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September 29, 2006

Introducing Mr. October

By Alicia Dorset
Blog Editor

We at GM blogs have been enjoying working with photo and car buffs at Flickr during the past few months. Starting with October, we'll also have a monthly photo calendar for you to download. We've added some facts about GM's history and some coming events on the calendar. This month's calendar features Bob Lutz and the Chevy Sequel Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle at Camp Pendleton, California . Look for the calendars at Flickr.

Posted by Editor at 4:30 PM
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Clear Skies on Highway 71

By Jillian Beauman
Guest blogger

We could not have asked for better weather today as we cruised the 565 miles from Nashville to Pittsburgh on the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid. With sunny skies and Willie Nelson's On the Road Again classic playing on our bus, we have perfect driving conditions as The Drive makes its way to the next benefit concert.

Yesterday, after the long trek from Dallas,The Drive arrived in Nashville just in time for the street party at the Riverfront Park after the long journey from Dallas. This was my first trip to The Music City and Gnash, the blue saber-tooth mascot for the NHL's Nashville Predators, made sure we felt right at home. Gnash's trademark is his incredible stunts, and he gave the Heritage vehicle owners a good laugh as he theatrically viewed their trucks.

One of these trucks was a 1957 Chevy 1/2 Ton owned by Mickey and Nancy Miller from Canton, Ohio. Mickey, a Chevrolet dealer by trade, said that his mission is to keep the car so that it looks exactly as it did 51 years ago. The aqua-and-cream finish is the shade of the popular color scheme from the 50's, Mickey made special arrangements to travel with The Drive, saying that he wanted to be a part of something special.

"Traveling with the Silverado Drive for Farm Aid gives me the opportunity to share my love for trucks with people from all over the country," he said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Mickey and I then went over to the main stage, where the street party was kicking off with a performance by The Lost Trailers. The five group members, who are featured next to a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette in the new Chevy Country Music Calendar, instantly ignited the crowd with high energy.

Stokes Nielson, the band's songwriter, said that the name came after a trailer full of instruments and equipment was stolen when the band was first getting started. The band, performed their first live concert at Willie Nelson's 4th of July picnic.

"We are happy that we could team up with Chevy to support Willie and the Farm Aid cause," said Stokes.

Next I sat down with country music sensation Phil Vassar on his tour bus before his show. Phil told me he is so passionate about the Chevy brand that he wrote a new song titled "My Chevrolet." Phil is known as one of Nashville's finest songwriters and has penned hits for Alan Jackson, Collin Raye, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina. Now a smash recording artist himself, Phil performed some songs from his latest album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1.

Tonight we will be in Pittsburgh to watch the fourth and final concert for The Drive. Montgomery Gentry will be performing at SouthSide Works, and there will also be an autograph session by some Pittsburgh Steelers. If you're in the area, stop on by to support the Farm Aid cause, see a great show, and enjoy the crisp autumn weather.

Take a look at our Flickr photo set we've created for The Drive, too.

Posted by Editor at 3:41 PM
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Friday, Sept. 29

Today's video clip of 1954 Chevy Bel Air comes from chevysclassics.

If you'd like to see your YouTube clip featured as our Video of the Week, tag it "gmfyi" on YouTube and we'll find it.

Posted by Editor at 11:09 AM
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Friday, Sept. 29

A manipulation of my '01 Grand Prix.

Today's photo comes from the albums of ShapeMemory.

Be sure to look at all of ShapeMemory's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 11:06 AM
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September 28, 2006

The Journey Begins

By Jillian Beauman
Guest Blogger

Speed may not be the priority for the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid, but good music for a great cause sure is. I am enjoying the scenery as we depart Dallas and make our way to Nashville, Tenn., on the first leg of the trip. The Drive will be traveling through a total of 11 states on its way to Farm Aid in Camden, NJ, stopping in three cities to host its own concerts and help raise money to keep family farmers on their land.

The Drive kick-off was held last night at the State Fair Grounds of Texas. The state fair officially opens this coming weekend and is home to the 211-foot Texas Star, the tallest Ferris Wheel in North America. Visitors to the state fair are greeted by Big Tex, who has been the fair's official mascot since 1952. Wearing size 70 cowboy boots and a 75-gallon Stetson hat, Big Tex's pants alone require 72 yards of denim. This All-American Fairground was the ideal place to begin The Drive.

