Traverse City, Mich. – When you’ve got hot-selling crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain and you’re out of room to make more, it takes creativity and flexibility to solve the challenge, General Motors Vice President of Manufacturing and Labor Diana Tremblay said Monday.

“Although we knew these were great products and that they’d be a hit in the marketplace, we really didn’t anticipate the degree to which the market positively responded,” she said at the 2010 Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars.

What to do?

Add a shift or overtime?  Been there. Done that. The CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, is already working three shifts a day and maximum overtime.

Build a new plant? It would take too long and do nothing to meet the immediate customer demand for more Equinox and Terrains.

What about adding capacity at another plant? Again, it would take too long.

The solution? Invest in unused space in the CAMI Body Shop and use existing capacity in the Oshawa (Ontario) Paint Shop and Final Assembly. The low-cost solution was doable in six to eight months and created capacity for 60,000 to 80,000 more vehicles.

When the shuttle is fully operational, three trucks carrying five bodies each will leave CAMI hourly around the clock for the 2 1-2-hour drive to the Toronto suburb of Oshawa.

“We are starting production now,” Tremblay said. “This was a very fast solution in a very short time frame.”

Chevrolet and GMC dealers reported more than 16,000 Equinox and Terrain deliveries in June – up 208 percent over June 2009. For the year through June, sales of these vehicles were up almost 193 percent, to more than 94,000 sales.

GM Confirms New Dealer Network
Structured to provide best retail experience and create positive, lasting customer relationships
2010-08-05

DETROIT – General Motors today announced that it has concluded the dealer arbitration process and that effective Nov. 1, it will have a network of about 4,500 U.S. dealerships to sell and service customers for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

The company also reported that many of these dealerships are participating in a major facilities upgrade program, with more than 300 updates already completed and about 1,000 projects scheduled through the end of 2010.

“Our dealers are the face of GM to our customers and valued members of the communities where they do business across America,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America.  “We’re confident our dealer network will be the best in the business.  It will be the right size with the right dealers to give our customers great service during and after the purchase.

“A strong, profitable dealer network selling and servicing the world’s best cars and trucks is a genuine market advantage,” Reuss said.

Although GM’s new dealer network is about 25 percent smaller than in early 2009, it remains the nation’s largest.  This gives existing and potential GM customers more choice and convenience when it comes to where to buy a car and have it serviced.

“We spent a considerable amount of time and effort to work toward a mutually agreeable resolution with our dealers,” Reuss said.  “We’re pleased that we could complete this process in what we believe is an effective and efficient manner.”

During its restructuring last year, GM offered wind-down agreements to 2,064 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers that the company determined needed to transition one or more of those brands from the dealer network by Oct. 31, 2010, when the dealer agreement expires.

Under the provisions of a federal law passed in December, 2009, GM dealers filed 1,176 arbitration cases with the American Arbitration Association to have their dealer agreements reinstated.  Only 62 arbitration cases were completed with decisions rendered. GM offered 702 Letters of Intent to involved dealers, allowing them to conduct normal dealer operations as soon as they comply with the terms of the Letter of Intent.  GM has reached 408 individual resolutions with other dealers, most of which call for the dealer to continue the wind-down process.  Four cases were dismissed.

In June, 2009, GM had 6,049 dealerships selling eight brands, with 87 brand combinations.  The new dealer body will be much simpler, with about 4,500 dealerships, with just 15 brand combinations and four brands.  This provides greater operating efficiencies and increased dealer throughput and profitability, enabling dealers to reinvest in their businesses to better satisfy customers.

Reuss noted that while GM dealers traditionally rank near the top or above the industry average for customer service and sales satisfaction by third-party sources, the new network GM is putting in place would be even more focused on being an industry leader in customer care.

Dealership upgrades

GM dealerships across the country are updating their Chevrolet, Buick-GMC and Cadillac facilities to align with new branding guidelines.  This initiative, which began in October, 2009, is accelerating; dealerships are now upgrading their stores at the rate of about 100 per month.  Major elements of the image upgrades include customer-friendly features such as work areas with phone and lap top computer power outlets, Wi-Fi and a café area with refreshments.

To support this effort, GM is updating or installing new signs at Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealerships across the U.S.  The signs feature a more contemporary design and reflect the current image guidelines for each brand.

“Customers throughout the country will be seeing a new look at the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealerships in their communities,” Reuss said. “Putting our new dealer network in place is one of the most important elements in the rebirth of GM.”

About General Motors:

General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908.  With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries.  GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:  Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy.  GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from the former General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation.  More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

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General Motors India’s July 2010 Sales grow by 45%
2010-08-02

New Delhi: General Motors India has registered an impressive growth of 45% in sales in July 2010, compared to the corresponding period last year.

The July 2010 sales comprised 2244 units of the Chevrolet Spark, 1722 units of Chevrolet Beat, 1546 units of the Chevrolet Tavera, 639 units of the Chevrolet Cruze, 375 Units of Chevrolet Aveo, 240 units of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, 225 units of the Chevrolet Captiva and 133 units of Chevrolet Optra.

The increase in the sales was primarily driven by the response to Chevrolet Beat, Cruze and Spark. Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Cruze have become the industry benchmarks in their respective segments and a winner among consumers in India, with their best-in-class design, performance and other product attributes. Chevrolet Spark continues to register impressive sales, clearly validating it as the one of the most sought after car in its segment in terms of styling, performance and fuel efficiency offering a value for money proposition.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, GM India said, “There were some delivery constraints for certain models in July due to annual maintenance shutdown of the plant. With the operation back to normal, we should be able to clear the backlog this month.”

