Reports to Our Membership

In today's "global economy," our local union members need to be kept well informed and to be vigilant. Action on Wall Street impacts our wallets. Politicians of all strips and at all levels change the rules. Issues range from job protection to health insurance and beyond. Here's reports on the people and items making the headlines.

Latest Information about GM

A lot of information about GM is in the news. There are a number of sources available where you can find out the latest news and information:

www.gm.com/restructuring - Court documents, FAQ’s, press materials;
www.gmreinvention.com - Progress reports, headlines, information about the New GM;
fastlane.gmblogs.com - Comments and perspective from GM Leader; and,
www.gmfactsandfiction.com - Answers for questions or to counter those GM myths.

New Buick Crossover Will Feature Plug-In Hybrid System

GM’s plug-in hybrid technology will be introduced in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011. The yet-to-be-named Buick crossover will launch in late 2010 offering a family of fuel-efficient direct-injected gasoline engines, followed in 2011 by the plug-in hybrid model.

“Buick has always been at the forefront of new technology, so it is only fitting that the brand should debut our new plug-in hybrid technology in a beautiful new crossover,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of product development. “This will firmly put Buick, and GM, front and center in the advanced technology game.”

The new five-passenger crossover will build on the success of the Buick Enclave, offering the brand’s finely crafted execution and premium driving experience in a fuel-efficient package. The Buick crossover will be powered by an Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected four-cylinder engine with an optional 3.0L direct-injected V-6, and is expected to deliver 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway.

Cadillac's Pre-Launch Web Campaign "Yawns" at the Competition

The all-new 2010 Cadillac SRX launches this summer. It gets a head-start with an innovative online marketing campaign aimed at luxury crossover consumers who are shopping competitive brands. On popular car websites like Edmunds.com, shoppers researching luxury crossovers like the Lexus RX 350 will also see the new 2010 SRX—but in a lighthearted way. A new Cadillac expandable video banner ad will appear alongside this competitive vehicle content. The ad says “Tired of Boring Luxury Crossovers”, and a video appears with an actor or actress looking at the competitive vehicle and yawning in boredom. A title screen then says—“Your Wake Up Call is Coming: Introducing the all-new 2010 Cadillac SRX Crossover.”

This targeted pre-launch campaign is called “Yawn.” The ads appear on key shopping sites including Autobytel, Autotrader, cars.com, Jumpstart Automotive Media, Edmunds and KBB, as well as on YouTube—and precisely on pages in which users are searching for key competitive luxury crossovers. “It’s a good example of using the web to make our ad buys more strategic and more efficient,” says Cadillac Product and Market Director Steve Shannon. “For consumers who might be thinking about a Lexus or Acura or Audi crossover, the clear message is ‘hold on, Cadillac’s got something more interesting coming soon.’”

Equinox Exceeds 30 mpg on Freeway

The Chevrolet Equinox has exceeded expectations, reaching an estimated 32 MPG highway fuel economy. That fuel economy is far better than either the Toyota RAV-4 or Honda CR-V, and even better than the Ford Escape Hybrid model. “We believe Equinox has the potential to redefine the compact crossover segment. It combines the fuel economy of a sedan with the functionality of a crossover. In fact, Equinox provides outstanding performance said, Ed Peper, GMNA vice president, Chevrolet.” Tim Herrick, Equinox chief engineer, said: “You can go over 500 miles on a single fill-up. Just in case you need to get from Detroit to Washington in a hurry, you can hop in an Equinox and take it there and not have to stop. You can have both … you can have great fuel economy and great performance.”

Chevrolet announced the 2010 Equinox crossover will carry a MSRP of $23,185 for the FWD LS model. It went on sale in June.

Experience “The Future of Pony Cars” on New Camaro Website

“Welcome to the future of pony cars,” raves Automobile magazine’s review of the new Chevrolet Camaro. You can experience the new Camaro in all its steely glory at Chevrolet dealer showrooms, where it is now appearing. Or, you can check it out at chevrolet.com/allnewcamaro.

You can read the above Automobile review and other buff book takes on the new Camaro there. You can also watch videos, compare how the Camaro stacks up against the competition, and spec one out for yourself. See for yourself why Motor Trend magazine said; “Chevy’s new two-door is … very good. Very, very, very good.”

Pricing starts at $22,995 MSRP for the V-6-powered LS model and $30,995 for the V-8-powered Camaro SS. Production scheduled began in February at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant.

