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August 31, 2007

Save Gas, Save Money with OnStar

By Sandy Knechtel
OnStar, Service Line Marketing Manager

The end of summer looms. Ah, it’s always too short. Labor Day, the unofficial last weekend of the summer, is here. Gas prices are still hovering near $3 a gallon and weekend drivers, like me, are looking for ways to save money on those last treks, weekend escapes and back-to-school runs.

I found a web site that provides some simple, but money-saving, tips to improve fuel efficiency. Each tip comes with its own cost savings. It’s a must-visit if you’re taking a road trip.

For instance, did you know that keeping your engine properly tuned could improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, or $0.13/gallon? Or that replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel efficiency by 10 percent, or $0.32/gallon? Avoiding rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds. Combined, that totals $1.06 per gallon in savings! Additional measures you can take include removing excess weight, consolidating trips, and avoiding excessive idling. Some of it’s common sense, but when gas money can eat away at your end-of-summer fun — not to mention that you can also take pride in doing your small part to reduce energy consumption — these savings matter.

So, where does OnStar come into this picture? Two features that many people don’t realize OnStar offers: OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics (OVD) and Turn-By-Turn Navigation (TBT).

Many people have gone to GPS navigation systems to get them where they want to go. I love them, too. What many people don’t know is that OnStar has a navigation service. Driving around lost and looking for your destination wastes time, gas and money, not to mention how much it can try everyone’s patience. The Blue Button can get you there, without having to type in directions or monitor a screen. Safety, security and peace of mind. I like that.

Equally simple, but more technologically complex, to me, is OVD. Without having to do a thing, OVD checks my vehicle's key components, such as engine, transmission, airbags, antilock brakes, electrical systems and remaining oil life. Once a month, I get an e-mail from OnStar that lets me know how my car is performing. And if I suspect something is wrong, I can push the Blue Button and ask for a Remote Diagnostic check. It could mean the difference between making it to the beach or not.

So with the knowledge that I'll be saving money, I'm beginning to actually look forward to traveling over the long weekend.

Engine performance? Check.
Oil life? Check.
Accurate driving directions? Check.
Hawaiian shirts and linen pants? Check.

Safe travels and happy end of summer.

Posted by Editor at 5:59 PM
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August 30, 2007

Woodward Dream Cruise: Bill Strong

Earlier this week we posted photos from Joel Witmeyer from this year's Woodward Dream Cruise. Today, check out photos from Bill Strong, another guest at the cruise. And as always, make sure to take a look at his other photos, too. -Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Posted by Editor at 11:14 AM
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August 28, 2007

From the Archive: 1950

By Alicia Dorset
Blog editor

This week's find from the GM Media Archive is a photo of the 20,000th Holden rolling off the assembly line on Aug. 29, 1950.

Posted by Editor at 11:06 AM
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August 27, 2007

Woodward Dream Cruise: Joel Witmeyer

Take a look at these photos from Flickr member, and recent GM guest at the 2007 Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise, Joel Witmeyer. Make sure to look at his other photos ove on Flickr, too. Check back this week for more photos from the event. -Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Posted by Editor at 2:11 PM
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August 24, 2007

1967 Camaro Paint

Check out this week's video from CruisingWithGM.

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 4:59 PM
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E85 “Mythbusting”

By Mary Beth Stanek
Director, Environment Energy and Safety Policy

There has been a lot of fervor in the press lately over E85, with plenty of rhetoric meant to discourage consumer confidence in this renewable fuel. So, please allow me to do a little “mythbusting” on the subject of E85.

Fact: If all of the E-85 capable vehicles on the road today — including those that GM, Ford, and Chrysler have already committed to produce over the next 10 years — were to run on E-85, we could displace 22 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

And if all manufacturers made the same commitment, we could increase the savings to 37 billion gallons of gasoline annually. That’s more than quadruple the savings that a 4 percent per year CAFE increase would achieve … and, very importantly, enough to actually reduce America’s oil consumption by more than 10 percent versus today’s levels, and CO2 emissions, as well.

Here are a few of myths out there on E85, and truth provided by experts.

