GM Retiree eNews - April 20, 2010 |
This Issue |
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You Are Invited to View: Whitacre Press Conference on Wednesday |
A live Webcast of this press event will be available Wednesday at the address below. Until then a place holder slate appears in the video window. An event opening graphic will appear on April 21 at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Countdown begins rolling at 9:45 a.m. EDT. The program begins 10:00 a.m. The same Web address will carry the on-demand replay beginning a few hours after the press event concludes. The replay will remain available for at least 12 months. http://gmtv.feedroom.com/?fr_story=8bb09531927dda0d7bf7d2a67b949773c19b66a2 |
GM Completes Fresh-Start Accounting |
2010-04-07 General Motors Company announced that it had completed fresh-start accounting, and would be filing its third quarter 2009 Form 10-Q and 2009 Form 10-K with the SEC today. "We are building the foundation that will allow us to return to public ownership," said Chris Liddell, GM vice chairman and CFO. "Completing fresh-start accounting is an important step in that process." The new company, which was formed on July 10, 2009 through the acquisition of substantially all the assets and certain liabilities of Motors Liquidation Company (formerly General Motors Corporation), had to complete the process of adopting fresh-start accounting to record the acquisition and establishment of the new GM as well as determine the fair value of assets and liabilities and implement new accounting policies. Read More>> |
GM Announces Financial Leadership Changes |
2010-03-29
General Motors Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell today announced a number of key finance leadership changes aimed at further advancing the company's financial progress and preparing for its return to public ownership in the future. Walter Borst is named GM vice president and Promark Global Advisors, Inc. chief executive officer, reporting to Liddell, effective May 1, 2010. Promark is a wholly-owned asset management subsidiary of GM focused primarily on the management of retirement plan assets, including GM's pension plans assets. Borst, 48, will also continue as chairman of the Adam Opel GmbH Supervisory Board. Opel is GM's principal European automotive subsidiary, located in Germany. Borst was most recently GM vice president and treasurer, a post he has held since 2003. Read More>> |
GM Appoints New Board Member |
Dr. Cynthia A. Telles joins the GM Board of Directors |
2010-04-13
Dr. Telles, 57, has been on the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry since 1986. She is currently the Director of the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute Spanish-Speaking Psychosocial Clinic. Among many corporate, non-profit, and public service board memberships, Dr. Telles was recently appointed to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars by President Obama. Dr. Telles was also appointed to the National Advisory Council of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the advisory group on Health Care Reform, and the Regional Selection Panel for the White House Fellows Program during the Clinton Administration. Read More>> |
Battery Lab Gets ISO Certification |
"There are very few labs that are ISO certified," said Tony Modafferi, the Global Battery Systems Lab manager. "It means you can trust our lab to provide accurate data." |
GM Doubling Size of Most Technologically Advanced Automotive Battery Lab in the United States |
2010-04-12
The $8-million investment will improve on-site testing of all current and new battery cell, module and pack technologies by enlarging the Global Battery Systems Lab on the GM Technical Center campus by 30,000 sq. ft. to 63,000 sq. ft. The addition will be located adjacent to the existing lab inside the Alternative Energy Center facility. Areas previously used for engine testing will be renovated for battery development, with construction beginning this month and scheduled for completion in the summer. Read More>> |
NASA to Launch GM Co-Developed Robot to International Space Station |
Technology to drive advancements in vehicle and manufacturing safety systems |
2010-04-14
The 300-pound R2 consists of a head and a torso with two arms and two hands and will launch on space shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-133 mission planned for September. Once aboard the station, engineers will monitor how the robot operates in weightlessness. R2 joins another station robot, known as Dextre. That robot, built by the Canadian Space Agency, consists of two, long arms to perform tasks that normally require spacewalking astronauts to complete. Read More>> |
Adaptive Forward Lighting Allows LaCrosse Drivers to See What Doesn't Belong |
2010-03-27
The Adaptive Forward Lighting System, or AFL, is an advanced lighting system in which the front headlamps swivel or rotate in concert with the direction of the steering wheel. Heading into a curve or turning around a corner, the headlamps swivel up to 15 degrees at varying speeds, depending on the severity of the curve and the speed the vehicle is traveling. The system works with both low and high beams. AFL improves visibility compared to traditional headlamps, making nighttime and inclement weather driving easier and safer. AFL incorporates a Bi-Xenon or High Intensity Discharge (HID) projector. This high-tech light source doubles light output, while decreasing energy consumption by 33 percent compared to a traditional halogen headlamp bulb (35 vs. 55 watts). "The AFL technology provides the driver a much better view of the road ahead," said Shannen Borngesser, a GM exterior lighting engineer. "AFL assists the driver by increasing visibility, both on straight and winding roadways." AFL helps improve the driver's ability to see things on the side – pedestrians, animals, etc. -- before they become a hazard. |
