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The folks over at PickupTrucks.com caught up with Tom Stephens, Vice Chairman of global product operations at General Motors, at the ongoing Detroit Auto Show. As could be expected from any exec who truly believes in his company’s products, Stephens began to praise GM’s new Duramax diesel that will debut on the 2011 Chevy and GMC Heavy Duty pickups.
But while exuding his passion for the bid-dog diesel, something interesting happened. Stephens issued the following challenge:
You know what I want to do to prove it? I want to take our truck and Ford’s [new Super Duty] and chain them together back-to-back. Then I want to have them pull against each other. I know our truck will beat theirs.
After confirming that Stephens was not being facetious, PickupTrucks.com’s Mike Levine passed the challenge along to Ford, but has not yet received an official response. If anything, Mike thinks that the challenge has certainly piqued Ford’s attention – and we would agree.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
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For the week of January 18, 2010
The General has been served!
An electrical fire at the Audi exhibit in COBO Hall today caused an evacuation of the NAIAS. Audi representatives quickly moved people away and off the floor. Vehicles were relocated as well.
Witnesses saw flames move quickly up in the ceiling above the Audi exhibit. The entire hall was evacuated and no one was hurt.
The extent of damage is unknown at this time and will be reported further when information becomes available.
According to GM Authority author Manoli Katakis, who is onsite at the NAIAS, COBO Hall will reopen to the public at 4 PM.
If you were planning on going to the show today, your plans are delayed until at least 4 PM. GM Authority will post updates as they become available.
Today Buick officially released pricing information for the upcoming 2011 Regal. The model range will start out with only the CXL trim. This model will start at $26, 995, including destination. Standard power will come from the 2.4L Ecotec and the 2.0L turbo model will set customers back another $2, 500.
The CX model will be introduced in 2012 with a lower starting price than the CXL and will feature the same 2.4L Ecotec engine but will sacrifice comfort/convenience features found on CXL models. The Regal will start production in Russelsheim, Germany alongside its Opel counterparts but production will be moved to the Oshawa plant in Canada in the first quarter of 2011. This is presumably when production of the GS concept model will begin if when it gets the green light.
The Regal introduces new features to the Buick lineup which include revolutionary (for Buick) Interactive Drive Control. The system allows the driver to choose from 1 of 3 driving styles which “adjust [the] suspension, steering, throttle, transmission, and stability systems,” according to the Buick press release which can be found after the break.
For quite some time, GM has been involved in a partnership with Suzuki to further develop hybrid and fuel-cell technology. Recently, however, Suzuki decided that it would part ways with The General after it joined forces with VW about a month ago. If you recall in the later part of 2009, Volkswagen became Suzuki’s largest shareholder after it purchased 20 percent of the automaker for a whopping 2.5 billion dollars.
In a statement released by Suzuki Chairman and CEO Osamu Suzuki, it is clear that there is no longer a place for GM in Suzuki’s model.
Suzuki is in a comprehensive alliance with Volkswagen. In every field including hybrid, diesel and electric cars, we will carry out joint development with them, or we will learn from them.
This joint agreement between VW and Suzuki also affects Suzuki’s relationship with with PSA Peugeot-Citroën and Renault SA, both of which supply diesel engines to Suzuki. If VW continues to provide its high level of diesel technology and innovation to the automaker, we may see more relationships between Suzuki and its partners fizzle in time.
[Source: Reuters]
This post is part of the Setting Focus series where we outline the steps GM needs to take to become a leader in the automotive space once again. This is a place where criticism and praise can – finally – stand side-by-side.
When Bob Lutz speaks, he says things people don’t want to hear. But he says them anyways; he says everything. And after he speaks… GM’s PR decides whether he’s right or not (and whether to subsequently do damage control). This is what domestic automakers need: someone who says something no one wants to hear.
Bob recently endorsed incrementally increasing the gas tax. Tomorrow he might change his mind, but acknowledging what automakers need to be successful is the first step of recovery towards prosperity. Short-term thinking and yesterday’s business practices mean GM would not be in business if it weren’t for bankruptcy (and TARP funds). Luckily, most of GM is still kicking. And while size was arguably a factor working against the old GM, there is still potential for regrowth. This potential can only be realized through advanced enterprising with long-term plans. (more…)
Update: the final bidding price was a handsome $95,700, including buyers commission.
Are you a high-roller looking for a tax-deduction? If so, you’re in luck, since the first-ever regular production Cadillac CTS Coupe will be auctioned at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale, AZ this coming Friday! The bidding starts at the fair market price and ends whenever the magic word “sold!” is shouted.
