!NEW! General Motors Outlines Strategic Plan

General Motors CEO Mary Barra talks with media Wednesday, October 1, 2014, before outlining the company's customer-focused strategic plan to become the most valued automotive company, at a conference for investors and financial analysts at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) CEO Mary Barra and her executive leadership team outlined the company’s customer-focused strategic plan to become the most valued automotive company at a conference for investors and financial analysts today at the company’s Milford Proving Ground.

GM CEO Mary Barra

“In the nine months that this leadership team has been together, we have spent a significant amount of time setting our goals for the future of GM and developing a specific action plan,” Barra said. “Our strategic plan is a pathway to earn customers for life and create significant shareholder value in the process. Every chance to connect with a customer is an opportunity to build a stronger relationship.”

GM’s strategic plan includes several major initiatives that the company anticipates will help it achieve 9- to 10-percent margins on an EBIT-adjusted basis by early next decade.

• Lead in Product and Technology: In 2015, about 27 percent of GM’s global sales volume is expected to come from products new or refreshed within 18 months. That figure is expected to rise to 38 percent in 2016 and 2017, and reach 47 percent in 2019.

During the same time frame, GM plans to execute the world’s largest automotive deployment of 4G LTE high-speed mobile broadband, introduce vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity in the 2017 Cadillac CTS and launch a highly automated driving technology currently called Super Cruise, which allows for extended periods of hands-free driving on highways.

GM has also developed an innovative Mixed Material Body Structure that uses GM-patented welding technology and a combination of steel and aluminum stampings, castings and extrusions to deliver designs that are lightweight, use 20 percent fewer parts, have class-leading torsional stiffness and exhibit superior noise and vibration characteristics.

• Grow Cadillac: GM is establishing its flagship brand as a separate business unit headquartered in New York City to pursue growth opportunities in the luxury market with more focus and clarity. Cadillac expects to introduce four new vehicles in North America in 2015, including the recently announced CT6. In addition, Cadillac plans to introduce nine new models in the next five years in China, which is expected to become the world’s largest luxury car market later this decade.

• Continue Growing in China: GM’s joint ventures in China are planning to invest $14 billion from 2014 through 2018 to open five new vehicle- manufacturing plants and support sales of just under 5 million vehicles annually. In the same time frame, GM expects to launch 60 new or refreshed vehicles, including nine new sport utility vehicles.

• Continue Growing GM Financial: GM Financial, which has seen its earning assets grow from $8.7 billion in 2010 to $37 billion today, continues to invest to support the sale of new GM cars, trucks and crossovers around the world. GM Financial has sharply increased the number of GM customers it serves in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. Later this year, GM Financial expects to enter the growing Chinese market.

• Deliver Core Operating Efficiencies: GM’s strategy to improve relationships with suppliers, derive more global volume from fewer vehicle architectures and lower enterprise costs for material and logistics is expected to deliver significantly better variable margins on upcoming high-volume product launches, including the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa and Astra in Europe, and the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu in North America. By 2020, the company expects that about 99 percent of global production will be on core architectures.

Mid-decade Financial Targets

During the meeting, GM also reaffirmed the company’s previously announced near-term financial targets:

• In North America, the company expects to achieve EBIT-adjusted margins of 10 percent in 2016.
• In Europe, the company expects to return to profitability in 2016.
• In China, the company expects that its joint ventures will maintain net income margins in the 9- to 10-percent range. 
• In South America, the company’s core operations continue to improve as a result of recent product launches and material and logistics optimization. 
• GM continues to address challenges in its international operations outside of China, including brand strategy, cost structure and sourcing to return to consistent profitability.

GM intends to return excess cash flow to stockholders primarily through strong and growing dividends based on sustained improvements in the company’s underlying financial performance.

!NEW! Buick Advances Connected-Car Convenience with OnStar 4G LTE

2015 LaCrosse, Regal, Verano, Encore to get high-speed connection

Starting this summer, owners of most 2015 Buick models can be connected by the high-speed data of OnStar 4G LTE. A built-in Wi-Fi hotspot will keep passengers connected on the go, allowing them to browse the Internet, download movies, play games or send email on up to seven devices at once.

2015 Buick Regal - Adavanced 4G LTE connectivity

Buick announced today at the DENT Conference that the 2015 LaCrosse, Regal, Verano and Encore would come standard with OnStar 4G LTE hardware, with data packages available for an additional charge. The 4G LTE technology in these four models is faster than the 3G connectivity offered by some competitors. Available in the U.S. and Canada, OnStar 4G LTE hardware will be in every Buick model by the 2016 model year.

“Today’s Buick lineup is full of technologies that help make our owners safer and more secure than they would be without them,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. “With the introduction of high-speed OnStar 4G LTE, Buick owners will be better connected as well.”