Side Blind Zone Alert in Buick LaCrosse Can Help Avoid Lane Change Mishaps |
2010-04-08
Help in preventing these all-too-frequent near misses is available in the form of a small orange icon that appears on the side mirrors of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The aptly named Side Blind Zone Alert system uses radar-equipped sensors to provide an extra set of "eyes" to monitor the vehicle's side blind spots. How prevalent are blind spot incidents? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says improper lane changes are a factor in up to 85 percent of all crashes. "The blind zone technology system enables the car to see where it is difficult for the driver to see," said Kent Lybecker, a GM active safety systems engineer. "This technology makes lane changes safer because it alerts driver's to vehicles that otherwise might escape their vision." Read More>> |
GM to Expand Brake Override Software Globally by 2012 |
2010-04-05 General Motors will expand use of "enhanced smart pedal" technology globally to all passenger cars with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control, providing an additional safeguard to enhance customer confidence. Also known as brake override, the change involves modifying existing electronic controls to reduce power to the engine in cases where the brake and accelerator pedal are being depressed at the same time. The global rollout will be completed by the end of 2012. GM has had for the past several years a braking performance standard that applies to all cars, trucks and crossovers, requiring that the brakes can stop the vehicle within a specific distance. So brake override is an additional safeguard. "News media analyses of government data consistently validates that GM's safety record on this issue is among the strongest in the industry," said Tom Stephens, vice chairman, GM Global Product Operations. "At the same time, we know safety is top of mind for consumers, so we are applying additional technology to reassure them that they can count on the brakes in their GM vehicle." The rollout plan balances the speed of implementation with validation needed to assure that customers feel no deterioration in driveability |
Brand Buzz |
Cadillac CTS Coupe-- Price $37,330 |
CTS Coupe emerged as a proposal inside Cadillac's design studio. "Cadillac has always been an emotional brand – it's about delivering art regardless of body style," said Max Wolff, director of exterior design for Cadillac. "With the CTS Coupe, it was about taking something very strong – the CTS Sport Sedan – and extending its potential." The coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS, but an overall height that is approximately two inches lower and an overall length that is two inches shorter. Although it draws from its sport sedan sister, the CTS Coupe shares only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille. The Cadillac CTS Coupe offers design, performance and technology – a blend of handcrafted luxury with a contemporary, driver-focused interior that supports the car's high-performance capabilities. Cadillac CTS Coupe: Car and Driver Automobile Edmunds.com |
In the News |
Lutz on Leaving GM |
In one interesting anecdote, Bob answers a question about the development of the Pontiac Solstice, in the fall of 2001 when it went from being an idea to a concept car for the Detroit auto show in just four months. "One thing that was great about that is that it was executed so quickly, which was a great learning experience for the corporation. But what was also important is that we showed it was permissible to put emotion and excitement back into our autos, to create a vehicle with dynamic properties,that was also priced at a level that made it a high-value proposition. Which is something that a lot of people did not think GM was capable of," explains Bob. Learn what Bob views as his proudest accomplishments in the industry: |
Hresko on Forbes.com "Worst Made Cars on the Road" |
Forbes.com published its annual "Worst Made Cars On The Road" story last week. Forbes selected the models based on J.D. Power VDS and Consumer Reports Most Reliable Cars Report, Best and Worst Values Report, Best and Worst Safety Performance Survey, and CR's overall scores for 2010 vehicles. If you read further into the online article, you'll find the following quote from Jamie Hresko, global vice president of Quality. Jamie does not try to defend the results, but shares his perspective with them. "We put a lot of value in these surveys, because they in many cases do line up with reality. And that's why we have put forth a very aggressive customer-focused quality initiative over the past three years. Since 2007, the volume of dealer claims on a per-vehicle basis has dropped 45 percent across our portfolio. We have seen literally hundreds of thousands fewer claims in the U.S. market, so we're not saying we're perfect and we've got a lot of work to do, but we have