“Chevrolet Has Pulled Off a Near-Masterstroke” with Camaro

Motor Trend reviewed the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and awarded it “The Oscar for Best Fulfillment of Pony car Hopes & Dreams,” in its very positive “First Test” review. The review continued: “The new Camaro excels by almost every objective and subjective measure: design, power, handling, efficiency, comfort, convenience, safety, and, perhaps most important of all, accessibility to the Camaro faithful. Sure, it would’ve been news enough if Chevy had simply built an A-plus Camaro, but that would’ve mattered little if it’d been priced out of the reach of us paycheck-by-paycheck mortals. The headline news: The new, fifth-generation Camaro delivers on all fronts.”

Pontiac G8 is "Great" and the "Best"

The Pontiac G8 was named one of “5 Great Deals” of the week by Kelley Blue Book. The “5 Great Deals” feature on kbb.com reveals to consumers five noteworthy deals on new cars available each week and illustrates the amazing deals carmakers are making available to consumers. In its review, the website noted: “The G8’s aggressive appearance, impressive array of features, superb handling dynamics and attractive pricing should also help it appeal to those who might want something with the performance and feel of a European sport sedan but at a lower price.” “…this is absolutely the best current example of a swaggering, great-driving American big car,” is what Automobile magazine has to say about the Pontiac G8.  The review says that the G8 recalls Pontiac’s product lineup of the ‘60s and ‘70s that featured “big cars with power and road holding that were a step above their competitors.”

Buick Tops 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study

J.D. Power and Associates announced yesterday that Buick tied for the highest ranking in vehicle dependability for three-year old models. This is the seventh straight year that Buick has ranked in the top ten brands in this dependability study, which tracks vehicle issues over a three-year ownership period. Buick moved from sixth place to take over the top spot in this year’s study. The Buick LaCross was also ranked first in the midsize car segment, beating the Toyota Camry, while the Buick Lucerne came in second in the large car segment.

In addition to Buick’s double victory in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study. Other GM models also placed well in the study.

These GM vehicles ranked second in the Top 3 in their segments:

• Entry Premium Car – Cadillac CTS
• Midsize Sporty Car – Chevrolet Monte Carlo
• Large Car – Buick Lucerne
• Large Multi-Activity Vehicle – Chevrolet Tahoe

These vehicles ranked third in the Top 3 in their segments:

• Sub-compact car – Chevrolet Aveo
• Compact car – Pontiac Vibe
• Large Premium Car – Cadillac DTS
• Compact Sporty Car – Pontiac Solstice
• Premium Sporty Car – Chevrolet Corvette
• Midsize Multi-Activity Vehicle – Buick Rainier
• Large Pickup – GMC Sierra LD

In the car category GM had nine models in the top three. Toyota had eight and Ford six. In the truck category GM had three models in the top three, while Toyota had eight and Ford six. GMNA Vice President of Quality Rick Spina says, “The vehicles in the study are from 2006, and we’ve taken the success from these models to the cars and trucks we build today, so our results are continuing to improve.

Cadillac Drives Off With Two Brand Titles

Cadillac tops two categories in the Kelley Blue Book 2009 Brand Image Awards announced yesterday. The 2009 Brand Image Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public. Cadillac was the winner in the Best Comfort Brand category and the Best Interior Design category. Here’s what the editors had to say about Cadillac’s winning attributes:

Best Comfort Brand: Cadillac
Cadillac’s lineup is more athletic than ever, but the brand has been linked with plush ride and whisper quiet so closely and for so long that people continue to equate it first and foremost with comfort. Today, Cadillac vehicles no longer deliver comfort via button-tufted velour or wallowing ride, but by more modern means like effortless power and quiet, high-quality interiors that are rich and contemporary.

Best Interior Design Brand: Cadillac
If there’s an underdog winner in this year’s Brand Image Awards, this is it. Only a few years ago, the quality and styling inside a Cadillac fell far short of what you’d find in competitors like Audi and Mercedes-Benz. With the introduction of the second-generation CTS sedan, though, Cadillac jumped right back into the game it dominated a few decades ago.

Avalanche is "Top Pick"

The Chevrolet Avalanche was named the 2009 "Top Pick" for pickup trucks by Consumer Reports last week. The magazine called the Avalanche "one of the most versatile and comfortable pickups that Consumer Reports has tested." Consumer Reports' reviewers also liked the Avalanche's innovative design, saying "its unified bed and cab helps give it a solid feel and a comfortable, quiet ride. Its innovative partition, between the cab and the bed, can be folded to allow longer cargo to extend into the back of the cab."