Food vs. Fuel — Using corn for ethanol takes away from those supplies that could be used for human food or animal feed, and increases overall food prices.
Not true. Each year there is an average 1 billion bushel corn surplus. This will be true for 2007. In response to greater demand, farmers planted the largest corn crop since 1944 and corn prices already are coming down in response. Additionally, ethanol production yields co-products including distillers grain, a high-protein animal feed. The relatively small increases in food prices in 2007 have been attributed to increased energy costs (oil cost). (source: USDA and National Corn Grower’s Association (NCGA))

The increased use of corn to produce ethanol in the U.S. has caused increased prices of tortillas in Mexico. — White corn in Mexico is protected with a tariff against U.S. corn. The tortilla crisis was a result of speculation, not real world corn prices. (Source: USDA and NCGA)

Milk prices are rising due to increased corn price — Milk prices are set by a formula under regional Milk Marketing Orders, the main component of which is supply and demand of dry milk powder, whey powder and cheddar cheese. The regional MMO sets the price bottlers must pay farmers for milk. The prices are high now, thanks to a supply shortfall driven by global trends, including dairy policies in Europe, a long-term drought in Australia, growing demand for milk powder in Asia and the rapid growth of cheese consumption in the United States. Those trends have raised the base price of milk paid to California dairy farmers.
(Source: Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), USDA, USGAO)

Net Energy – It takes more energy to make a gallon of ethanol than that gallon delivers. — False. Current research prepared by Argonne National Laboratory (a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory), indicates a 34% gain in the overall energy input/output equation for the corn-to-ethanol process. That is, if 100 BTUs of energy is used to plant corn, harvest the crop, transport it, etc., 138 BTUs of energy is available in the fuel ethanol. Corn has a positive energy return and future cellulosic biomass will be even better.

It is worth noting that in fact, gasoline has a negative net energy of .87, meaning it takes 13 percent more energy to produce than it delivers. (Source: ANL)

Not enough land — There is not enough farmland to support the amount of corn needed to produce significant amounts of ethanol. We’d have to clear cut forests to get more land. — There are more than 300 million acres of active cropland in the U.S. In 2007, approximately 90 million acres of corn was planted. Only about 5 percent of corn is for human consumption. The rest is for feed, fuel and export. Also, corn yields double every generation through technology, so our farmers are getting better at growing more on less land. (Source: USDA). In the future, marginal lands will be used as biomass becomes the preferred feedstock and a smaller percentage of land will be needed

Never enough ethanol – We could not create enough ethanol in the U.S. to significantly offset the use of fossil fuels. Studies, including two by the DOE and USDA, have proven we can produce 60-90 billion gallons, on an energy equivalent basis, and potentially offset fossil fuel use by 30% or more by 2030.

Water Waste – Significant growth in the production of ethanol will stress available water supplies in local/regional municipalities. — This is an issue, but a manageable one. Ethanol production is water intensive, but technology is improving. It used to take 5 gallons of water to make a gallon of E85 ethanol. Today, it takes about two to three gallons. Ethanol facilities recycle some of water in the process. Gasoline also uses water in production. Technology improvements and better recycling techniques will improve the process. Proper permitting will help prevent issues from arising in local areas. (Source: Clean Fuels Development Coalition and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy)

Carcinogens – Use of E85 ethanol will lead to increased smog and health effects. — This assertion has no basis in fact. There was a study published by Stanford University that indicated that E85 was no better or worse than gas. The media misinterpreted the study. The actual study inputs have been questioned by a number of key people, including the Natural Resource Defense Council who have asked for a blue ribbon review.

The potential of bio-fuels like E-85 to significantly displace petroleum is within our grasp today. GM already has more than 2 million E85-equipped vehicles on the road … but they are not being fully utilized because of constraints on supply and distribution.

What are your thoughts on E85? How can we better promote E85 and help consumers understand the positive benefits of bio-fuels?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Posted by Editor at 3:55 PM
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Photo of the Day: More Concept Corvettes

The Italian-made Corvette Indy from 1985 and the 1973 all-aluminum body Reynolds XP-895 Corvette, plus what appears (at least to me) to be an ordinary mid-1980s Corvette, and a circa 1970 Corvette Stingray, all on display at the GM Heritage Center in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights.

Today's photo comes from the albums of Steve Brandon.

Be sure to look at all of Steve Brandon'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 11:54 AM
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August 23, 2007

What’s in a Name?

By Mark Dziewit, Manager
Chevrolet Global & Marketing/Global IPC Network Support

Hi, I'm Mark Dziewit and among my other responsibilities, I'm the leader of a small global group of individuals who develop, review and/or recommend names for our Chevrolet cars and trucks around the world.

Naming vehicles can generate lots of internal (and for that matter, external) discussion. It's a topic which many people have an opinion and they often don't hesitate to share. But, regardless of what we call any of our vehicles, the name is only a part of the mix driving our success. By far the important element is the great car or truck itself. The product makes the name, not the other way around.