substantially cut our warranty claims." "Now the Aveo has been a very low performing scorer in Consumer Reports, but we have a new one coming. It's going to start being built next year at our Orion Township plant in Michigan and it has the same type of engineering capability as the Equinox, Camaro, the Malibu-- all of our fresh products. So expect that to be a knockout from a performance perspective. "The Escalade is a tough one because that is one of our lowest warranty vehicles that we have today, and it's a pretty good vehicle. The Colorado and Canyon are cars that are going to have to be refreshed at some point. They're not the premium vehicles like you see launched today, but we've got a plan for that as well. "We got past the debate three years ago in the company about whether or not we were going to listen to this survey or that survey, whether it was Consumer Reports or J.D. Power. And we decided we better win them all. We won't rest until absolutely every product is at the top. "When we build our cars today, we actually take Consumer Reports test procedures and we integrate them into our vehicles as we build them, so we've changed our whole philosophy on how we design and build cars over the past few years, which I think is one of the reasons that we're selling them. Because we've listened to [the test reports], and now it's starting to pay off." |
Competitive Connection |
GM Sales Closely Track Economy: Survey |
A new study says that some automakers depend more heavily than others on a positive economy to stimulate sales. The study by TrueCar.com, which provides auto pricing data, said that General Motors and Chrysler "are consistently dependent on a solid economy." By contrast, Hyundai and Honda are the least dependent. TrueCar.com looked at the relationship between new vehicle sales and four leading economic indicators: the Dow Jones Index, housing starts, unemployment and consumer confidence. "The real revelation was the emergence of Hyundai as an 'economy proof' manufacturer -- with the lowest percentage correlation in virtually every category amongst all major manufacturers," Jesse Toprak, TrueCar vice president of industry trends said. For instance, in the case of the Dow Jones Index, the study found that 85% of the time, GM sales were up when the average was up over the previous month and down when the average was down compared with the previous month, Toprak said. Correlations for other manufacturers are Chrysler, 82%; Daimler-Benz, 79%; Porsche, 77%; Toyota, 76%; Ford, 72%; Nissan, 67%; Honda, 64%; BMW 59% and Hyundai, 27%. Overall correlation was 81%. GM and Chrysler were above the industry average in all four categories, while every other manufacturer was below the average in all four categories. The study examined data from January 2007 to March 2010. Source – TheStreet.com – April 15, 2010 |
GM, Ford, Toyota Use Deals to Fight for Top Sales Spot |
It ain't pretty, but the race for leadership in U.S. auto sales has turned into a fascinating neck-and-neck-and-neck tussle among General Motors, Ford and Toyota. Like jockeys prodding their horses to speed up on a muddy track, the automakers used incentives to pull in customers in March, pushing sales to the highest level since the cash-for-clunkers rebates of last August. GM sold 188,011 cars and light trucks last month, narrowly edging out Toyota (186,863) and Ford (183,425), as each of the three grabbed nearly 18 percent of the U.S. market. Overall, the annual sales rate in March was about 12 million vehicles. That's better than the paltry rate of 9.8 million a year ago, but a far cry from the glory days of 1999-2007, when sales exceeded 16 million every year. So it's still a struggle, but a very intriguing one for the three auto giants:
Source – Detroit Free Press – April 2, 2010 |
Toyota Tries to Control Damage on Consumer Reports Story |
The swift reaction by Toyota to suspend sales of one of its upscale Lexus sport utility vehicles after it failed a Consumer Reports safety test illustrates how sensitive the auto industry has become in the wake of a series of large recalls in recent months. Just hours after the magazine's influential buyer's guide said shoppers should not purchase the 2010 model year Lexus GX 460 SUV because of the possibility of a rollover, the automaker pulled the vehicle from its dealership showrooms. Toyota said that it was putting the vehicle through a new set of tests to see if it could replicate the problem Consumer Reports spotted. "Toyota is heeding all the criticism they are getting, including claims that they are slow to react to complaints," said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of auto information firm Edmunds.com. "They don't want to take any chances." Read More>> |
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Competition Around The World |
Ford Opposes German Aid for GM's Opel Unit |