Before heading into the kick-off event, I had the opportunity to check out a few of the heritage vehicles touring with the drive. Steve Ady, proud owner of a 1957 Long Box, gave me an in-depth tour of his truck. Steve has had his truck for five years, and has kept his promise to its original owner that he would keep the truck as authentic as possible. While he has added new wheels and tires to the truck, he has not touched the body.

"The smiles that I get from passerbys when they see me with my truck — it's such an amazing feeling," he said.

Steve and I then made our way to the event, where the new 2007 Chevy Silverado was unveiled to the general public. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry later came on stage ready to rock and instantly got the crowd on its feet. Nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year for the 2006 CMA Awards, the guys put on a rockin' show, performing hits including Lonely and Gone, She Couldn't Change Me and Speed.

Tonight The Drive stops in both Indianapolis and Nashville for street parties featuring live performers. The concert in Indianapolis will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and features what is sure to be another energetic performance by Montgomery Gentry. At the Riverfront Park in Nashville, the Lost Trailers will perform, followed by Phil Vassar, one of the most talented songwriters in the city. Both events are open to the public and free, although concert goers are invited to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to local food banks.

Give us a wave if you see our trucks passing on the highway. I'll be sure to wave back — until The Drive arrives in Nashville, I will be listening to some tunes and gazing out the window towards the open road.

Posted by Editor at 7:03 PM
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Thursday, Sept. 28

Today's photo comes from the albums of Dave Gorman.

Be sure to look at all of Dave Gorman's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:49 AM
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September 27, 2006

Drive for Farm Aid: A Look at the Road Ahead

By Jillian Beauman
Guest blogger

As I get ready to pack my bags for the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid, I still can't believe my good fortune. A PR professional from Minneapolis, I have been asked to ride along to aid in documenting the drive. Kicking off tomorrow in Dallas, Texas, this 2,800-mile road trip through the heartland of America will make pit stops in four cities over four days, giving us a chance to stretch our legs, attend concerts by some of the biggest names in country music and come together to raise money for a good cause.

The trip begins at the State Fair of Texas Fairgrounds outside of Dallas on Sept. 27 after a live performance by Montgomery Gentry. From there, the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid heads to Nashville and Indianapolis on the 28th and Pittsburgh on 29th before arriving at the Farm Aid concert on Sept. 30. Montgomery Gentry will perform at the street parties in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, while Phil Vassar will perform in Nashville.

The Chevy Silverado pickup has a long history in America, so traveling with us will be a fleet of vintage Chevy pickups dating back to the 1930s. The panorama of fields and farms that we pass along the highway will remind us of the Farm Aid cause that we are traveling for: to provide assistance to families whose livelihood depends on agriculture.

The musical performances and street parties in Nashville, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh are free and open to the public. Visitors can enter to win a trip for two to Nashville for the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi. Come check out the new Silverado, listen to some great country music, and support the Farm Aid cause. I'll see you out on the road!

Posted by Editor at 12:23 PM
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Wednesday, Sept. 27

When the early 90's cars get dirty, they take a hard rock bath.

Today's Cadillac photo comes from the albums of sirslushy.

Be sure to look at all of sirslushy's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:43 AM
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September 26, 2006

The Sound of the Future: GM's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Joins the U.S. Army

By Scott Fosgard
Director, GM Powertrain Communications

About a dozen television cameras and about 50 people gathered last Thursday to hear the sound of the future in Washington D.C. It's like no vehicle sound you've ever known. The compressors take in air and it sounds like a far-off jet engine. That’s the sound of the GM Sequel Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle. This past Thursday was its first day as an enlistee.

Over the past few years, GM has invested $1 billion in alternative fuel technologies. U.S. Army Major General Roger A. Nadeau accepted the keys to the first Chevrolet Equinox to be deployed with the next-generation hydrogen fuel cell power plant. It's cleaner than anything on the road. It's more energy efficient than anything on the road - twice as efficient as internal combustion engines.