Take Chevrolet Corvette. If we were developing a world-class sport car today, Corvette probably might not even show up on the radar screen. Nevertheless, because of the great cars that have carried this name for the last 50-plus years, Corvette has become an iconic name. Some might say even surpassing that of Chevrolet!

As far as how we pick a name, while final name approval at GM is centralized (formally approved by a senior management group), the actual name development is largely decentralized and the responsibility of the respective GM brands around the world.

When a vehicle program is approved, a predetermined process is set in motion so that we have a name selected in time for design, engineering and manufacturing to do their jobs and insure the vehicle comes out of the plant on schedule. The timing of the process can be different depending on whether we have a completely new vehicle, an update of an existing vehicle, an existing vehicle being sold in a new market or anything in between.

As we move to global programs and Chevrolets are sold in even more than the 130 countries they are sold in it is today, picking the right name becomes even more challenging. In almost every case, any name will have less-than-perfect meaning in some language, or somebody in the world is already using the name. At the end of the day, the actual name selection process falls into just a few buckets:

Developing/selecting a pool of names
Knowing how we want to position our product, trying to understand what our competitors are doing with names, and other factors, we select a pool of names. These names can come from our naming database (I maintain a file of about 750 names), brainstorming or other sources. We'll narrow the pool down to a list of 6-10.

Checks on language usage
Each of our regions check whether there are any negative meanings in the languages of the markets in which the vehicles will be sold.

Trademark checks
Our Legal Staff checks to make sure we are not prevented from using the names by the trademark laws in countries where we will be selling the vehicles.

Possible research
Depending on the size/importance of the vehicle program, the markets in which the vehicles will be sold, whether we've used the names before or the general comfort level we have with the names on our list, we may do what we call "disaster" research in some countries to make sure the names are not inappropriate.

The above steps are an iterative process. We often need to review the possible problems with language usage and make a judgment as to whether the concerns are serious enough to have a name taken off the list. Issues with trademark laws might not be clear or we might want to ask a trademark owner (often another vehicle manufacturer) to release their trademark ownership to us.

Name selection
Often, the iterations reduce the number of available names and/or based on the information we have coming in, a favorite name emerges during the process. In any case, usually one name is selected and informally reviewed with our senior management. Assuming the name passes muster, it will be registered in the respective markets and formally approved by a senior management board.

This is our naming process in a nutshell. Names are important, and we try to pick the best ones, but at the end of the day a good name won't rescue a bad product while a great product will make almost any name a good one.

Posted by Editor at 2:33 PM
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August 22, 2007

Photo of the Day: More Post-Processing

A couple of negative overlays (one desaturated), and wha-lah. Look at the original size version to really appreciate how the textures stand out.

Today's photo comes from the albums of nahasopetalon.

Be sure to look at all of nahasopetalon'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 11:14 AM
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August 21, 2007

Ethanol: My Final Words

By Donna McLallen
GM Assistant Regional Manager, PR/Communications

I love the line in Once Upon A Time In Mexico where Johnny Depp asks, “Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can’t?”

The delivery of that question and its context within the plot line made me laugh. But strangely, it also made me think. Am I an Ameri-can or an Ameri-can’t? Do I live my life with a can-do spirit? Am I part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Of course, there’s much more to my soul-searching than I’ll go into here, but after some reflection, I came to this conclusion: Not only am I an Ameri-can, but I also work for an Ameri-can company, GM.

General Motors is nearing 100 years as a global automotive leader. Few people today remember that in 1942, GM converted 100 percent of its production to the war effort, delivering more than $12.3 billion in material for Allied support. (I’ve been told that $12.3 billion would equate to $30 trillion these days.)

That’s Ameri-can spirit, if I ever heard of any, and that Ameri-can-ism is alive and well at GM today — among the company’s leaders and its workers, like me. I’ve seen it not only in the action GM takes when disaster strikes — like the company’s overwhelming response when hurricanes Rita and Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast, just to name one example of personal relevance to me — but also in the ongoing, day-to-day business priorities, like finding ways to take automobiles completely out of the environmental debate.

GM is a corporation of people working together toward common goals, so forgive me when I, as one of those people, become a bit offended when our motives for promoting ethanol are questioned. The many flaws of CAFE would be another topic of debate altogether, and I can’t speak to the motivation of every GM employee, but I can say — with much certainty — that our intentions in promoting ethanol as a cleaner burning, renewable fuel are noble.

Now when I first posted about ethanol, I must admit, I was not passionate about it. But I am now.

