Retrieved October 3, 2010. 
  71. ^ Thomas, Cal. "Cal Thomas Official Web Site - BREAKDOWN". Calthomas.com. http://www.calthomas.com/index.php?news=2427. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  72. ^ America's First Turbine Car
  73. ^ GM workers lobbying for less-stringent CAFE rule
  74. ^ Higgs, Tom. "Patents General Motors". 17 October 2008.
  75. ^ "GM's Hybrid Propulsion System for Transit Buses". Archived from the original on May 26, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070526073022/http%3A//www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/300_hybrids/index_bus.html. Retrieved May 22, 2007. 
  76. ^ Valdes-Dapena, Peter. GM Gets on the Hybrid Highway, CNNMoney.com, April 23, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  77. ^ Shepardson, David; Priddleurl, Alisa (April 7, 2009). "GM To Roll Out Two-Seat, Urban Electric Prototype – Two-Seater Targeting City Driving To Hit 35 Miles per Hour". The Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090407/AUTO01/904070332/1148/&source=nletter-business. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  78. ^ "GM Media Online". Media.gm.com. September 16, 2008. http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=827&docid=48589. Retrieved June 1, 2009. [dead link]
  79. ^ "EERE News: GM to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Chevy Volt from LG Chem". Apps1.eere.energy.gov. January 14, 2009. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12177. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  80. ^ Tom Krisher, "GM steps up work on hydrogen cars", BusinessWeek. June 15, 2007
  81. ^ Ken Thomas (May 7, 2007). "'Flex-fuel' Vehicles Touted". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2007-05-05-ethanolvehicles_N.htm. Retrieved September 15, 2008. 
  82. ^ Gable, Christine; Gable, Scott. "Yellow E85 Gas Cap". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/vehiclebuyingguide/ig/Alt-fuels---New-York-Auto-Show/Yellow-E85-gas-cap.htm. Retrieved September 18, 2008. 
  83. ^ Neff, John (October 6, 2006). "More Gas Cap News: Chrysler Going Yellow for E85". AutoBlog. http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/10/more-gas-cap-news-chrysler-going-yellow-for-e85/. Retrieved October 8, 2008. 
  84. ^ Abuelsamid, Sam (March 28, 2007). "AFVI: Ford Confirms That All 2008 Police Interceptors Will be Flex-Fuel". AutobogGreen. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/03/28/afvi-ford-confirms-that-all-2008-police-interceptors-will-be-fl/. Retrieved October 8, 2008. 
  85. ^ Gable, Christine; Gqble Scott. "2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD LT2 Flex-Fuel Truck Test Drive". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/2008flexfuelreviews/fr/08SilveradoFFV_2.htm. Retrieved October 3, 2008. 
  86. ^ Gable, Christine; Gable, Scott. "2007 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD 1500 LT test drive". About.com: Hybrid Cars & Alt Fuels. http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/flexfuelffvreviews/fr/2007Suburban_2.htm. Retrieved October 3, 2008. 
  87. ^ General Motors | Fuel Economy & Alternative Fuels - E85 Ethanol
  88. ^ National Renewable Energy Laboratory USDoE (September 17, 2007). "Alternative and Advanced Vehicles: Flexible Fuel Vehicles". Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/flexible_fuel.html. Retrieved August 19, 2008. 
  89. ^ a b Sperling, Daniel; Gordon, Deborah (2009). Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability. Oxford University Press, New York. pp. 73–743. ISBN 978-0-19-537664-7. 
  90. ^ a b Goettemoeller, Jeffrey; Goettemoeller, Adrian (2007). Sustainable Ethanol: Biofuels, Biorefineries, Cellulosic Biomass, Flex-Fuel Vehicles, and Sustainable Farming for Energy Independence. Prairie Oak Publishing, Maryville, Missouri. pp. 56–61. ISBN 978-0-9786293-0-4. 
  91. ^ a b Barrionuevo, Alexei; Maynard, Micheline (August 31, 2006). "Dual-Fuel Vehicles Open Mileage Loophole for Carmakers". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/business/31loophole.html?emc=eta1. Retrieved October 22, 2008. 
  92. ^ Inslee, Jay; Hendricks, Bracken (2007). Apollo's Fire. Island Press, Washington, D.C.. pp. 153–155, 160–161. ISBN 978-1-59726-175-3.  See Chapter 6. Homegrown Energy.
  93. ^ "Bumpy Ride for Biofuels". The Economist. January 18, 2008. http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10551762. Retrieved September 14, 2008. 
  94. ^ "Volkswagen To Stop Making Gas-Only Cars for Brazil". Automotive News. March 23, 2006. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/REUTERS/60323043/1111. Retrieved October 18, 2008. [dead link]
  95. ^ "Chevrolet Apresenta Seu Novo Motor 1.8 Flexpower, Mais Potente e Econômico" (in Portuguese). September 22, 2005. http://www.jornalexpress.com.br/noticias/detalhes.php?id_jornal=9095&id_noticia=2275. Retrieved April 18, 2009. 
  96. ^ GNVNews (November 2006). "Montadores Investem nos Carros á GNV" (in Portuguese). Institutio Brasileiro de Petroleo e Gas. http://www.bigas.com.br/sistema/?modulo=gnvnews&acao=abrir&id=22. Retrieved April 19, 2009. 
  97. ^ "Astra é Líder No Segmento Dos Compactos em 2004: As Versões do Chevrolet Astra 2005" (in Portuguese). Journal Express. January 18, 2005. http://www.jornalexpress.com.br/noticias/detalhes.php?id_jornal=9095&id_noticia=1703. Retrieved April 19, 2009. 
  98. ^ "1.4 Econo.Flex, o motor que pulsa forte no coração do Prisma, o novo sedã Chevrolet" (in Portuguese). Chevrolet (Brazil). Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080228070118/http%3A//www3.chevrolet.com.br/noticias/noticia.do%3Facao%3Did%26idNoticia%3D534. Retrieved April 18, 2009. 
  99. ^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2005" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2005/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved April 16, 2009.  See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.
  100. ^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2007" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2007/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved April 16, 2009.  See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.
  101. ^ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2008" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2008/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved April 16, 2009.  See Table 08.
  102. ^ Safe Kids USA. SK Buckle Up usa.safekids.org. Retrieved 24/02/08.
  103. ^ Pace Partners
  104. ^ Pace Partners. Retrieved on July 8, 2009.
  105. ^ GM Philanthrophy.Business Week 2005. Retrieved on July 9, 2009.
  106. ^ Top Contributors to Federal Candidates and Parties: Automotive
  107. ^ Hardigree, Matt (January 12, 2009). "GM Sucks Up To Obama. Hard. - 2009 detroit auto show". Jalopnik. http://jalopnik.com/5129704/gm-sucks-up-to-obama-hard. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  108. ^ Cahill, Rich (06/10/1999). "GM To Start Removal Of Contaminated Sediments and Soils Next Week At Federal Superfund Site in Massena, New York". New York: EPA. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a883dc3da7094f97852572a00065d7d8/1a3c0c434e584f1c8525724800687bd6!OpenDocument. Retrieved 01/06/2009. 
  109. ^ Political Economy Research Institute - Toxic 100
  110. ^ Lifsher, Marc (September 18, 2007). "Global Warming Lawsuit Dismissed &nash; A Judge Denies the State's Bid for Damages from Carmakers". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/18/business/fi-warmsuit18. Retrieved July 9, 2009. 
  111. ^ UCS Automaker Rankings 2007
  112. ^ "Italy: Hapless Fiat Wants To Force GM Hand". United Press International. http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2004/12/15/Italy-Hapless-Fiat-wants-to-force-GM-hand/UPI-92961103125155/. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  113. ^ "GM to Sell Its Stake in Fuji Heavy Industries". Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2005. http://articles.latimes.com/2005/oct/06/business/fi-gm6. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  114. ^ "GM Sells Isuzu Shares for $300 Million to Japanese Trading Companies, Bank". USA Today. April 11, 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-04-11-isuzu-sale_x.htm. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 
  115. ^ "GM Sells Equity Stake in Suzuki". Cartype. November 17, 2008. http://www.cartype.com/pages/3403/gm_sells_equity_stake_in_suzuki. Retrieved June 1, 2009. 