At a Capitol Hill announcement, Larry Burns, GM Vice President for Research and Development and Strategic Planning, took questions about the car:

• When can I buy one? (Can't set the date, but in the next decade, for sure)
  
• How far can it go? (186 miles of petroleum-free operating range!)

And Michigan's senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, shared their views on the reasons to ensure this technology goes forward: national security, reduced oil dependence, technology leadership and the potential for economic benefits for American manufacturers. As Senator Levin exited the car, he said: "It's a keeper!"

This is all part of a larger effort to have 100 fuel cell vehicles on the road by fall of 2007. The test fleet, called Project Driveway, will help GM learn more about how these vehicles perform in continuous "real-life" use.

If you live in the New York City or Washington D.C. areas or in California, keep your eyes open for the white Equinox with the GM Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle sign.

Check out the coverage on WCVB-TV's web site. Check out our Flickr set for more on the Equinox.

Posted by Editor at 12:16 PM
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Video: Student Cobalt Project in Action

Editor's note: Last month, FYI brought you daily coverage from the Bonneville Salt Flats, where GM Performance Division and its partners from So-Cal Speed Shop set three new land speed records with Ecotec-powered vehicles during the 58th Annual Speed Week event.

By Phil Colley
GM Performance Division Communications

The team set two records on Aug. 13 in the G/FCC class (G Class/Unblown Fuel Competition Coupe) with the Bonneville Student Project Chevy Cobalt SS and the G/BFALT class (G Class/Blown Fuel Altered Coupe) with the Chevy So-Cal Cobalt SS during the first record return runs of the week.

Running only on E85 ethanol, the Student Project Cobalt SS broke the previous 19-year-old record set by Doc Jeffries in 1987 with a speed of 156.073 mph. The car then upped that record two more times throughout the week using E85 combined with nitrous oxide. Its final top speed was 172.680 mph in the G/FCC class (G Class/Unblown Fuel Competition Coupe). It was the first time E85 ethanol had been used to set a record at Bonneville.

Ecotec-powered vehicles have now set eight records during the past four years with some form of GM engineering involvement. To see the student-developed, E85-powered Cobalt in action, take a look at this video clip, which takes you inside the vehicle with GM Performance Division engineer and driver Mark Dickens as the record is set.

Posted by Editor at 10:51 AM
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Tuesday, Sept. 26

Today's photo of a 1965 GTO comes from the albums of mrkholcomb.

Be sure to look at all of mrkholcomb's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:41 AM
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September 25, 2006

Janesville Plant Has Farming Roots

By Carolyn Markey
Janesville Assembly

GM’s Janesville, Wisc., Assembly plant has produced more than half a million trucks capable of running on corn-based E-85 ethanol. But back in 1919, farmers counted on the Janesville plant for another reason: Samson Model M tractors.

The Model M cost $445 and used a four-cylinder Northway engine with a disc-type clutch. Moving parts were enclosed and self-oiling, making them low maintenance. The Model M was advertised to be so simple that the toolbox only contained three wrenches.

A smaller Model D tractor, called the Iron Horse, was built to drive with reins, similar to a team of horses. This allowed the farmer to seat himself on the tractor, on the seat of an attached implement, or even walk alongside the machinery. The Iron Horse was advertised as a price deal compared to horses, which needed food, housing, veterinary visits, etc.

The Samson Tractor Company ventured into the automobile industry in 1920. Remaining true to their beginnings, the early Samson trucks were adaptable to farm use and had a variety of attachments such as wheel extensions for driving over fields and rough terrain.

A Samson truck is currently on display in the Janesville Assembly plant’s Heritage Hall, and is on long-term loan from the Rock County Historical Society.

The plant currently builds the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Yukon Denali, Yukon Denali XL and Isuzu/GM Low Cab Forward medium-duty truck.

Posted by Editor at 1:27 PM
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Monday, Sept. 25

Picture undated, but the caption reads: One of the most dramatic points in the automobile assembly process at the new General Motors plant in Fremont, Calif., is the "body drop" station on the final assembly line - onto their matching chassis which have been assembled in another area of the plant. Linking together all production departments throughout the two-million square foot facility, an electronic "broadcasting" system assures that the correct parts and accessories for a given car will arrive at the proper place at exactly the right time.