I’m not a professional blogger or even a recreational blogger, and I’ve spent much more time studying, promoting and defending ethanol than I ever dreamed probable, but seeing how the anti-ethanol forces are mobilized and relentless in their inconclusive and largely baseless arguments, it makes me want to rush out and buy a FlexFuel Chevy Impala today.

I guess the thing that bothers me most about the anti-ethanol constituency is their Ameri-can’t attitude. They’re quick to point out flaws, but offer no solutions.

Currently my GM focus is shifting to other business priorities, like the roll out of new ’08 models, including our new, full-size hybrid SUVs built here in Texas. So, I wanted to bring closure to my participation in the ethanol debate here by refuting some of the most prevalent anti-ethanol arguments.

Here are the facts:

1. Using corn for ethanol does NOT significantly increase overall food prices. There are many other factors at work.
   
2. Using corn for ethanol does NOT deplete supplies of animal feed. In fact, one of the byproducts of ethanol production is animal feed.
   
3. Ethanol production does NOT result in a negative net energy balance. More studies claim a positive net energy balance from ethanol production than a negative one, plus four of the six studies in recent years claiming a negative net energy balance were authored by the same researcher.
   
4. There IS enough land for crops used to produce ethanol.
   
5. All aspects of farming are improving. Controlled pesticide use, better land management and bio technologies will help maintain the ecological balance of increased crops to produce ethanol.
   
6. We are already well on our way to a robust cellulosic ethanol industry.
   
7. The use of E85 does indeed reduce C02 emissions as well as hydrocarbons and NOx.
   
8. The increased use of corn to produce ethanol in the U.S. has not caused prices of tortillas to rise in Mexico. White corn in Mexico is protected with a tariff against U.S. corn.
   
9. Ethanol IS a renewable fuel. Those who say it isn’t are just muddying the water, as we like to say in the South.
   
10. We’ve already acknowledged a decrease in fuel efficiency when using ethanol instead of gasoline, but drivers who fuel exclusively with E85 have told me that the difference is such that they don’t mind.

If GM were advocating that all vehicles run solely on ethanol, then I could understand opposition to our E85 promotion. But we’re simply advocating E85 as an alternative that consumers can take advantage of today to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Our FlexFuel vehicles run on both gasoline and E85, so that consumers have a choice in what fuel they use. Plus, we’re continuing to harness GM’s Ameri-can-do spirit to develop better hybrids, electric vehicles and cars propelled by hydrogen fuel cells.

Since I began this post with a movie reference, it’s only fitting that I close with another. To those who question GM’s motives on the fuel issue and other matters of public policy, I ask you to remember this: We are the Autobots, not the Decepticons.

We are the Ameri-cans, not the Ameri-can’ts. Our nation can reduce greenhouse gases and its dependency on foreign oil, and ethanol can help. But it will take Ameri-cans to lead the way.

RELATED

The Ethanol Debate

E85 Days of Summer Tour Kicks Off

Posted by Editor at 11:00 AM
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From the Archive: 1965

By Alicia Dorset
Blog editor

This week's find from the GM Media Archive is a photo of a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Sport Coupe.

Posted by Editor at 9:46 AM
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Photo of the Day: 1962 Impala

Today's photo comes from the albums of low n slow.

Be sure to look at all of low n slow'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 9:45 AM
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August 20, 2007

My Woodward Dream Weekend

By Bill Strong
Guest Blogger

Editor's Note: This past weekend, GM hosted a group of Facebook, MySpace and Flickr members in metro Detroit for the annual Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise. Our guests not only attended the cruise and the media events leading up to it, but had a chance to tour GM's headquarters in the Renaissance Center, stop by the Technical Center in Warren, and explore the Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, just to name a few activities. Take a look at this post from Flickr member Bill Strong, and make sure to head over to his photo albums, too.

Well, here it is Monday and I am still pinching myself to see if this past weekend was really real or just a product of my imagination.

Pinch. Pinch. Yes, it was very real and I have the photos to prove it. Lots and lots of them!

It all started Thursday when I boarded a flight to Detroit to attend the Woodward Dream Cruise. I had accepted an invitation from General Motors’ Alicia Dorset, editor of this blog. I was joined by 10 others who represented participants in alternate media like Flickr, MySpace and Facebook in what turned out to be a truly “dream weekend.”

And it wasn’t just the Woodward Dream Cruise, which by itself was a fantastic experience to a first-timer like myself. It wasn’t just the behind-the-scenes stuff that GM treated us to, like the tour of their corporate headquarters at the Renaissance Center, the OnStar Command Center, the Tech Center and Design Center or all the vintage cars and trucks at the Heritage Center.

