GM
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One of General Motors’ biggest criticisms is the number of different brands under its roof, which ends up seeing it sell similar models that often compete with one another in the same segments. In its efforts to secure its share of a federal bailout, GM said it now intends to focus its U.S. product and marketing resources on four core brands, namely Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. These four brands accounted for 83% of GM's total sales volume in the United States last year. That leaves Hummer, Saab, Saturn and Pontiac in an uneasy state. GM has already confirmed that it is looking...
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GM money woes kill hopes of production ConverjOne of the most exciting cars from last week’s Detroit Auto Show was the Cadillac Converj concept car, which General Motors used to showcase its plug-in hybrid technology in a luxury platform. Despite the concept featuring one of the most striking designs we’ve seen in a while, GM vice...
James Martinez -
G8 and Camaro will be last Zeta-based cars sold in U.S.There have been all manner of reports about General Motors’ future RWD plans over the past 12 months, with everything from the carmaker merging its Zeta and Sigma architectures for a new super platform to the introduction of a new compact RWD design to be called Alpha. According to latest...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Corvette ZR1 rolling chassis pulled from GM Heritage Collection auctionThe rolling Corvette ZR1 chassis that was originally scheduled to be sold at this year's Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction has reportedly been pulled from the auction without any reason given. One possibility is that the chassis may have already been sold or donated by General Motors. The...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler's LaSorda denies sale of brandsOne of the biggest criticisms for struggling Detroit carmakers General Motors and Chrysler is the number of brands they have under the one roof and the associated problem of selling models that often compete with one another in the same segments. In its efforts to secure its share of a federal...
Ralph Hanson -
GM will build Volt battery factory in the U.S. with LG ChemDespite the movement towards electric and hybrid propulsion by many manufacturers over the last few years, none of them actually manufacture the most important component of the vehicles – the batteries. That’s about to change as GM builds its own factory in Michigan to produce battery...
Alex Kaufmann -
General Motors has confirmed that the launch of its 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will be delayed by a month, but has refused to give a reason why. The reborn muscle car was originally due to enter production at GM’s Oshawa plant in Ontario, Canada, on February 16, but the date has now been pushed back to March 16. The information comes from Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan, who told Automotive News that the decision is due to a number of factors. "We're still going to build every one we can, and we're excited to get them out,” he said. Rhadigan also revealed that the first cars should...
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Toyota and Lexus announce plans for new telematics systemToyota has announced that it will launch a new telematics systems later this year for select Toyota and Lexus models, similar to the current service offered by General Motors’ OnStar system. Named ‘Safety Connect’ for Toyota, and Lexus Enform for the carmaker’s luxury...
Ralph Hanson -
2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan unveiledA long series of teasers and spy shots have given hints at what the 2010 Buick LaCrosse would look like, but today General Motors has revealed the whole package just ahead of the start of the Detroit Auto Show. While the design is completely fresh, the car is also "instantly recognizable as a...
Nelson Ireson -
GM starts seeking concessions from UAW, bondholdersThe UAW's near-stranglehold on the domestic auto industry has taken a lot of the blame for the current condition of the carmakers. Whether it's a fair conclusion or not, however, for companies like General Motors to survive, there will have to be concessions from labor and investors alike. Formal...
Ralph Hanson -
Cadillac SRX unveiled ahead of 2009 Detroit Auto ShowSporty, luxurious crossovers, like the crossover niche in general, haven't had the success the industry might have hoped for. Nevertheless, there is a definite market for the vehicles, and Cadillac has just unveiled its latest contender for the driveways of those buyers. Cadillac gave us a sneak...
Nelson Ireson -
GMAC loses exclusive GM financing in Treasury loan agreementIn a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) GMAC revealed that it will no longer have the exclusive right to finance all of General Motors vehicles, and it will cease all lease financing as well. The new business arrangements are part of the terms of GMAC's agreement with...