Today's photo comes from the albums of FremontFlickr.

Be sure to look at all of FremontFlickr's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 11:34 AM
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September 22, 2006

Turning Waste into Valuable Resources

By Ray Tessier
Group Director, BWFG Environmental Services

Like most manufacturing companies, GM has always generated waste during its history. This was considered a cost of doing business. In the mid-1990s, however, GM started to view this waste differently. GM began to view these materials as wasted resources — resources that had value. So, GM developed a program where a contractor would come into a plant to manage these wasted resources to the highest value.

The mantra of the “Resource Management” program called for:

• Elimination of Waste
  
• Prevention of Waste
  
• Recycle / Reuse of Waste
  
• Energy Recovery from Waste
  
• Disposal of Waste

As a company, GM established some aggressive goals regarding the reduction of waste — not only in North America, but around the world. During the five-year period from 2000 to 2005, GM’s global facilities reduced the amount of waste generated by more than 1 million metric tons, or 15 percent per vehicle produced.

GM also wanted to take advantage of the waste materials that it produced. The majority of that waste is scrap steel. All of the scrap steel (and other metal) is recycled — either within GM’s own foundries or to brokers from other companies to use in their own products.

For the oil previously wasted, GM now has an oil reuse program, where waste oil is sent for cleaning and re-refining, and then brought back into plants for reuse at a savings of approximately 25 percent versus virgin oil. Worldwide, GM recycles more than 88 percent of all waste generated, producing value for the company.

As the amount of waste has been reduced, GM has also been able to examine the potential for completely eliminating landfill waste at some of its facilities. This has become a reality at Flint Engine South (Michigan), and Tonawanda Engine (New York). This was not an easy goal, as the people at the plant and the resource managers needed to find new and innovative ways of handling the small waste streams remaining. Now, these streams are converted into energy through combustion.

GM is proud of achieving landfill-free status at these two facilities, but we feel there is much more to be accomplished. Working with resource management contractors, GM is keying in on wastes that have not been recycled in the past. Research is being done on potential reuses of paint sludge. This is an ongoing effort each and every day at GM — an effort taking everyone down the “Road to Zero” emissions.

Posted by Editor at 1:34 PM
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Friday, Sept. 22

This week's video comes from mike goss.

If you'd like to see your YouTube clip featured as our Video of the Week, tag it "gmfyi" on YouTube and we'll find it.

Posted by Editor at 12:43 PM
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Friday, Sept. 22

Today's photo of a 1966 Oldsmobile ad comes from the albums of hungry_i.

Be sure to look at all of hungry_i's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:33 AM
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September 21, 2006

Car Care Tips

Today’s automobiles are very complex, and fixing them can be a daunting task. Even if you’re not a technician, though, you can perform some tasks on your own. By periodically taking the time to inspect your vehicle, you’re helping to keep it in good working condition. Doing preventive maintenance up front can help avoid potentially costly repairs later. And, a well-maintained vehicle will probably get better gas mileage.

In today's interview, Stephanie Gehl discusses what items on a vehicle should be inspected and maintained, how regular maintenance helps save fuel, and what consumers can do on their own to help keep their vehicles in good working order.

Gehl has served as portfolio manager of quick service products for GM Service and Parts Operations’ Maintenance and Repair business line since June 2003. In this role, she is responsible for the revenue and profit for the portfolio.

Listen to the interview

Posted by Editor at 10:34 AM
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Thursday, Sept. 21

Today's photo of a Chevy Nomad comes from the albums of BSKIT.

Be sure to look at all of BSKIT's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:30 AM
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September 20, 2006

OnStar Sponsors Lifetime Movie About Origins of the AMBER Alert System

By Jocelyn K. Allen
OnStar Senior Communications Manager

On Sept. 24, at 6 p.m., Lifetime Television will air Amber’s Story, a film about 9-year-old Amber Hagerman who was kidnapped and murdered while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, in 1996.