It wasn’t just the passes to the special media events where GM execs like Bob Lutz introduced the new SS model of the HHR, or when Chairman Rick Wagoner drove the Camaro convertible concept car into the lot at the Athens Coney Island diner or even getting to see the EFIJY and the cars from the "Transformers" movie up close.

No, what made it a truly dream weekend was the fact that a group of total strangers of all ages, brought together by GM, could have such a great time and enjoy each others' company so well. I think some lasting friendships were made this weekend. Some of us even made plans to return with our cars next year so we can meet up again! I think there’s a tradition in the making here.

Of course all this was made possible by our great hosts, Adam, Alicia, Christopher, Natalie and Rick who deserve a heartfelt thank you. You guys are the best! Thanks for a great "dream weekend" at Woodward.

Posted by Editor at 4:21 PM
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Photo of the Day: 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise

Looking at the cruise route from the top of the Saturn Sky display.

Today's photo actually comes from GM's own albums on Flickr. Make sure to check out the rest of our 2007 Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise coverage.

Posted by Editor at 9:32 AM
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August 16, 2007

GM Blogs at the Woodward Dream Cruise

Bob Lutz meets with members of the media on Thursday as he discusses the new Chevy HHR SS at the Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak, Mich.

Make sure to check out our new Flickr group for daily photos from this year's Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise in metro Detroit. If you've got photos of this year's Cruise, make sure to add them to our group.-Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Posted by Editor at 11:37 PM
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Photo of the Day: Camaro Badge

[ Muscle Car Show at XXX Root Beer in Issaquah WA ]

Today's photo comes from the albums of smenzel.

Be sure to look at all of smenzel'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 10:15 AM
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August 15, 2007

Capturing the Best of the Woodward Dream Cruise

By Christopher Barger
Director, GM Global Communications Technology

The 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise is almost upon us. More than 1.7 million people are expected to converge on this historic Detroit-area thoroughfare to take in the sights, smells and sounds of 40,000 classic cars. Crews from GM's IGotShotgun video entertainment channel will be stationed along Woodward Avenue to capture the best of the Dream Cruise, its participants and attendees.

If you're coming to the Cruise, keep your eye out for our street teams, and if you want, you can be featured as part of IGotShotgun's Dream Cruise coverage. These street teams will be located at the Chevy Triangle (on Old Woodward just south of Maple Road), the Athens Coney Island at Woodward and 14 Mile Road (on Woodward between 13 and 14 Mile Roads), and on Woodward between 12 and 13 Mile roads.

If you're not able to make the Dream Cruise in person, tune in to www.igotshotgun.com or IGotShotgun's YouTube channel for our complete video coverage of the Cruise. Before then, count down to Dream Cruise '07 with us by checking out our five-part video series profiling the historic Vinsetta Garage, on Woodward Avenue in the heart of cruising country.

Posted by Editor at 4:30 PM
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Hit the Road and Rev it Up

If you weren't able to make it to the Chevy Rev It Up Tour, check out this video. It offers a look at what you missed during the six-city tour, which wrapped up in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 11 (which brought out more than 10,000 visitors from across the country).-Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Posted by Editor at 2:25 PM
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August 14, 2007

The Ethanol Debate

By Donna McLallen
GM Assistant Regional Manager, PR/Communications

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully this will answer some of your questions.

I think everyone on GM’s E85 team is aware of the current challenges facing widespread acceptance of the fuel. But unlike ethanol’s opponents, we believe that negatives associated with ethanol use and production can be overcome.

We also do not necessarily believe ethanol to be THE absolute solution to a fossil fuel shortage, global warming or America’s dependence on foreign oil. However, it is a solution that is available today, and I like to think that GM believes in giving the American public a choice in what they use to fuel their vehicles.

It is true that GM research shows a 15-20 percent loss of fuel economy with E85 versus gasoline, but E85 remains an economic benefit to the customer, as long as it remains sufficiently cheaper than gasoline. Also, FlexFuel vehicle owners are seeing added benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the satisfaction of not having to depend on foreign oil.