Chevy Scores on Best New Family Vehicle List

Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) has come out with its list of 2009 Best New Family Vehicles and the Chevrolet team is smiling about the results showing three Chevy products among the Top 10 vehicles. The Chevy winners are Malibu, Tahoe Hybrid and Traverse. The editors say the Malibu "has some seriously strong credentials. Not only does it offer class-leading fuel economy topping out at an impressive 33 highway miles per gallon, it also edged out the Honda Accord to win our 2008 Family Sedan Comparison Test." "The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is as green as it gets in this arena, and still offers towing capacity of up to 6,200 pounds." And they really liked the combination of size and economy in the new Traverse. "...the Traverse is the biggest crossover on the road—yet it beats the fuel economy of many smaller three-row vehicles. We like all the Traverse's siblings—Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook—but the Chevrolet has the lowest starting price, which makes it our family pick."

Cars.Com Names Three GM Models Best Bets

The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac Vibe and Saturn Aura have been named Best Bets for Passenger Cars by Cars.com.

To qualify as a Cars.com Best Bet, models must meet three criteria:

• a Good rating in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests; average or higher reliability ratings; and,
• average or higher gas mileage within their class.

The Malibu was also named an Editors’ Choice for Small Families by Cars.com.

Chevrolet Malibu

"When General Motors wants to show off what it can do, it always rolls out the Chevy Malibu, which has the styling, refinement and interior quality that’s been missing from American midsize cars for too long. While Honda and Toyota weren’t looking, the six-speed, four-cylinder Malibu came and kicked their butts with an impressive 22/33 mpg city/highway. Midsize sedans are a staple of small families, and this is the most competitive one out of Detroit in ages. It has a quiet, quality interior, and you can get a four-cylinder without forgoing upscale features."

Pontiac Vibe
"For all the reasons its twin, the Toyota Matrix, is a Best Bet, so is the Pontiac Vibe. In addition to its good crash tests and exceptional reliability, the Vibe has the advantage of being a Pontiac, meaning it has an additional 40,000 miles on the powertrain warranty, plus five years and/or 100,000 miles of roadside assistance, which Toyota doesn’t offer."

Saturn Aura
"Thanks to average reliability and passing crash tests, the Saturn Aura joins its sister sedan, the Chevy Malibu, as a Best Bet."

GMC Adding More Fuel-Saving Direct Injection Engines For 2010

The all-new, five-passenger 2010 GMC Terrain joins the rapidly growing list of vehicles with GM’s direct injected (DI) engines that use less fuel, make more power and produce fewer emissions. The Terrain brings to 18 the number of North American GM models that will feature DI in 2010–more than any other manufacturer.

LaCrosse and SRX are “Best” at Atlanta Auto Show

The Buick LaCrosse was named Best in Show and the Cadillac SRX was chosen the Best 2010 model at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show by the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA). A five-person panel of judges chose the GM models over dozens of other candidates and presented the "GAAMA Peach" awards prior to the auto show opening March 13. "The judging was very close with several candidates gathering votes from the panel. But in the end, the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac SRX were the clear winners," said GAAMA President Jim Tucker.

Traverse Worth the Wait

“The good thing about instant gratification is that it’s instantaneous. Still, good things sometimes come to those who wait, and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is proof of that,” writes Cheryl Jensen in The New York Times. He also commented on the Traverse’s superiority over the Honda Pilot. “The Traverse’s steering was more responsive than the Pilot’s, and its shifts were smoother. While the Pilot felt like a big S.U.V., the Traverse acted like a particularly agile minivan—although GM has managed to keep the Traverse from looking like one,” according to Jensen.

Volt Battery Packs Will Be Manufactured in U.S.

The Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline and emissions-free electric driving, will use battery packs manufactured in the United States by General Motors, Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced at the North American International Auto Show earlier this week. GM will establish the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing facility operated by a major automaker in the United States to produce the Volt’s battery pack system. It consists of lithium-ion cells that are grouped into modules, along with other key battery components. The plant will be located in Michigan, subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities.  Facility preparation will begin in early 2009, with production tooling to be installed mid-year and output starting in 2010.

Union-Made Vehicles

The UAW list of 2009 union-made cars, trucks, vans, pickups, CUVs and SUVs is now available at 2009 Union-Built Car and Truck Guide. Vehicles from nine manufacturers are produced in union-represented auto assembly plants in the U.S. and Canada. These vehicles are assembled in the U.S. and Canada by members of the UAW, the CAW and the IUE-CWA.

Union-made products are available in all price ranges and product categories, including hybrids, clean diesels and energy-saving flex-fuel vehicles. UAW-made vehicles have recently won top-quality rankings from J.D. Power and the University of Michigan Consumer Satisfaction Survey. In addition, the most recent Harbour Report, a closely watched study of auto plant efficiency, showed that when union plants are compared with non-union facilities that build the same type of vehicle, union plants are more productive in 12 out of 13 cases.