The AMBER Alert program (which stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response), named in honor of Amber Hagerman, is a successful partnership between the nation's law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, and transportation agencies to activate emergency bulletins to the public in the most serious child-abduction cases. Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System to air a description of the abducted child and suspected abductor.
Following Amber’s death, Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children.

What does OnStar have to do with this? OnStar has worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to enable its subscribers to report emergency information related to an AMBER Alert, missing or lost child by pressing the red OnStar emergency button in their vehicles. Immediately, subscribers will be connected with an OnStar emergency services advisor who will expedite the call to a 911 dispatcher. OnStar hopes that an additional 4 million sets of watchful eyes on the road may help find missing children and reconnect them with their families.

To date, more than 280 children have been recovered as a direct result of an AMBER Alert broadcast.
For more information about AMBER Alert, contact NCMEC at (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678) or visit Missingkids.com.

Posted by Editor at 4:17 PM
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Technician Shortage

Today’s vehicles are sophisticated, technologically advanced machinery with new features and systems being added all of the time. This — coupled with the ever-increasing number of car, truck, SUV, cross-over, and hybrid makes and models — means automotive technicians need to be better trained than ever to help keep vehicles on the road.

In today's inteview, Todd Dawn discusses how vehicle maintenance and repair has changed over the past 10 years, why there’s a need for well-trained automotive service technicians, and how young women and men interested in this career can get started.

Dawn is the manager of Aftermarket Training for GM’s Service and Parts Operations. He is responsible for ACDelco’s training curriculum, which incorporate technical, business, e-business, and product-related training. Dawn oversees every aspect of training — from providing guidance for new courses to ensuring the final training is delivered effectively — to ensure ACDelco maintains its training leadership position in the aftermarket.

Listen to the interview

Posted by Editor at 10:20 AM
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Wednesday, Sept. 20

This was taken during the Corvette for Kids Road Tour, a fundraiser for a not-for-profit camp where all participants are children with cancer. The fundraiser has raised over $183,000CAN since its inception.

Today's Corvette photo comes from the albums of Gr8 Big C.

Be sure to look at all of Gr8 Big C's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:17 AM
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September 19, 2006

Counterfeiting Parts

Say the word “counterfeit” and it might conjure up images of knock-off handbags, bootlegged DVDs, or even funny money… auto parts usually aren’t on the list.

However, counterfeiting auto parts often leads to the distribution of inferior and unsafe parts to consumers. Counterfeit auto parts can undermine a brand’s image and hurt an automaker’s reputation with consumers.

In this interview from Fast Lane Radio, Cliff Cohen and Neal Zipser discuss the impact of counterfeiting on the automotive industry, why this issue matters to consumers, and what they can do about it.

Cohen is the manager of Global Brand Protection and Licensing for GM’s Service and Parts Operations. He is responsible for SPO’s global coordination of all activities surround the identification and investigation — through GM Global Security — of brand protection and licensing issues. His responsibilities focus on four main areas: Counterfeiting, Product Diversion, Branding, and Packaging. Cohen works cross-functionally, and cross-regionally, to seek out and eliminate counterfeiting activity associated with all of GM’s service parts brands, i.e. ACDelco, GM Accessories, and GM Parts brands.

Zipser is the vice president of Marketing and Communications for the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). He is responsible for coordinating the marketing and communications programs of MEMA and its various aftermarket, original equipment and heavy duty-related market groups. He also serves as senior editor of FOCUS, MEMA's quarterly magazine, and as executive director of the Automotive Public Relations Council and Motor Vehicle Lighting Council.

Listen to the interview

Posted by Editor at 11:40 AM
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Tuesday, Sept. 19

Today's photo of a 1967 Firebird comes from the albums of MPHDodgeDaytona.

Be sure to look at all of MPHDodgeDaytona's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 9:34 AM
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September 18, 2006

GM’s Doing as Much as Any Automaker to Reduce Oil Dependence

(Editor’s note: Journalist Derrick Jackson of The Boston Globe recently attacked Detroit’s automakers in his syndicated column. Below is our response. We submitted this to the Globe, but the newspaper declined to run it, citing its policy of not accepting op/eds that respond to Globe columns. The Globe did run a much shorter version of this response in their letters to the editor column Saturday (Sept. 16). We asked that they include this blog’s address at the end of the letter, so their readers could see the full text. They declined. The Miami Herald also ran the Jackson column, and also declined to run our response. Fortunately, our blogs give us a chance to give you the full story, from our point of view, and expand the debate beyond the Globe’s op/ed page. Let us know what you think.)