During the first stops of the E85 Days of Summer Tour, I had the opportunity to speak with FlexFuel vehicle owners in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. These were drivers of GM vehicles, as well as Fords, Chryslers and Nissans. Of the drivers who fuel exclusively with E85, their reasons were:

• It’s cheaper
• I’m not depending on foreign oil
• My vehicle seems to perform better
• I’m helping the environment
• I don’t see a big fuel economy difference between E85 and gasoline

Some owners I met insisted that E85 performs just as efficiently in their vehicles as gasoline. We know there is a slight decrease and assume that when added to top off a tank that already contains some gasoline, that the decrease is even smaller. Others acknowledged a slight decrease in fuel economy, but said the benefits of E85, especially cost, outweighed any loss in fuel efficiency. That’s the important part. People are willing to sacrifice a little to make a difference. It’s easier to throw paper and plastic in a garbage can than to separate it in a recycling bin, but environmentally conscious people are willing to do a little extra to help.

I must admit that I am just learning the ins and outs of ethanol production, but oil and gas production is part of my family heritage. I know that gasoline production is a negative energy process that is environmentally invasive, and I know firsthand that it is a process that can be toxic not only to the environment, but to refinery workers, as well.

As for ethanol production, it seems that there is research on both sides of the fence as to whether the process has a positive or negative energy return. Research by Argonne National Laboratory indicates a 34 percent energy gain in the overall corn-to-ethanol equation, but there have been several studies showing negative total energy. I was interested to discover recently that four of the six most recent studies critical of the total energy used in ethanol production were all authored by the same researcher.

And it seems that lots of people are jumping on the that argument corn-based ethanol will deplete the food base, but my own investigation into that issue and talks with Texas corn growers has convinced me that just is not true. This year, as in years past, the U.S. will see a market surplus of 1 billion bushels of corn. Plus, ethanol will soon be made in the U.S. from non-food sources, such as switch grass, so I don’t think anyone is in danger of starving because of a lack of corn anytime soon.

What is the true reason I am pushing FlexFuel? Because I believe that Americans deserve the freedom of choice to drive whatever vehicle they choose in the most economical, environmentally friendly and safest manner possible. I also believe in a cleaner-burning fuel that is safer for the environment and the people who produce it.

My father was born to an oil-and-gas family and worked at a Louisiana refinery for more than 40 years. I remember many conversations with him regarding cars and fuel. I also remember him saying that there wouldn’t be anything wrong with running vehicles on ethanol, if automakers would build them that way.

I wish that I could ask him for input on the ethanol debate, but I can’t. He died in 2004 from cancer, likely caused from long-term exposure to the petrochemicals he used to help make gasoline.

Posted by Editor at 4:30 PM
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From the Archive: 1938

By Alicia Dorset
Blog editor

This week's find from the GM Media Archive is a photo of a 1938 Chevy Master Sport Sedan.

Posted by Editor at 3:20 PM
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Photo of the Day: Bumblebee

Actual car used in the Transformers movie.

Today's photo comes from the albums of Chris Frez.

Be sure to look at all of Chris Frez'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 3:05 PM
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August 13, 2007

Volt as Sand Art

Make sure to check out the Environment News Service for a cool post on a Chevy Volt-themed sand carving found in Vancouver, B.C. -Alicia Dorset, blog editor

Posted by Editor at 4:30 PM
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Photo of the Day: Corvette Sketch

Today's photo comes from the albums of thatsanicepicture.

Be sure to look at all of thatsanicepicture'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 10:36 AM
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August 10, 2007

Video of the Week: Pontiac Grand Prix

This week's video comes from supertabo.

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 4:46 PM
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August 9, 2007

Just a small town girl…

You know the rest…

By Lesley Hettinger
GM Intern

Lesley Hettinger, small town girl from Nowhere, Ill., spending a summer with one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.

That is a brief piece of my recently updated autobiography. I attend Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., (literally) pursuing my B.S. in PR. Here’s a look into my path into becoming a GM intern…

Last fall, with my junior year of school entering full force, I attended a national PR conference in Salt Lake City, where I soon met my future summer employer. My school teaches us communications students that networking is the key to being successful in our field. Little did I know that this simple act would lead me to one of the best, most challenging experiences of my life!

When I left Illinois, Salt Lake City-bound, I had no intentions of returning with a summer internship at a global corporation. To cut to the chase, I interviewed with GM while in Salt Lake. The interview was long and relatively intense. I walked out of it feeling very confident in my performance knowing that I had given it my best. A month later I was enduring finals week and preparing for winter break, and then…the phone rang! And there it was: the call to join General Motors for a summer.