Ralph Hanson -
The $17.4 billion bridge loan package signed into action by President Bush late in December has begun disbursement, with General Motors receiving $4 billion on Wednesday. Chrysler is still waiting on the finalization of details with the U.S. Treasury before it will be able to tap into the loans. The remainder of the $13.4 billion will see $4 billion going to Chrysler soon, and $5.4 billion will go to GM around January 16. The remaining $4 billion will have to wait to be allocated from the second half of the TARP funds to be approved by Congress, but once it does so, the final $4 billion will...
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Geiger Hummer H3 V8 KompressorHummer's troubled present and uncertain future are no impediment to tuners hell-bent on creating the most insane vehicles possible, and this blown V8 Hummer H3 is a prime example. Today the Germans at Geiger Cars, already known for some outlandish Hummer creations, have unleashed the H3 V8...
James Martinez -
GMAC drums up $21.6 billion in debt-for-equity swapsGMAC has leveraged the recent promise of U.S. Treasury funds to boost its lending capacity, and now it has generated another $21.2 billion in cash via debt-for-equity swaps with its bondholders. The fund raising is part of the company's' effort to raise enough cash to meet the regulatory...
Nelson Ireson -
GM, GMAC rev up incentives thanks to Treasury fundsYesterday the U.S. Treasury announced it would be backing GMAC with $6 billion in total funding, and today both the car finance company and General Motors, which gets 85% of its customer loans from GMAC, announced a wave of new incentives and programs to drive up sales. GMAC announced it would be...
Nelson Ireson -
GM logs 10,000 advance orders for new CamaroThe new Camaro looks poised to take a favored position in the new muscle car wars with its strong entry-level V6 offering and over-the-top SS power, and buyers are already agreeing - to the tune of 10,000 pre-orders, according to General Motors. The first cars ordered were primarily SS models with...
Nelson Ireson -
Jeremy Clarkson picks Corvette ZR1 as best car of the yearMotoring personality and notorious Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been seen on camera many times commenting on the poor construction and design of American-built cars, but in a surprising development the outspoken Brit has chosen Chevrolet's Corvette ZR1 as his favorite car of the year...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
General Motors has sued one of its bankrupt parts suppliers, Cadence Innovation, and now the outcome of the lawsuit may be the determining factor in whether or not the highly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will arrive on time. GM was originally planning on putting the Camaro into production in February next year, but Cadence’s bankruptcy has disrupted the process and GM claims that the supplier is holding a number of necessary parts "hostage" that could delay the car. Before Cadence Innovation filed for bankruptcy, the company produced door trim, airbag covers and instrument panels...
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Buick to shun large sedans in favor of midsize segmentThe upcoming Buick LaCrosse, sitting on GM's global mid-sized car architecture, represents a new direction for the brand according to the vice-president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, Susan Docherty. Docherty claims that falling demand for full-sized cars means that GM will not be abandoning large cars...
Ralph Hanson -
GM changes bylaws to improve board flexibilityThe board of directors at General Motors has been actively involved in steering the company through regular board meetings and weekly conference calls, but the situations surrounding the bridge loans approved late last week by President Bush have led the company to amend its bylaws to make board...
Ralph Hanson -
GM reveals 2010 Chevrolet EquinoxGeneral Motors has taken the wraps off the first of its all-new models planned for next month’s Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover, which also debuts GM’s new compact direct-injection petrol engine range. Chevrolet expects nearly two-thirds of...
Nelson Ireson -
GM Performance Parts offering 'Body in White' Camaro for $7,000GM Performance Parts (GMPP) will be offering 'body in white' packages for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, with sales expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009. Body in white refers to the stage in automotive production when the car's sheet metal has been assembled, but components such as the...
James Martinez -
HSV considering expanding range with new halo and entry-level modelsEarlier this week we reported that GM's Australian performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles, had capped production of its Corvette LS7-powered HSV W427 super-saloon at just 200 units. Now, the performance division is pondering a new halo car that would be price below the limited-edition W427 but...
Kenneth Hall