Daewoo devient Chevrolet aussi en Corée

Chevrolet est un bel exemple de politique de nom. Tout le monde sait que depuis 2004, Daewoo a échangé son appellation contre celui de la célèbre enseigne américano-suisse. Pour respecter complètement cette politique, Daewoo a décidé de faire de même sur son marché local, en Corée.

Si les avis étaient plutôt sceptiques au début du passage Daewoo-Chevrolet, force est de reconnaître l'utilité de la décision, car aujourd'hui Chevrolet se défend très bien sur le marché européen.

Les clients ne voient désormais plus une marque low-cost venue d'Asie mais un constructeur plus sérieux et expérimenté (Chevrolet). Daewoo espère donc améliorer sa position sur son marché intérieur en devenant Chevrolet.

Le groupe GM détient aujourd'hui 70 % du constructeur automobile coréen.

Source & photo: GM

GM investit dans la recharge sans fil avec Powermat

General Motors et Powermat, un pionnier dans la technologie de recharge sans fil, ont annoncé la signature d'un accord commercial qui fera disparaître d'ici la mi-2012 la nécessité de câbles de recharge pour les dispositifs électroniques domestiques de nombreux véhicules Chevrolet, Buick, GMC et Cadillac.

GM Ventures, la filiale de capital à risque de l'entreprise, investira dans Powermat 5 millions de dollars US en vue d'accélérer le développement de la technologie et de soutenir les efforts de croissance mondiale des activités de Powermat.

La technologie de Powermat permet de charger efficacement, sans fil mais en toute sécurité, des appareils électroniques tels que smartphones, lecteurs MP3 et autres consoles de jeu. Elle se présente sous la forme d'un tapis ou d'une tablette où il suffit de poser son appareil électronique compatible pour que celui-ci se recharge automatiquement.

La Chevrolet Volt électrique sera un des premiers véhicules du groupe US à proposer cette technologie qui devrait révolutionner la manière de recharger des appareils électroniques dans une voiture.

Powermat, une société privée, a été fondée en 2007 et propose actuellement des appareils domestiques de recharge sans câblage, dans bon nombre de magasins de détails comme Best Buy, Target et Wal-Mart.

Source & photo: General Motors

Opel Anvers: la vente sur Internet démarre ce lundi

A partir de ce lundi, GM met en vente sur le site internet international de ventes aux enchères Maynards les installations des sections presse et peinture d'Opel Anvers qui datent respectivement de 1996 et 2007.

Les intéressés ont eu la possibilité de visiter le site depuis le 1er décembre 2010. C'est la fin d'une saga, d'une histoire industrielle, économique et sociale depuis 1924, un vrai traumatisme pour la Belgique et surtout la Flandre.

Un mercredi de décembre, la toute dernière Opel Astra sortait de la chaîne d'assemblage de l'usine du constructeur à Anvers. C'est la fin d'un feuilleton où se sont succédé l'espoir pour les ouvriers que le site soit sauvé et autant de déceptions. 2 600 personnes y travaillaient encore en 2009, l'année du début des rumeurs.

En mars, la maison-mère américaine annonce sa grande maladie économique et la suppression nécessaire de 47 000 emplois dont 26 000 hors des Etats-Unis. Dix jours plus tard, Opel veut se séparer de GM. La fermeture à venir est une réalité. Les politiciens fédéraux et flamands se mobilisent, mettent de l'argent sur la table. GM se donne finalement un peu de temps pour trouver un repreneur, des noms circulent: Fiat, le groupe austro-canadien Magna, des Chinois, 16 repreneurs au total.

En avril 2010, un accord social est finalisé. Les travailleurs reçoivent tous une prime nette unique de 2 295 euros. Selon GM, les candidats potentiels ne satisfont pas aux conditions. Un courtier immobilier est chargé de trouver des acheteurs pour les terrains.

Anvers est le seul site à fermer en Europe, une fermeture qui suscite l'amertume des syndicats qui ont accusé plusieurs fois Berlin d'avoir fait pression pour que ce soit Anvers que l'on sacrifie en lieu et place d'un site allemand... moins rentable que le site belge!

Opel à Anvers existait depuis 1924. Plus de 13 millions de voitures y ont été fabriquées.

