GM
-
Bankruptcy for one or more major carmakers as a solution to the current automotive downturn has been widely reviled as the worst possible alternative for the carmakers themselves and the industry, and economy, in general. But now the White House has revealed that a structured bankruptcy for General Motors and Chrysler is one of the paths it is considering. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino stated it simply: “There’s an orderly way to do bankruptcy that provides more of a soft landing. This is one of the options.” While the statement itself is clear enough, exactly what an...
-
GM announces new direct-injection engine rangeGeneral Motors has implemented new direct injection technology into the four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines found in the Chevrolet Equinox range, helping the General's 2010 model overtake Ford's Escape crossover in terms of mileage and power. The new Equinox engine range will consist of a 2.4L...
Ralph Hanson -
GM speeds up powertrain development with new simulation softwareIn a bid to reduce development costs and bring vehicles to dealerships sooner, General Motors is using simulation software to develop software control systems for all of its future powertrains. This method of development allows GM to emulate control systems before being stuck with expensive...
Ralph Hanson -
Pontiac to shed half its lineup in coming yearsPontiac will see half of its models dropped from its current lineup in the next few years, with speculation that the brand could end up with less than three unique middles by the middle of the next decade. Susan Docherty, vice-president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC (BPG) explained that General Motors is...
James Martinez -
GM's Project Driveway fuel cell program rolls past 500,000 miles next weekWith all that's going on in Washington lately, the slow economy and a general apathy or even hostility toward the automotive industry, it's nice to see a technological bright spot on the horizon. While it's not a ground-breaking or earth-shattering development, General Motors' fuel cell test fleet...
Ralph Hanson -
GM studying plug-in hybrid recharging infrastructureGeneral Motors and Spanish energy company Iberdrola have joined forces to determine what is needed in terms of infrastructure to implement a mass embrace of plug-in electric vehicles in the European market. The study will examine how cars will be recharged, and the effect this will have on...
Ralph Hanson -
Rick Wagoner could be spending his final few days as CEO of General Motors if Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut and his supporters have their way. Already speculation as to which of the world's proven corporate leaders could take Wagoner's place at the helm of the struggling automotive giant has begun, and two of the front runners include Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and GM President Frederick Henderson. Statements today by former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca and current GM product czar Bob Lutz weigh heavily against any such move, however. Speaking directly against Senator Dodd's proposed...
-
GM, Chrysler bankruptcy up to 400% more expensive than bridge loans, says studyIf you listen to the CEOs and PR spin-doctors, bankruptcy has never been an option for America's carmakers, despite behind-the-scenes talk of 'Plan B' scenarios. It turns out that such aversion to bankruptcy isn't just head-in-the-sand reactionary behavior. If General Motors and Chrysler were to...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: UAW seeking seat on GM boardThe UAW is reportedly seeking a major stake in General Motors as well as a seat on its board in return for making concessions under the carmaker’s latest restructuring proposal presented to Congress last week. The latest news contradicts statements from UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, who...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM renews commitment to American peopleNo one in the U.S. can reasonably be unaware of the current condition of the U.S. car market or its primary domestic companies. The carmakers' current pleas to the U.S. Congress for federal loan packages to help prevent bankruptcy - or worse - are the focal point of even mainstream news coverage of...
Nelson Ireson -
European launch for Chevrolet Cruze on track for April 2009While General Motors’ financial strife may be putting many of its development plans on the back burner for now, a statement from Chevrolet's European Executive Director confirms that the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze will remain on schedule for its debut in the European market in just a few...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM announces additional 2,000 job cuts, compiling vehicle death listGeneral Motors has confirmed that it will cut an additional 2,000 factory jobs at three of its North American plants early next year, while at the same time asking Congress for a federal bailout package of up to $18 billion. GM Spokesman Chris Lee told the Detroit Free Press that the company is...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The Cadillac Escalade SUV is undoubtedly popular with a wide range of people, but especially so with car thieves, who made the 2007 Escalade ESV their number one choice for stealing this year. Meanwhile, the Mercedes Benz E-Class saloon was the least popular with thieves and was 15 times less likely to be stolen when compared to the desirable Escalade. The information comes from the Highway Loss Data Institute, which worked with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in compiling the data. The 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV led the charge for the most stolen luxury vehicles, and...
