| At the General Motors Corporation's annual meeting, | | | | well as save quality auto industry jobs thereby helping |
| GM chairman Richard Wagoner emphasized to the | | | | build the US economy. |
| shareholders that the Detroit car company is serious | | | | Moreover, she pointed out surveys of potential voters |
| about accelerating the development of the new | | | | which revealed that 75 percent are in favor of tougher |
| technology that is required to power the electrified | | | | emissions standards. |
| Chevrolet Volt. | | | | However, Detroit's Big Three remain reliant on the |
| However, the day right after the shareholders' meeting | | | | sales of gas-eating pickup trucks and big sport utility |
| last Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware, Wagoner was in | | | | vehicles (SUVs). |
| Washington D.C. together with top executives from | | | | Jeremy Anwyl, the President of Edmunds, a very |
| the Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation | | | | influential web site on cars and other vehicles, noted |
| discussing on tougher new fuel economy standards | | | | that his firm's data depicts that the sales of large |
| that is still pending in Congress. | | | | SUVs and pickup trucks are slopping down due to the |
| Wagoner frankly said that it is about time to move | | | | consumers' responses on the continuously increasing |
| beyond the limits of exclusive reliance on the traditional | | | | gas prices. The data also showed that consumers |
| regulatory approaches that visibly has not resolved the | | | | who visit Edmunds site believe that there will be |
| critical problems on new fuel economy standards. He | | | | increased sales of small cars as an effect of the |
| added that Americans deserve a positive move that | | | | gasoline prices. |
| would embody solutions which will give the appropriate | | | | Wagoner seemed to be preparing for the trend has |
| solutions to the overriding problems. | | | | announced at the annual shareholders meeting on |
| He sited bio-fuels as examples. He said that bio-fuels | | | | Tuesday the awarding of two contracts for the |
| have the biggest potential to really minimize US oil | | | | advanced development of lithium-ion batteries for its |
| consumption (for the country to further increase | | | | new Chevy Volt - concept car that was introduced in |
| production of goods); limit imports of oil that makes the | | | | January at the Detroit auto show. |
| US economy very dependent to oil exporting countries; | | | | Wagoner said that the Volt is being developed as part |
| and lessen emissions of carbon gas that is severely | | | | of GM's strategy to divert their cars from petroleum. |
| making a negative impact on the environment. | | | | GM officials said this week that the company also |
| A sharp response from environmental and consumer | | | | faces a serious image problem, particularly due to |
| groups was implied by the appearance of Wagoner | | | | increasing fuel-conscious Americans. |
| and counterparts Tom LaSorda of Chrysler and Alan | | | | In a latest speech, United Auto Workers President Ron |
| Mulally of Ford. | | | | Gettelfinger summarized that the car-buying public |
| The Director of Research at the Consumer Federation | | | | perceives the Big Three as manufacturers of nothing |
| of America, Mark Cooper, said that the proposed | | | | but gas-eaters, while Japanese competitor, Toyota is |
| target of fuel efficiency was 30 percent too low. It | | | | an advocate of less fuel consumption. |
| was proposed by the US carmakers and Toyota - the | | | | About General Motors Corporation |
| Japanese rival. | | | | General Motors Corporation is the largest auto |
| Pam Solo of the Washington-based Civil Institute said | | | | company in the world by sales revenue according to |
| that now is the time for Washington and Detroit to | | | | the 2006 records. Founded in 1908 in Flint, Michigan, it |
| tackle the fact that the US is unnecessarily losing the | | | | has its global headquarters at the Renaissance Center |
| race to develop the best fuel-efficient vehicle | | | | in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It manufactures its line of |
| technology. He said that this should be done as | | | | products in 33 countries around the world. |
| Detroit's Big Three car companies (GM, Ford and | | | | It sells it products under the marques of Cadillac, |
| DaimlerChrysler) and giant Japanese manufacturer | | | | Chevrolet, Corvette (as a stand-alone brand in Europe |
| Toyota launch an astoundingly short-sighted advertising | | | | and Japan), Daewoo, Elmore, GMC, Holden, Hummer, |
| and persuading campaign to hinder even modest | | | | LaSalle, Marquette, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, |
| refinements in the fuel efficiency of vehicle. | | | | Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Viking. |
| He added that increasing fuel efficiency can at the | | | | Aside from cars and other vehicles, General Motors |
| same time minimize the country's dependence on the | | | | also manufactures top of the line auto parts such as |
| Middle East region, trim down greenhouse effects, as | | | | Oldsmobile oxygen sensor. |