Source: RTBF
Photo: Belga

Opel Anvers: 4 ouvriers sur 7 ont déjà retrouvé un emploi

Quatre ouvriers sur sept, d'un âge inférieur à 45 ans, ont trouvé un nouvel emploi après avoir dû quitter le site d'Opel Anvers en juin dernier. Au total, ce sont actuellement 394 des 1 269 collaborateurs inscrits dans la cellule de reconversion qui ont trouvé un emploi, dont un tiers un poste fixe.

Ce sont les chiffres de l'office flamand de l'emploi (VDAB). La plupart des employés qui ont perdu leur job en juin suivent encore une procédure d'accompagnement. Seul les ouvriers de moins de 45 ans ont terminé leur outplacement.

La moitié des 394 qui ont retrouvé un emploi sont actuellement sous contrat à durée déterminée ou intérimaire et un tiers à un poste fixe. Environ 20 % sont restés dans le secteur automobile. Les autres principaux domaines sont le métal, la logistique et la chimie.

En décembre, 1 306 personnes devront également renoncer à leur poste chez Opel Anvers, dont 1 133 ouvriers et 173 employés. Elles seront également prises en charge par la cellule de reconversion, une collaboration entre General Motors Belgium, les syndicats, les bureaux d'outplacement, le fonds sectoriel FTMA et le VDAB.

Source & photo: Belga

GMC Previews Sierra All Terrain HD Concept Ahead of Detroit Show

General Motors will be presenting an ultra-tough concept study based on the four-door 2011 GMC Sierra HD pickup truck at the rapidly approaching Detroit Motor Show in mid-January. The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD study is highlighted by its rough n' tough exterior design and enhanced all-road capability.

Shorter in overall length than production Sierra HD models, the concept boasts a unique five-foot, eight-inch Crew Cab/short box body configuration with the wheels pushed to corners of the vehicle.

It also features a wider, 73-inch (1,853 mm) track for greater stability and approximately 3 inches (76 mm) greater ground clearance for a total of 21.1 inches (536 mm) at the rockers and 11.8 inches (300 mm) at the skid plates.

To improve its off-road prowess, GMC retuned and upgraded the suspension with specialized Fox off-road shocks, while the All Terrain HD also features electronic disconnection of the front stabilizer bar at the push of a button. The 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 35-inch-tall BFGoodrich mud terrain tires and the full composite underbody protection that shields the transmission, drivetrain, fuel tank, exhaust system and axle differentials, round off the package.

Motivation comes from GM's new production 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 that delivers 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque (1,037 Nm), and is matched to a six-speed auto.

The concept also features four-wheel drive, with automatic locking front and rear differentials, and 14-inch, four-wheel disc brake system from the production Sierra HD.

General Motors did not say if it has plans to develop a production version of the concept, but given that it is based on the 2011 Sierra HD, we wouldn't be surprised if the automaker launched a similarly flavored variant in the near future.

GM CEO Calls the Prius a Geek-Mobile, Wouldn’t be Caught Dead in One

In the grand scheme of things, General Motors is a little late in the purpose-built hybrid range extended electric vehicle game. Toyota has recently launched its third generation Prius and Honda its second generation Insight. At worst, the soon-to-be-released Chevy Volt is a logical move from a marketing perspective; if the consumer wants frumpily styled eco-cars then who are we, the automakers, to say otherwise?

So it’s a little hard to swallow when GM’s current CEO, Dan Akerson, describes the Volt’s major competitor – some may even say raison d’être – as a geek-mobile. Here are his exact words:

“We commonly refer to the geek-mobile as the Prius. And I wouldn't be caught dead in a Prius."

If the Prius is a geek-mobile, what does that make the Volt? Is it a me-too-mobile? And the word “geek” is so muddied in our 21^st century world. In the United States, 74% of the population use the internet, 27% own an Apple iPhone and almost half are on Facebook or MySpace. And Avatar, film widely considered to be the most successful film ever made, is a member of that classic geek genre: science fiction.

Is it any wonder that more than two million Priora have been sold since the nameplate came into existence? In a way, there’s a little geek in all of us. We buy organic, we tune into Lost and we use our Smartphones to text our friends what we’re eating for lunch.