By Steven J. Harris
Vice President, Global Communications

If Derrick Jackson truly believes that you can learn “everything you need to know about American automakers” by reading four newspaper clippings, perhaps he should consider another line of work. That kind of half-baked research leads to half-baked columns, like the one The Boston Globe published Sept. 2.

General Motors is working hard to build a stronger America that’s less dependent on oil, and we’re making significant progress. What we don’t appreciate is the kind of cynical propaganda that Mr. Jackson has engaged in recently, which seeks to portray Detroit automakers as buffoons and our Japanese competitors as flawless. It’s almost as if he wants the U.S. auto industry to fail. Why?

We agree with him that this nation needs to reduce its dependence on oil. GM is doing as much or more than any automaker to address this issue, from making our gasoline engines more fuel-efficient with new technologies, to producing cars and trucks that can run on ethanol-based fuel, to investing heavily in hybrid and fuel-cell powertrains.

GM also is well-positioned for the shift to more fuel-efficient cars and crossover vehicles. In fact, GM offers more vehicles that are EPA-rated at 30 mpg or better on the highway than any other automaker. More than Toyota, Honda or Nissan.

So far this year, Americans have bought more than 865,000 of our 30-mpg-or-better cars. Our new full-size SUVs that Mr. Jackson disparages also are selling well, in part because they have better EPA highway-mileage estimates than any of the competing SUVs offered by Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Ford.

Here are some other pertinent facts that Mr. Jackson chose to ignore:

• Last year’s top-selling subcompact was the fuel-stingy Chevy Aveo, and an all-new ’07 Aveo sedan has just debuted. Honda and Nissan just recently entered this growing segment, and Toyota just re-entered it after pulling its previous entry out of the U.S. market due to poor sales.
• The recently introduced Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid offers the best highway fuel economy of any SUV (EPA rated at 32 mpg) at a price significantly less than its hybrid competitors. The Vue is one of a dozen hybrid vehicles that GM will launch in the next few years.
• GM has put 478 GM-powered hybrid public transit buses on the streets of 39 cities in the United States and Canada over the past few years. They’re saving thousands of gallons of fuel every week.
• GM recently announced a new V-8 turbo-diesel engine that will improve engine fuel efficiency by 25 percent for our future light duty trucks sold in North America.
• GM is investing heavily in the one technology that promises to end our dependence on oil forever: fuel cells. We’ve made incredible progress in driving down the cost of this technology to make it practical. We just announced plans to build and deploy a demonstration fleet of more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicles starting in fall 2007.
• GM has put more than 2 million vehicles on the road that are capable of running on E85, and is working with distributors and government to increase the number of service stations that offer this ethanol-based alternative fuel.
• Toyota’s growth in the United States over the past decade has come primarily from expanding its vehicle lineup into the pickup and SUV segments that Mr. Jackson finds so offensive. In many of those segments, Toyota’s offerings get worse mileage than GM’s. Toyota also is building a new plant in Texas to build more full-size pickups, not more hybrids.
• The new Chevy Camaro will join the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger in the well-established performance car segment. As much as Mr. Jackson may find no appeal in a stylish, high-performance coupe, millions of Americans do and have passionately urged GM to bring back the Camaro. We would be foolish not to meet that demand. By the way, Honda and Toyota apparently agree: Both Japanese automakers reportedly are working on their own high-performance sports cars for the U.S. market.
• Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and Land Rover also offer full-size or large luxury SUVs. They do so because there’s significant demand and these are some of the most profitable vehicles in the U.S. market. For those with large families and a boat or trailer to tow, the Chevy Suburban is practical option. You can’t tow a boat or haul a family of six with its camping gear in a Toyota Prius.

Ultimately, consumers decide what they will buy based on their own calculation of their needs, desires and budgets.