I began my summer in mid-May with GM in Lansing, Mich., at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant. Having not grown up with any connections to the manufacturing industry, let alone the automotive industry, I had my own perceptions heading into my first day. Dirty, hot, smelly and just about any other disgusting descriptive word you can think of is what I was sure I was going to experience this summer. Much to my surprise, I was entering into one of GM’s newest, most environmentally friend facilities in all of North America. The environment and the people at LDT welcomed me with open arms and a lot of opportunities.

Although manufacturing communications was my primary responsibility this summer, I had the chance to experience different aspects of GM Communications. The last two weeks of June I had the opportunity to be part of the first-ever Detroit International River Days. My main task was leading the social media strategy for the six-day event. Prior to this assignment I had never experienced the social media aspect of PR (online stuff). Needless to say I became an expert quickly.

I interviewed the various talent components that appeared along the Riverfront for the GM-powered I Got Shotgun, and other social networking sites. I successfully familiarized myself with being on camera, and the journalistic role that came with this project.

The second challenge to this experience came in the form of a blog. I had commented on blogs before but had never developed one of my own. My River Days blog posts went hand in hand with my I Got Shotgun videos to help provide a more descriptive view into the entertainment facets of this major event. While I would by no means consider myself a “pro,” I do feel I am a more well-rounded PR practitioner having had this experience.

Upon return from the first week of July shutdown I took a trip to the Tech Center in Warren, Mich. I jumped in on media analysis in preparation for the E85 Tour. Throughout my research I learned more about our fuel-efficient products as well as the alternative fuel options.

So I know you are wondering, “Was there anything you didn’t like about you GM internship?” I would have to say that it was hard finding something negative. I decided that I didn’t want to list a negative because there was not one. I can honestly say that this is the most amazing experience I have ever had to date. I know that one day I will look back and remember all the individuals that empowered me during my summer at GM.

Posted by Editor at 4:46 PM
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Photo of the Day: Cadillac Sedan De Ville

Meilenwerk Düsseldorf, 29.07.2007 - On tour with Kafka

Today's photo comes from the albums of Ozan™.

Be sure to look at all of Ozan™'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 12:22 PM
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August 8, 2007

August Flickr Calendar Now Available

By Alicia Dorset
Blog editor

Make sure to check out Flickr for this month's photo calendar.

Posted by Editor at 5:26 PM
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Photo of the Day: 1931 Chevrolet

Today's photo comes from the albums of THEjdawg.

Be sure to look at all of THEjdawg'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 1:34 PM
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August 7, 2007

Working in the Motor City

By Jennie Ecclestone
GM Intern

Editor’s Note: You might remember a post from one of GM’s social media communications interns, Adam Denison, last week. Here’s another post from fellow GM intern Jennie Ecclestone.

Growing up in the Motor City, I assumed that someday I would work for the auto industry. It was constantly around me and though neither one of my parents worked in the industry, I just thought that in some capacity I would. Then my career plans took a few turns away from the business world. However, as I sat registering for classes before my freshman year, I realized PR was the career field for me.

Last fall, I was given the opportunity to be the campus liaison for the Chevy Aveo Livin’ Large Campus Challenge. This happened as a result of my participation in a competition to develop ideas to promote the Chevy Aveo to ages 18-24. Following this, I was offered the chance to apply for a GM communications internship. To say that I was thrilled when I received my offer is a large understatement.

On May 29, 2007, I began the best internship experience of my life. My second day of work I found out I would be traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., the following week and then to New Orleans for the Fourth of July. I was instantly accepted on the Chevy communications team and never felt hesitant to ask a question when I had one. Everyone in my office trusted my abilities and really challenged my skills as a young professional.

Unfortunately, one of my superiors had a family emergency and I was left taking over her place only four weeks into my internship. Although this was a horrible situation to have happen to her, it gave me the opportunity to push myself and really showcase my abilities. I learned more in the two weeks planning for our event in New Orleans than I have in my past two internships.

GM has given me the greatest internship experience I could ever ask to be given. From networking with the vice president of Global Communications, to traveling, to having the opportunity to voice my opinion and test my skills, I have enjoyed every moment of this summer. Although, I will admit, some of the meetings I sat in did run a little long and my hour-long commute both ways was not barrels of fun. However, the experience I gained through my program participation far outweighed the more tedious activities I endured during my time at GM.

I am returning for my last year at Michigan State University, but I hope that I receive an offer to join the GM communications team full-time after I graduate.

Thank you to all that I met and worked with this summer, you truly made my internship experience unimaginable.

Posted by Editor at 4:16 PM
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Photo of the Day: deVille

Today's photo comes from the albums of cyclonepower.