It seems to me that GM wants to distance the Volt as much as possible from its Japanese stablemate. Have you noticed how no one at GM, Chevrolet or in the press calls it a hybrid? It’s a range extended electric vehicle. If that isn’t a geeky euphemism I don’t know what is.

The Volt, which according to Akerson "actually looks good,” compared to the Prius, goes on sale before the end of this year. With a starting price of US$41,000 (€31,016), the Volt will be more expensive than its main rival, though some buyers will be entitled to a US$7,500 (€5,674) federal tax credit.

Opel: la dernière Astra est sortie de l'usine d'Anvers

La dernière Opel Astra est sortie de la chaîne d'assemblage, mercredi vers 13h30, à l'usine d'Anvers. La chaîne, coeur de l'usine, est donc à l'arrêt.

Cette dernière voiture doit encore subir des tests de qualité. L'éclairage doit y être installé et la programmation effectuée. Cette dernière Astra quittera l'usine vendredi.

Depuis 1924, Opel Anvers a fabriqué 13 306 292 voitures.

Le 21 janvier 2010, le personnel de l'usine d'Anvers recevait un courrier dans lequel il était annoncé que l'usine ne fabriquerait plus de nouveau modèles et que l'usine fermerait sans doute ses portes.

Le 4 octobre 2010, la fermeture était confirmée. Selon GM, les candidats potentiels ne satisfaisaient pas aux conditions.

Source: Belga
Photo: Opel

Another One Down: GM Ceases Production of Medium-Duty Chevy and GMC Trucks

General Motors, which entered bankruptcy protection on June 1st, said on Monday that it would terminate its medium-duty truck operations after having failed to find a buyer for the division. "After four years of working with multiple potential buyers, General Motors has decided to wind-down its medium-duty truck operations," said the company in a prepared statement. The company said production of the Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick medium duty trucks that are both built at GM's Flint, Michigan, Assembly plant, will cease by July 31, 2009.

BREAKING: GM Confirms Penske as Saturn Buyer, Says Production of Aura, Vue and Outlook Will Continue

Confirming an earlier report this morning, General Motors has announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement with Penske Automotive Group for the sale of the Saturn brand. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but GM said that it expects the close the transaction in the third quarter of this year. The American automaker said that if completed, the deal will save more than 350 dealerships and 13,000 jobs at Saturn and its retailers in the United States.

Under the agreement, Penske, the second-largest retailer in the States, would obtain the rights to the brand as well as certain other Saturn assets while GM would continue production, on a contract basis, of the Saturn Aura sedan, Vue SUV and Outlook SUV - yes, the Astra and Sky Roadster are 'dead'.

"This is the combination of two iconic teams: Saturn and Penske," said Saturn general manager Jill Lajdziak. "GM had the vision to create Saturn and has the desire to see it succeed in the future. There has been a groundswell of support for Saturn, with our retailers and owners urging us to save the brand," Lajdziak continued. "We heard their call loud and clear, and it inspired us as we worked to secure Saturn's future."

"Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network," said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Automotive Group. "For nearly 20 years Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths."

GM CEO Says Pontiac G8 GXP Won't Live on as a Chevy or a Cadillac

If you have been eyeing Pontiac's LS3 V8-powered G8 GXP you better hurry up and buy one before the brand closes as the sports sedan won't be offered by any other GM marque. During a web chat on the firm's official blog, GM CEO Fritz Henderson was asked by a online reader whether or not the Pontiac G8 GXP would live on as a rebadged Chevrolet or maybe even as an entry-level Cadillac. Henderson's answer was a clear-cut 'No'. Too bad that no one asked Henderson if that goes for the entire G8 range or only for the GXP.

Smart Distributor Reported to Have Won Bid for GM's Saturn Brand

The Penske Automotive Group, a car retailer that operates mostly in the U.S. and the UK and has the distributing rights for Daimler's Smart cars in the States, is the winning bidder for GM's Saturn unit, Bloomberg reported Friday morning. Citing a an unnamed source close to the negotiations, the news agency said that Penske will pay a price of $100 million to $200 million and that the deal may be announced as early as today. Earlier this week, General Motors announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement to sell Hummer to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. while the U.S. automaker that is currently reorganizing in Chapter 11 also plans to sell its Saab division.