For those who want fuel-efficient small cars, GM offers them. For those who have a need for a full-size SUV and want the one that has the best fuel economy and can run on E85, we offer those. For those looking for a hybrid, we’ve got those, too.

If all Mr. Jackson is seeing from Detroit are “metallic mastodons,” perhaps he ought to get out of his office and visit a GM dealership. Or at least read more than four articles. He might find it enlightening.

Posted by Editor at 12:00 PM
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Monday, Sept. 18

This grille is from an old Saab (1960's I guess). You can see an image of an airplane, which reminds us of the origins of SAAB - Svenska Aeroplan AB ("Swedish Airplane, Ltd"). They build airplanes, see? Even modern fighter jets, mind you. Try searching for "JAS Gripen" at Google.

Today's photo comes from the albums of samikki.

Be sure to look at all of samikki's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 11:15 AM
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September 15, 2006

Friday, Sept. 15

This week's video comes from fsalaza.

If you'd like to see your YouTube clip featured as our Video of the Week, tag it "gmfyi" on YouTube and we'll find it.

Posted by Editor at 11:53 AM
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Friday, Sept. 15

My nephew Alec has a new car. Well, new to him, that is. My brother acquired an older, wrecked Cavalier that he and Alec are going to fix up together. Alec is 12. Jeff had his first car at 13 ~ an old VW that he and my father restored. Since Jeff was underage, he only drove the car on our property. Which means he drove that flippin' thing UP and DOWN the driveway for hours and hours. (Guess who's bedroom was right next to the driveway?) Now, since I live next door to my brother, I can only look forward to Alec repeating the UP and DOWN the driveway trick. I'm glad my bedroom is on the other side of the house. *sigh*

Today's photo comes from the albums of MacaDamien.

Be sure to look at all of MacaDamien's photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:35 AM
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The Long Way Home

By Peter G. Gilbert

Editor’s note: Peter Gilbert recently traveled from Milwaukee to Lake George, NY, for the 2006 Saab Owners Convention at the Roaring Brook Ranch to celebrate the 1 millionth mile on his 17-year-old 1989 Saab 900 SPG. He’s had some good times and even better stories with his SPG over the years; his journey back home from the convention was no exception.

As I left Roaring Brook at 7.30 a.m., there was an ephemeral beauty to the whole morning. Not only was it misty and damp, the odometer on the SPG read 000,001, which could only mean it was a new beginning!

When the engine fired up, I had visions of the last flight of the Memphis Belle, a long flight home without incident. (As an aviation lover, I’m an honorary member of the 8th Air Force. Had my SPG been a WW II bomber, 1 million miles would have been, on average, 1,666 return missions from England to Germany.)

The trip left early, so that Jonathan, my son, could catch the early departure from the Albany Airport. Taxiing toward Highway 9, the car had difficulty getting into gear, and by the time I left Albany, it could only take off by turning off the engine, engaging first, starting the engine again and then changing gear very slowly. There was a hydraulic problem, which literally cropped up overnight. Luckily my car was flawless for that millionth mile!

I reached Erie, Penn., on Sunday afternoon by doing the described remedy. Luckily there were only several stops along the Truway . I was waiting for my two fellow Milwaukee wingmen, Andy and Rudy, to finally touchdown with my 2001 Viggen.

By now it was apparent that it was going to be impossible to avoid the flak going through Chicago's evening rush hour the next day. When the fighter escort finally showed up at 10 p.m., we debated on how to remedy the problem.

I decided to leave Erie at 5 a.m. and drive 200 miles all the way back to Geneva, NY. Upon my departure I met Dan Fitzgerald, the owner of GFS, a pre-owned Saab dealer. I knew he could get the clutch replaced quickly and have the parts available.

Other than the clutch that was installed in Trollhatten, I’ve only replaced two others, with slaves each time, and only one master replacement.

With all those million miles, you didn’t think I was going to have a boring flight home, did you?

Posted by Editor at 9:46 AM
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September 14, 2006

Thursday, Sept. 14

model of a 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS that i'm working on. yes, i painted the numbers and pointers on those gauges.

Today's photo comes from the albums of .james r.

Be sure to look at all of .james r.'s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with "gmfyi."

Posted by Editor at 10:02 AM
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