Chevrolet recently completed seven years of its successful journey after its foray into the Indian market.  Launched in 2003, Chevrolet has become one of the most popular and the fastest growing automotive brands in the country, having sold over 3,00,000 cars in India. With a wide array of products and services, Chevrolet has brought unmatched product quality and unparalleled performance to the Indian consumers.

About General Motors India:

General Motors India has completed 14 years of operation in India. GM India started its journey in 1996 and now offers products under the Chevrolet brand, which was introduced in India in 2003.  Chevrolet had already emerged as one of the fastest growing automotive nameplates in India. GM India produces the Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet Optra, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Tavera for sale in India and operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Halol, Gujarat and in Talegaon, Maharashtra.

Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac Sales Up 25 Percent in July
2010-08-03

• Steady progress in rebuilding sales one year after launch of new GM
• Calendar-year-to-date sales for GM’s four brands up 31 percent
• Tenth month in a row that GM’s four brands have increased retail and total sales
• Strong Buick and Cadillac sales show balance of GM brand portfolio

DETROIT – July sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac increased by a combined 25 percent to 199,432 units. Buick and Cadillac brands each sold more than twice as many vehicles in July, compared with the same month a year ago.

July marks the 10th straight month in which total and retail sales for GM’s brands increased year-over-year, demonstrating the continued strengthening of each brand in the marketplace as GM continues to rebuild momentum a year after its launch as a new company.

“When we say we want to design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles, we’re not talking about just one vehicle, one brand, or one month,” said Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “Our July results again reflect that each of our brands has contributed significantly to our gains.

“The size and scope of the U.S. market demands a strong portfolio of well-targeted brands,” Johnson said. “The success of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac month in and month out, indicates that the new GM’s brand strategy is sound.”

Buick sold 16,799 vehicles in July, a 137-percent increase over last year. Cadillac delivered 14,919 units, up 142 percent over July last year. These are the highest sales totals for the two brands since August 2008. Chevrolet total sales in July increased 12 percent compared to July last year, and GMC total sales were up 27 percent compared with the same month last year.

GM’s newest vehicles including Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse and Regal, GMC Terrain, and Cadillac SRX, CTS Coupe and CTS Wagon continue to contribute significant sales gains. Total combined sales for these vehicles were up 77 percent in July and are up 211 percent yeartodate.

GM further strengthened its position as the industry leader in crossover sales. Total combined sales in July for the Chevrolet Equinox, HHR and Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Terrain and Acadia, and Cadillac SRX increased 41 percent in July and have risen 73 percent so far this year.

Combined total sales for GM’s full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and Avalanche, and the GMC Sierra, were up 22 percent during the month, with year-to-date sales 14 percent higher than a year ago.

Year-To-Date Gains Reflect Balanced Contribution of Brands

Year-to-date total sales for GM’s four brands have risen 31 percent to 1,269,009 units, while retail sales for GM’s brands have risen 18 percent – outpacing the industry.

“Our four brands have sold 125,210 more vehicles this year than our former company sold with eight brands during the same period last year,” Johnson said. “This gain has been a result of solid consumer demand across our lineup of cars, trucks, and crossovers.”

Chevrolet has led the increase with total sales 28 percent higher through July, compared to 2009. Retail sales for Chevrolet have increased 12 percent for the year, propelled by the strong retail sales of the Chevrolet Malibu, Camaro, Silverado, Equinox, and Traverse, which are up a combined 33 percent for the year. (READ MORE)

Buick remains one of the industry’s fastest-growing brands, with total sales 60 percent higher than 2009 through July. In the first seven months of the year, retail sales of Buicks have increased 41 percent on the strength of LaCrosse and Enclave which are up 175 and 14 percent, respectively. (READ MORE)

GMC total sales through July are 28 percent higher than 2009. The brand’s retail sales have increased 30 percent yeartodate on the strength of the GMC Terrain, Sierra and Acadia – up 326 percent, 13 percent and 21 percent respectively. (READ MORE)

Total sales for Cadillac are up 46 percent for the year through July. Retail sales for the brand are 32 percent higher this year, with the all-new Cadillac SRX surging 487 percent – leading it to gain the most market share in the luxury crossover segment so far this year. (READ MORE)

Month-end dealer inventory in the U.S. stood at about 424,000 units, which is about 15,000 units below June 2010, and about 43,000 lower than July 2009.

July Key Facts and Brand Results:

Tenth consecutive month of total and retail sales gains for GM’s four brands.
Seventh consecutive month that sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac have increased by 20 percent or more.
Tenth consecutive month that GM crossovers have increased by more than 30 percent.
Sixth month in a row of total sales improvement for GM’s full-size pickups.
Fifth consecutive month of double-digit retail sales increases for GM’s brands.
Tenth consecutive month of retail sales increases for GM passenger cars.
Chevrolet: Chevrolet delivered 139,916 vehicles in July, a 12 percent gain year-over-year. Year-to-date total sales are up 28 percent .
Buick: Buick posted a 137 percent sales increase in July compared to the same month last year. Driven by customer demand for the LaCrosse and all-new Regal, retail sales rose 104 percent.
GMC: GMC reported a 27 percent increase in total sales in the month of July, compared to the same month last year. This includes a 29 percent increase in retail sales, marking 10 consecutive months of year-over-year retail sales gains for GMC.
Cadillac: Total sales for July were 142 percent higher than last July. Retail sales increased 123 percent on the strength of consumer demand for the SRX, which posted its best month since it was introduced in 2003.
Fleet sales for GM’s four brands were 50,048 for the month.
About General Motors – General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 157 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

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