-
Corvette ZR1 buyers receive free advanced driving course valued at $3,400General Motors may be struggling for cash at the moment but that doesn't mean it’s skimping on the customer programs for its halo sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Every customer that purchases a ZR1 will receive a trip to the Bob Bondurant Driving School in Arizona to learn the finer...
James Martinez -
Ford considering Volvo sale, joins GM to ask Sweden for aidGeneral Motors has disavowed selling any of its brands but Hummer, but tough financial and market situations are bringing serious pressure to bear. Just this morning, Ford has announced it is opening up consideration of 'strategic options' for its Volvo brand, reversing repeated denials that the...
Alex Kaufmann -
Detroit 3 ready revised bailout proposals ahead of Tuesday's Congress hearingThe CEOs of the Detroit 3 will be returning to Washington this week to present new business plans to Congress, all in the hopes of garnering a $25 billion federal loan package to prevent them from collapsing under financial pressure. General Motors’ board has already met to discuss its plan...
James Martinez -
Opel Insignia by SteinmetzGerman tuner Steinmetz is a specialist when it comes to modifying Opels, having worked with the brand for the past several decades and waiting more than five years to finally develop the new 2009 Insignia saloon. Not surprisingly, it's one of the first companies to work with the car, releasing a...
Jeremy Weber -
Report: GM may drop Saab, Saturn and Pontiac to appease CongressDespite previous assurances made earlier this month by its CEO Rick Wagoner, General Motors is reportedly considering dropping the Saab, Saturn and Pontiac brands in order to improve its chances of garnering a federal government aid package. GM is currently readying a turnaround plan to present to...
James Martinez -
The current financial woes of General Motors are no secret these days, with the Detroit 3 carmaker admitting recently that it will run out of cash early next year without the help of a federal loan. Despite the seriousness of the situation, as well as new polls that show the public is in favor of an automotive bailout, there still remains the distinct possibility that the government will reject these loan applications - in which case GM must be prepared with a backup plan to keep its head above water until President-elect Barack Obama enters the White House in January. Currently, GM is...
-
Report: GM directors consider Chapter 11 bankruptcy filingGeneral Motors directors are reportedly considering a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and seeking court protection in an attempt to cope with the ailing carmaker’s dwindling cash reserves. According to people familiar with situation, the plans go directly against CEO Rick Wagoner’s claims...
James Martinez -
Fisker picks GM Ecotec engine for Karma plug-in hybridThe Fisker plug-in hybrid saloon has officially been revealed. Click here for all the details and images. Fisker announced today that it will be using General Motors' engines in its upcoming Karma plug-in hybrid vehicle, which will have a 50-mile electric-only range before the internal combustion...
James Martinez -
Leaked patents reveal GM was considering second Saab-Subaru modelImages of what appears to be a patent application by General Motors for a new Saab SUV have leaked onto the Internet, revealing that a Subaru Tribeca-based SUV may have at one point been in the pipeline for the struggling Swedish brand. If the images turn out to be authentic, this would be the...
Kenneth Hall -
Pontiac enhances G6 lineup with mid-year updatesThe L.A. Auto Show is just days away, and as it draws near more models, updates and reveals are coming to light. Pontiac will be bringing a revised family of G6 coupes, convertibles and sedans to the L.A. Auto Show despite General Motors' widely publicized pull-out of its featured show vehicles...
Nelson Ireson -
Germany holding aid talks with OpelGermany on Monday confirmed it would be holding talks with Opel, General Motors' primary European brand, to discuss the topic of aid for the company should GM cease supplying cash. The concern on Opel's part is very real considering the state of GM's U.S. and global operations, and Opel's...
Nelson Ireson