[edit] Further reading

Articles
Books

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: General Motors
v • d • e
General Motors Company
GM lists
Divisions /
operating groups /
joint ventures
Former divisions
and joint ventures

Allison Engine Company (1929–1995) · Allison Transmission (1929–2007) · Atlantic Aircraft · Dayton-Wright Company (1919–1923) · Delco Electronics · Delphi Automotive Systems · Detroit Diesel (1938–1988) · DirecTV (1994–2003) · Electro-Motive Diesel (1930–2004) · Electronic Data Systems (1984–1996) · Euclid Trucks (1953–1968) · Fisher Body · Fleetwood Metal Body · Frigidaire (1919–1980) · General Motors Diesel Division (1938–1987) · General Motors Diesel (1949–1969) · Ghandhara Industries (1953–1963) · GM Defense (1950–2003) · GMAC Real Estate(1998-2008) · GM Truck & Bus Group (1943–1981) · GMC Heavy Trucks · Hughes Aircraft (1985–1997) · Hughes Electronics (1985–1997) · Hughes Network Systems (1987–2003) · HughesNet (DirecWay/DirecPC) (1996–2003) · Kettering University · National City Lines · New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI; 1984–2009) · New Venture Gear (36%, 1990–2002) · North American Aviation (1933–1948) · Nuvell Financial Services (1997–2008) · PanAmSat (1995–2003) · Remy Electric (1918–1994) · Rochester Products Division · Terex · Terminal Taxi Cab · United Australian Automobile Industries (UAAI; 1989–1996) · Winton Motor Carriage Company · Yellow Coach (1925–1943)
v • d • e
Automotive marques of General Motors Company, and those of its affiliates and former affiliates
Buick • Cadillac • Chevrolet • Daewoo • GMC • Holden · Opel • Vauxhall
Affiliates
GM-AvtoVAZ • GM Daewoo (70.1%) • Shanghai GM (49%) • Wuling (34%)
Former affiliates
Fiat (2000–2005; up to 20%) • Isuzu (c.1971–2006; up to 49%) • Lotus (c.1986–1993; up to 100%) • Saab (c.1989–2010; up to 100%) • Subaru (c.1999–2006; 20%) • Suzuki (1985–2008; up to 15%)
Defunct marques
Acadian (1962–1971) • Asüna (1992–1995) • Beaumont (1966–1969) • Bedford Vehicles (1930–1986) • Cartercar (1905–1915) • Elmore (1893–1912) • Geo (1989–1997) • Hummer (1992–2010) • LaSalle (1927–1940) • Marquette (1929–1930) • McLaughlin (1918–1942) • Oakland (1907–1931) • Oldsmobile (1897–2004) • Passport (1988–1991) • Pontiac (1926–2010) • Ranger (1968–1976) • Saturn (1985–2010) • Scripps-Booth (1913–1923) • Statesman (1971–1984) • Viking (1929–1931) • Yellow Coach (1925–1943)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages