General Motors and its Local Partners Build China's Biggest Test Track

General Motors is pretty serious about maintaining its leading role in China, the world's largest auto market.

On Saturday, September 22, GM and its Chinese partners, which include SAIC, Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, opened the largest automotive proving ground in the country.

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China , GM , Reports , SAIC

August a Record Month for Chevy Volt Sales Thanks to Big Discounts; But is it Really Good News?

All-electric and hybrid car sales so far account for just 3.5 percent of total vehicle sales in the U.S. this year. Not exactly what their makers expected when they launched these models.

At a first glance, the situation is improving for General Motors, as its Volt extended-range hybrid sold a record 2,800 units last month. Year-to-date Volt sales have so far reached 13,000 units, which certainly compares very well to the 7,700 cars that were sold in 2011.

For example, before the discounts, Bunnin Chevrolet in Culver City, California was selling three to five Volts per month. Last month it shifted 36 cars, mostly leases, and sales manager Chad Kelman told The Detroit News that the dealership is having a hard time keeping enough units in stock.

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Chevrolet , Chevrolet Volt , Ecology , GM , Hybrids , Reports

Chevrolet Promotes Upcoming 2013 Malibu Turbo with Another Test Track Video

General Motors is evidently placing a lot of focus on the sportier characteristics of the soon-to-be launched 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo, as for the second time in the past couple of months, it has released a video of the car on the track.

Mark Meyers, GM Global Vehicle Performance Manager, tries out the Malibu Turbo LTZ at the Milford Proving Grounds and shares his thoughts about the most potent version of Chevrolet's new mid-size sedan.

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Chevrolet , Chevrolet Malibu , Chevrolet Videos , GM , New Cars , Video

CAW Strikes a Deal with Ford, Gives GM and Chrysler More Time to Make Up Their Minds

Negotiations between the Canadian Auto Workers’ union and Ford resulted in a tentative deal concerning the new four-year contract between the workers and the automaker, averting the proposed strike that would start on Monday midnight if a deal couldn't be reached.

Though the deal still needs to be ratified by the union members, it includes creating 600 new jobs, modifying the two-tier wage system, paying CAW members US$9,234 in bonuses over the life of the contract and eliminating guaranteed cost-of-living wage increases. Moreover, new hires will start at about US$21 an hour, but will receive full wages of about $35 an hour after 10, instead of six, years.

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Canada , Chrysler , Ford , GM , Reports

New 2013 Buick Encore Priced from $24,950*, Goes on Sale Early Next Year

After telling us that the new Buick Encore has received an EPA certification of 28mpg combined, General Motors has now announced pricing for its Nissan Juke-sized small crossover that will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2013 starting at $24,950, which includes a $750 destination charge (*).

The Encore is offered exclusively with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine churning out 138-horsepower (140PS) and 148 lb.-ft. (200Nm) of peak torque. All-wheel drive is available on all models for $1,500.

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Buick , Buick Encore , GM , New Cars

GM Wants to be the Best in Customer Loyalty, Gain More than US$4 Billion Annually

The Holy Grail in any industry is customer loyalty. All manufacturers are fighting to improve their retention rate, that is, the percentage of customers who, when the time comes to replace a product, will remain loyal to the brand.

The automotive industry is no different. In the U.S. market, the current leader is Toyota, with a 58 percent retention rate. General Motors’ percentage is around 52-53 percent, close to the automotive industry average. Clearly, GM execs think that this should change; and there’s a very good reason for that.

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Buick , Chevrolet , GM , GMC , Reports

Buick and GMC to Present Nine New Models in the Next Year Including Regal, LaCrosse and Sierra

It’s going to a busy time for General Motors and its Buick and GMC brands as the company's executives told dealers today that the two automakers plan to launch nine all-new or "significantly" refreshed models in the next 12 months.

The first models to arrive will be the brand-new Buick Encore small crossover and the revamped GMC Acadia SUV this fall.

In the course of 2013, Buick will introduce the Regal sedan and LaCrosse (most likely facelifts), while GMC, the new Sierra and Sierra HD full-size pickups, as well as the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs.

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Buick , Buick Encore , Buick LaCrosse , Buick Regal , Buick Verano , GM , GMC , GMC Sierra , GMC Yukon , New Cars , Reports

U.S. Treasury Department Won’t Sell GM its Shares Back Until the Price is Right

During the 2009 bailout, the U.S. Treasury Department invested more than US$50 billion in General Motors through Troubled Asset Relief Program. It currently owns a 26.5 percent stake in the company, a fact that has led bailout and government opponents deriding GM as “Government Motors”.

Now that the company is up and running for good (sans its European operations) reclaiming the number one spot from Toyota in 2011 and is posting profits, it wants to buy back its shares.

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GM , Reports