2012 Buick Verano Pricing Estimates, Preliminary Engine Specs and Trim Levels Leaked

The last time we heard about General Motors' forthcoming Buick Verano was back in October when the company teased the U.S. version of the already revealed in China, Excelle GT, with a single cropped picture. Now, the folks over at GM Inside News forum managed to get their hands on the car's preliminary specs through a leaked online order study destined for Buick dealers.

According to the official document, the Verano will be available with the 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Peak output will be 180 hp and 172 lb-ft (233 Nm) of torque. Customers will have the option to choose between four trim levels, each building up on the previous version.

The base version is codenamed “1SB Cloth Base” and comes with a cloth interior. It has an estimated MSRP ranging from $20,900 to $21,500.

Next up is the “1SD Cloth Mid-Level” that adds a variety of features such as remote start, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and sound system with Bluetooth connectivity. The MSRPs range between $22,100 and $22,700.

The third variant is the “1SG Cloth Mid-Level”, which ups the luxury ante with power adjustable driver seat, heated mirrors, rear park assist and dimming inside rear view mirror. Base price for this variant is estimated to be in the $23,300 - $23,900 range.

Last but not least, Buick will offer the range topping “1SL Leather Up-Level”, boasting heated seats and steering wheel, keyless entry system, premium Bose sound system and 18-inch alloys. This version is estimated to cost up to $26,200.

If true, Buick will be charging mid-size sedan money - think Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata- for a car that belongs in the subcompact category along with its Chevrolet Cruze twin and the Ford Focus. Of course, being that we're still more than six months away from the Buick Verano's market launch in the States, one should take these prices for what they are: estimates and not final prices.

D'oh! GM Eliminates Remaining Corporate Jet Fleet

You might remember the fuss that was created last November after it was revealed that Detroit's Big Three CEOs flew into Washington to ask Congress for a few billion dollars in loans on separate luxury jets. Well, the "New GM" won't have any jets as the U.S. Bankruptcy court approved the automaker's request to cancel the leases on its fleet of seven private jets and a hangar that was used to store them at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The General's private fleet consisted of two range-topping Gulfstream V jets leased from Suntrust Leasing Corp. since 2001 and five Gulfstream IVs leased from AVN Air LLC since 2007. According to a report from Automotive News, the hanger alone cost GM $488,000 a year to rent. Yep, from now on, it's only commercial flights for GM's executives.

VIDEO: Jon Stewart's Satirical Take on GM's Bankruptcy

The host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show", Jon Stewart, is one of those comedians you either like or dislike. If you must know, most of the times I find the show amusing. In last night's episode Stewart pointed his satire towards the U.S. government and the 'biG Mess' aka GM's bankruptcy. Among other things, Stewart asked, "as long as the American taxpayers are buying companies like GM, is there any way they could grab a couple of them that make money?". Enjoy the full episode after the jump.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
BiG Mess
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Economic Crisis

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
P.J. O'Rourke
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Economic Crisis

GM Officially Confirms China's Sichuan Tengzhong as HUMMER's Buyer

And the impending buyer of General Motor's Hummer division is... China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. LTD. Sorry, never heard of them and chances are that 99.99% of those reading this post haven't either. But if you must know, GM said that Tengzhong, which is based in the Chinese province of Sichuan, is a "privately-owned company and a leading domestic manufacturer of road, construction and energy industry equipment." In an earlier statement today, GM said that the sale is expected to close by the end of third quarter of 2009 and that it will secure more than 3,000 US jobs.

"The HUMMER brand is synonymous with adventure, freedom and exhilaration, and we plan to continue that heritage by investing in the business, allowing HUMMER to innovate and grow in exciting new ways under the leadership and continuity of its current management team," said Yang Yi, CEO of Tengzhong. "We will be investing in the HUMMER brand and its research and development capabilities, which will allow HUMMER to better meet demand for new products such as more fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S."

HUMMER's chief James Taylor said, "With Tengzhong's investment and strong support, we will be able to make our visions a reality. This transaction, if successful, will secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs, and allow us to embark on a more aggressive global expansion, ensuring a successful future with our new partners."

So that you know let us ask you: If the deal is sealed, what do you think that the future holds for a Chinese-owned HUMMER and its U.S. based employees?

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