General Motors Corp. on Friday officially launched full-scale production of the new Chevrolet Traverse at its overhauled former Saturn plant on the outskirts of Nashville.

Troy A. Clarke, president of GM North America, said the eight-seat crossover will appeal to drivers of large SUVs and trucks seeking better fuel economy.

“This is a vehicle that’s got the interior space or utility of a Chevrolet Tahoe, but a much better fuel economy and a much tighter exterior package,” Clarke told reporters after a launch ceremony at the plant.

Clarke said the Traverse is poised to take advantage of a downsizing trend among consumers. Drivers tend to want to move down to smaller vehicles in increments, so most are not likely to want to skip from a larger SUV to a small car, he said.

“There’s an industry shift, where people are going from large sport utility or truck vehicles to the next size down,” Clarke said. “The phenomena of fuel prices and affordability really shift the market down just a little bit.”

But the crossover market as a whole peaked this year in March, with all automakers selling 222,055, according to Autodata Corp. That number was down 29 percent in September, when sales totaled 157,163.

Crossover sales through the end of September have dropped 7 percent compared with the first nine months of 2007, according to Autodata. But that’s not as bad as truck and SUV sales as a whole, which are down 21 percent.

U.S. auto sales overall are down 13 percent through September.

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Chevrolet Orlando Show Car Signals Entry into New Segment for the Brand

* Distinctive SUV-like styling
* Adaptable seven-seat accommodation with flat load floor configurability
* Latest-generation 2.0-liter turbo diesel power

The Orlando show car is a clear indication that Chevrolet is considering an expansion to its portfolio with a seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with distinctive sport-utility-like design, adaptable seating and impressive interior space.

Based on the recently announced all-new Cruze compact sedan, the Orlando show car carries Chevrolet’s signature design language into a new vehicle segment. It explores the potential of combining the versatility attributes of a sport utility, a family van and a wagon in a single execution.

Chevrolet Orlando cuts a distinctive silhouette, replacing conventional monocab proportions with a more defined contrast between the hood and windshield lines. With flared fenders instead of a flat side-body, Orlando has a muscular stance that gives it the appearance of a sport utility vehicle, yet it offers dynamic ride and handling, excellent fuel efficiency and easy entry thanks to its car-based architecture.

Inside, the five-door Orlando is designed to meet the needs of families and those who need plenty of seating capacity with adaptable, theater-style seating in three rows that comfortably accommodate up to seven occupants. Whenever load carrying becomes a priority, the spacious cabin can be quickly transformed into a large cargo area. A generous 2,760 mm wheelbase and wide front and rear tracks provide Orlando with outstanding interior roominess.

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General Motors Corp. says it has notified several employment agencies that it intends to cut contract jobs as it continues to shrink its work force to match lower U.S. sales.

GM spokesman Dan Flores wouldn’t say how many contract workers would be cut. He says the cuts began in March and will be made across GM’s U.S. facilities.

The cuts come as part of GM’s plan to reduce its U.S. white-collar costs by more than 20%. The company had about 32,000 salaried workers in the U.S. at the end of last year.

GM has been cutting vehicle production as its sales have slumped. It plans to close four pickup and SUV plants and says it is working on further cuts at stamping and powertrain factories.
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General Motors have announced plans to double its global production of more fuel-efficient small engines by 2011 with the help of a new engine plant in struggling Flint, Michigan.

More than half of the increase in production will come from North America, where GM has faced a sharp drop in demand for its gasoline guzzling trucks and sport utility vehicles.

GM said small four-cylinder engines will account for a third of its North American production in 2011, up from 21 percent in 2007.

This will also help GM comply with new legislation requiring all automakers to raise the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the US market to 35 miles (56 kilometres) per gallon (3.8 litters).

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September 26, 2008 - General Motors is preparing to introduce its Chevrolet Volt electric car in Thailand by 2011 as part of its global strategy to offer more energy-saving and environmentally friendly models.

The electric car is symbolic of the future of GM, said Khanchit Chaisupho, director for Asean public policy and government relations.

The Volt is due to go on sale in the United States in 2010, with prices ranging from US$20,000 to $30,000 a unit.

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General Motors Corp. has reached agreement with the California Air Resources Board that could result in the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric vehicle receiving a 100 mpg fuel economy rating from the EPA, the company said.

GM spokesman Dee Allen said the rating is far from set, stressing that what has been agreed to on a preliminary basis is that the Volt would be classified as an extended-range electric vehicle for the purpose of fuel-economy ratings.

If that is made certain, he said, then the Volt, due out in November 2010, could would likely receive a rating of 100 miles per gallon or better.

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General Motors Corp. today announced it will invest $370 million in the United States to build a new manufacturing plant in Flint for its global 4-cylinder engines.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said the plant will begin production in 2010 and will be the exclusive manufacturing facility in North America to produce the Chevrolet Volt’s onboard generator.

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Chevrolet Orlando (MPV-7 codename) based on CRUZE platform will be testing run prototype in china prepare to built a next year or 2010 fighting MPV growth segment before them launch in there,You can see Orlando concept actually size in 2008 Paris motor show.

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General Motors Corp. intends to distribute marketing materials to potential buyers of its Hummer brand and a French manufacturing plant in October. That’s part of a strategy to accelerate the $15-billion cost-cutting and fund-raising plan it announced in July, GM Treasurer Walter Borst said today in a presentation to analysts.

Speaking at the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference, which was webcast, Borst said GM is progressing on a fast pace in the cash-generating plan it announced July 15 and has hired “additional outside resources to help us meet or exceed these targets.”

Borst said GM hopes to raise between $2 billion and $4 billion in cash through asset sales but is considering the sale of assets “significantly in excess of this amount.”

“I would anticipate additional announcements for you here in the fourth quarter,” Borst said. “We believe we can monetize certain assets without impacting the strategic direction of the company.”

GM and other automakers have faced liquidity problems as losses have mounted and U.S. sales have declined. GM announced a plan in July to cut $10 billion in costs and raise another $5 billion through asset sales and borrowing through the end of next year.

Borst said that GM expects the global market to grow from 70.6 million in sales last year to more than 75 million in 2010, and says GM is positioned to capture that growth in emerging markets. The growth, coupled with cost cuts, factory capacity reductions and other management decisions, will set the stage for improved financial results by 2010, he said.

By 2010, GM will sell two-thirds of its vehicles outside the U.S., compared with 59 percent in 2007, he said.

GM issued what it refers to as its liquidity plan on July 15 to quiet Wall Street concerns that the company may not have enough cash to sustain itself until 2010. While the plan initially quelled that concern, more recent mayhem in financial markets again has the automaker confronting worries that it doesn’t have enough cash to make it through the current downturn and may now have more trouble raising the funds in the troubled credit markets.

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