Be sure to look at all of cyclonepower'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 12:14 PM
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August 6, 2007

Cruise Countdown With The Vinsetta Garage

A new video series debuts on FYI

By Christopher Barger
Director Global Communications Technology

As a newbie to both the auto industry and to Detroit, I am learning about a lot of things unique to the industry and the area. One of the events I'm now looking most forward to is the Woodward Dream Cruise, a celebration of car culture and classic vehicles that features more than 40,000 muscle cars and attracts more than 1,000,000 visitors each year.

Obviously, not everyone who loves old muscle cars can get to Detroit to attend the cruise. So we're doing our best to try and take the cruise out to you. We're producing a four-part video series for the web, in partnership with the Vinsetta Garage, one of the oldest and longest standing vehicle repair shops in the country, focusing on cruising culture, the Dream Cruise, and the cars that make the cruise so special.

The first episode just went up on Friday over on YouTube, is the featured video on Crackle's "Wheels and Wings" channel, and is up on a number of other video sites.

Check out the cars that hold a special place in American culture, and the people who work on them to help their owners restore them to their past glory. And keep your eyes open for the next three videos in the series, all leading up to the 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 18.

Posted by Editor at 2:39 PM
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Photo of the Day: Chevy Impala, HDR

Today's photo comes from the albums of alan57.

Be sure to look at all of alan57 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 2:01 PM
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August 3, 2007

My Summer as a Social Media Intern

By Adam Denison
Intern, Social Media Communications

One of the challenges facing recent college graduates is employers not wanting to hire you because of your lack of experience. The “catch 22” here is that you can’t get experience unless you work! The answer to this vexing problem? Internships, internships, internships.

I have spent the last four months as an intern in social media communications here at GM’s headquarters in Detroit. I’ve spent my time blogging, podcasting and social networking. It’s definitely been quite the experience, and I have learned so much.

So how did a young southern gentleman from Louisiana, end up interning at the world’s largest auto manufacturer? Sit back and let me tell you.

I went to school at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and received my B.A. of Communications: Public Relations this August. Having done three previous internships prior to GM, I found myself often applying for internships that I wasn’t always the most interested in. Such was the case with GM. I got an email alerting me that GM was looking for some summer interns and would be interviewing at a national public relations conference in Salt Lake City. I wasn’t so sure GM was the company for me, but figured I would apply anyway. Hey, it would be a good chance to practice my interviewing skills, right? Little did I know how much my opinion would change.

Long story short, I went into my interview with GM still not really interested in interning with the company, and left wanting to work for them more any other company I’d ever applied for! They completely sold me on the internship position.

Ok, so I was sold in the interview, but would what I was told actually live up to my actual internship experience, or would I be simply a “gofer” (go for this, or go for that)? You be the judge.

My first week here I traveled to Chicago for a GM-sponsored fashion show to help shoot some video for an online site. I have been given complete control over numerous projects, including creating a podcast series and populating a social networking site with GM-specific content. I have helped train other employees on social media, hosted bloggers at GM events, given advice to management on social media-related issues and even worked on the process for recruiting next year’s batch of interns. Sound like a typical internship experience? I don’t think so!

That said, there are some aspects of working for GM that are not as fun. The first thing that comes to mind is meetings! They love to have meetings here. They have meetings to plan meetings. I’m an action guy, so sometimes I feel like I don’t get as much work done by sitting in meetings. Part of the corporate culture, I guess.

Another interesting part of GM is the language here. Sure, you have the acronyms to learn, just like at any other job, but GM has some unique phrases. Here’s a sample:

Word or phrase	English Translation	Used in a sentence
Offline	After the meeting	"Let's talk about this offline."
Plus-up	Enhance	"I think this event will really plus-up our communications efforts."
Playing in this space	Being involved in a certain area of work	"We really need to be playing in that space."
Socialize	Make something more widely known	"If we want people to do this, we have to socialize it more."
Signage	Signs	"We should really put some signage up."
Stay in your swim lanes	Stay within your own area of work	"We need to be careful to stay in our swim lane on this one."
Another piece of the pie	Something else to consider	"The other piece of the pie is ..."
Have a conversation	Have a meeting	"I had a conversation with him on this topic."

Despite the meetings and GM-speak (which really isn’t that big of a deal, it’s just funny), I have absolutely loved my internship at GM. I have learned more here than I could ever have learned in a classroom. If I had to sum up my GM experience in three words, I’d say: real world experience.

Posted by Editor at 9:53 AM
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Videos of the Week: Camaro

This week's videos come from OverstChris.

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 7:50 AM
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