Ford said it opposes Germany providing aid to help General Motors' Opel unit restructure. "Restructuring your business is your own job and you should pay for it yourself and you should not use taxpayer money," Wolfgang Schneider, Ford of Europe's vice president of government affairs, said. "We are definitely against any support for Opel." German assistance for Opel would give GM an unfair advantage and might prevent the Detroit-based automaker from eliminating excess capacity in Europe, Schneider said. Opel asked for as much as $1.8 billion in loan guarantees from Germany as part of a total request of almost $2.7 billion from several European governments, said Stefan Weinmann, a GM spokesman. The U.K. has granted loan guarantees valued at $400 million, he said. "The European Union has specifically set up a framework whereby individual countries are able to support companies that have gotten into economic distress," Weinmann said. "We're not asking for special treatment. We're asking for the guarantees made available for this very purpose." European governments provided $12 billion in loan guarantees to automakers last year, with none of that going to Opel, Weinmann said. Western Europe hasn't addressed overcapacity to build autos as fast as other regions have, said Michael Robinet, an analyst at research firm CSM Worldwide. "At some point, the European industry is going to have to face the facts and look at consolidation as a solution," he said. "It's going to be more and more difficult to maintain the same level of capacity in western Europe because the world is catching up in quality" and costs are lower elsewhere. Source – Bloomberg – April 15, 2010 |
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On the Internet |
The Evolution of GM's Crash Test Dummies |
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Peek at Camaro Convertible |
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Faces of GM |
Gery Kissel, Engineering Specialist, Global Battery Systems Engineering - Amateur astronomer; flies battery-powered, radio-controlled airplanes with his kids, and writes the codes and standards for the wiring and charging components of the Chevy Volt. Gery has had a fascinating career! |
Did You Know? |
GM, Carfax Team to Help Consumers Identify Recalls |
2010-04-14
GM is providing millions of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) to Carfax for cars, trucks and crossovers with open recalls. Used car buyers and sellers will be able to access this information through Carfax Vehicle History Reports and at www.carfax.com/recall by May 1. Those VINs also include used Hummer, Saab, Pontiac and Saturn models – brands that GM no longer sells. Consumers utilizing these resources can help significantly increase completion rates on open recalls, according to Carfax research. About four out of five GM owners complete recall repairs within 18 months of being notified of a recall. "We know some people do not take their vehicles in for recall repairs when they get their letters. Carfax makes it easy for consumers to find out whether a vehicle they are considering has an open recall and increases the chances of that repair being made," said Jamie Hresko, GM vice president of Global Quality. "If that recall is handled well in the dealership, it can lead to more satisfied customers." In addition to regular mail required for safety recalls, GM's OnStar operators alert owners of open recalls and they are included on monthly OnStar diagnostic reports emailed to owners who opt for the service. Read More>> |
GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre will host a press conference at GM's Fairfax, Kansas Assembly Plant on Wednesday, April 21 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Central time (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Eastern time). 
General Motors Company today announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia A. Telles to its board of directors.
GM's Global Battery Systems Lab at the Warren Tech Center has been awarded world-class accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a non-profit, public service group that evaluates the competency and capability in labs across all fields of testing.
General Motors is doubling the size of the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the U.S. to expedite the development of electrically driven vehicles for consumers.
NASA will launch the first human-like robot to space later this year to become a permanent resident of the International Space Station. Robonaut 2, or R2, was developed jointly by NASA and General Motors under a cooperative agreement to develop a robotic assistant that can work alongside humans, whether they be astronauts in space or workers at GM manufacturing plants on Earth.
The long and winding road is a little less treacherous with head lamps on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse that partially follow the curves and help spot that deer before it's in the headlights.
It has happened to every driver at one time or another; another vehicle hiding in your blind spot when you are trying to change lanes. Even when no crash results, your heart pounds from the adrenaline rush of the close call.
Slated to arrive in Cadillac showrooms in the spring of 2010, the CTS Coupe is a new luxury sports coupe designed to become the centerpiece of the brand's lineup. A high-performance V-Series edition of the Coupe will also be released in 2010.
Bob Lutz steps down as GM vice chairman on May 1. AOL Autos features Bob in an exit interview currently, calling him the "colorful, outspoken, 'ultimate car guy'". 
In a new 
Chevrolet gave Camaro fans a peek at the convertible version via Facebook on April 14. As one fan posted: "Awesome .. I want one!"
Owners of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles and customers in the market for used models will soon be able to check for unrepaired safety, non-compliance and emission recalls through Carfax, the companies announced Wednesday.