Hopefully the sale price is some outrageous number, as The College for Creative Studies is set to receive all proceeds. This is an example of GM giving back to its local community by donating CTS Coupe No. 001 to the highly-accredited school of art and design.
The 2008 NAIAS Concept Car of the Year Award winner may roll out onto the auction floor in a certain color and drivetrain, but the lucky bidder will later be able to choose the model’s color, engine, transmission, trim, and factory options to his or her liking.
Let’s see if the bidder asks for an LS9 engine…
Check out the high-res gallery of the gorgeous CTS Coupe after the break.
[Source: College For Creative Studies]
As the Dow approaches a 15-month high, the economy begins to look better than it has in a long while. Unfortunately, lenders like GMAC continue to lose money. The emerging 2009 figures will be the largest loss ever for GMAC. A $5 billion fourth quarter loss is the record-holder leading the expected $10 billion loss for 2009. These losses come despite further TARP infusions.
GMAC continues to waiver between profits and losses, posting $2.1 billion in profits for 2006 and $1.8 billion in 2008, while losing $2.3 billion in 2007.
GM shed its then-profitable financing subsidiary in 2006 for $7.4 billion. Cerberus and CitiGroup led the buyout. Cerberus’ investment practices do not inspire confidence, since they paid the same price for Chrysler about a year later. Moreover, neither company remains under Cerberus control and both received major government bailouts.
Although taxpayers will blame the government for supporting GMAC, they will not be able to blame them for the loss: the government assumed control in the last week of 2009. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam cannot rebadge subprime loans as Fiats – pointing to a grim 2010. What’s more, the real estate market has not bottomed out and mortgage subsidies are expected to end this year.
Bankruptcy and other options have been considered for Residential Capital LLC, GMAC’s unit with the highest loss. GMAC has high hopes to sell some of Residential Capital’s mortgage assets.
While we love the looks of the GMC Granite Concept that made its debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, we’re squarely set against the boxy compact slotting under GM’s “Professional Grade” brand. After all, there’s nothing “Professional Grade” about the Granite – it’s GM’s most “unprofessional grade” car to date. But if GM decides to produce the Granite, it could take a cutting-edge marketing approach, which would forego television advertising.
According to Automotive News, Buick-GMC advertising director Steve Rosenblum said that the next step for GMC could be a four-passenger vehicle that slots below the Terrain. If you ask us, the Granite fits that description perfectly. Moreover, Resenblum put forth the notion that a Granite-like vehicle would be heavily marketed advertised to buyers under the age of 35 and that the ad campaign for the vehicle could be entirely Internet-based.
What kind of web-based ads are we talking about? Rosenblum prefaced an example with the following statistic: by 2011, two-thirds of cell phone users under the age of 40 will own a smartphone. As such, Rosenblum spoke of developing a smartphone app that would lead consumers to a social networking site, where interested individuals would interact with designers.
That sounds very interesting, creative, and cutting edge. As far as we know, it will be the first automotive marketing campaign to utilize the power of social media, web 2.0, and the current explosion in the popularity of smartphones (there’s a buzz word-filled sentence!).
As for the “Professional Grade” tagline? Rosenblum said that GMC could exclude it from Granite marketing altogether.
Make of that what you will, but we think that the Granite would be better off as a Chevy. Agree? Let us know in the comments!
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
General Motors recently announced its intention to quickly sell Nexteer Automotive. This was a former Delphi arm which manufactures steering assemblies and drivelines. Delphi was owned by GM until 1999, which essentially means GM is trying to dump a reacquisition.
After four years in bankruptcy, Delphi emerged as a much smaller company. Delphi’s sales have declined by more than half since entering bankruptcy and most of its manufacturing occurs outside of the United States.
At the forefront of Nexteer’s products is Electric Power Steering (EPS) that does not require hydraulic fluids and is supposed to increase driving pleasure and provide better fuel efficiency. Any improvement to steering feel of boring EPS is worthwhile. Nexteer is also responsible for the Magnasteer system which can be seen in the Cadillac DTS, among other applications. This system increases steering resistance as speed increases, providing stability on the highway. Magnasteer became standard on all Cadillac DTS models with the 2007 refresh. It was available only on models equipped with the NHP engine from 2000-2006.
According to General Motors’ press release, the sale will enable Nexteer to grow globally as an OEM supplier. Currently, the company supplies the Big Three, Toyota, Fiat, and Peugeot/Citroen. Nexteer’s products are also present in the fastest growing automotive markets, including India and China. As with other recent Delphi sales, probability points towards a Chinese buyer for Nexteer .
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