The Wi-Fi hotspot will allow passengers to connect their personal devices, such as compatible smartphones, laptops and tablets, to high-speed wireless Internet. Business travelers can check and respond to emails from a rest area, families can play games between devices, and drivers can stream their favorite Internet radio apps via a new Buick AppShop.

Every 2015 model offered with OnStar 4G LTE will also come with Buick AppShop, a feature of IntelliLink. Through Buick AppShop, owners can use their 4G LTE connection to download apps and stream data – such as Internet radio playlists – through the in-vehicle interface.

Buick AppShop will continue to grow, and all apps can be updated to newer versions as they become available. While final content has not yet been determined, initial apps are expected to include iHeartRadio, Priceline.com, the Weather Channel, NPR, Slacker Radio, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, Glympse and Kaliki, with more coming throughout 2014 and beyond.

Buick AppShop is accessible through Buick IntelliLink on most 2015 MY Buick vehicles, and provides drivers with location-based information apps, like The Weather Channel.

Later this year, a Vehicle Health app will provide in-vehicle diagnostic reports and allow owners to schedule a maintenance appointment from the car. The Vehicle Health app pulls diagnostic data from the vehicle, providing a level of vehicle integration not possible with a smartphone.

The Vehicle Health Monitor displays vehicle data and provides on-demand diagnostic reports and maintenance notifications, and also provides contact information, appointment scheduling and, on properly equipped vehicles, navigation routing to the owners preferred dealer.

With OnStar’s 4G LTE connection, the vehicle provides a mobile hub, giving customers easier access to apps and services that require a high-speed cellular or data connection.

In collaboration with AT&T, the data connection in the car will be fast – and flexible. Current AT&T customers can add their vehicle to a shareable bucket of data through AT&T Mobile Share plans. All drivers can pay for data through OnStar, independently from their other mobile data accounts. Pricing and data packages for OnStar 4G LTE will be announced later this year.

Buick’s 4G LTE launch coincides with OnStar’s 10th generation hardware, an upgrade allowing voice and high-speed data services. 

“We are focused on constantly improving the OnStar service so that the system continues to remain a trusted value-add for GM customers,” said Terry Inch, chief operating officer, OnStar. “4G LTE will enable the most powerful OnStar connection ever.”

OnStar Advisors currently respond to about 185,000 calls every day or more than two calls every second. OnStar is standard across the Buick lineup, with a six-month Directions and Connections plan included on every vehicle.

Buick owners also get the OnStar RemoteLink Key Fob Services, which allows owners to lock or unlock doors, activate the horn and lights, and remotely start a properly equipped vehicle using the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app. The Key Fob Services are included for five years for Buick vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. 

!NEW! 2014 Buick Regal offers all-weather All-Wheel-Drive

Along with the technology, safety, and styling enhancements offered on the redesigned Buick Regal and Regal GS, is the newly available advanced all-wheel-drive.

2014 Buick Regal GS AWD in Quebec, Canada.

While those in the Snowbelt, and perhaps many further south this winter, associate all-wheel-drive vehicles with wintery weather, the Regal’s on-demand automatic AWD system is designed to help provide better control in all weather and road conditions, including dry surfaces.

Using a system that can distribute power both front to rear and side to side, the Regal is able to shift torque to the wheels based on vehicle data and driver input. When trekking through snow and icy conditions better control is achieved through improved traction and stability with drive to all four wheels.

The same ideas are applied during spirited driving and even emergency maneuvers on dry or wet pavement. With the ability to transfer power to the rear, the Regal AWD is not depending on the front wheels to do it all. This, combined with HiPerStrut front suspension, results in enhanced control from less torque steer and understeer when the driver needs traction the most, such as exiting a corner.

“With power going to all four wheels and the ability to transfer power to the wheel with the most grip, we’ve helped enable the driver to have maximum control on all surfaces,” said James Walter, Regal AWD engineer. “This system is constantly monitoring several inputs and anticipating action. It can be very beneficial in keeping the rear of the car balanced during an emergency maneuver.”

At launch in a straight line, the core of the AWD system splits the torque approximately 50/50 between the front and rear wheels. The system is constantly calculating and redistributing the torque. In the Regal GS, selecting the Sport or GS Interactive Drive Control modes heightens the AWD system sensitivity and shift up to 15 percent more torque to the rear wheels for improve traction and stability during performance driving.

An active Haldex module directs drive to the rear wheels. This system uses an electronic limited slip differential, or eLSD, which can rapidly shift torque between the two rear wheels to make the most of vehicle stability and cornering capability. A more neutral balance, less torque steer and understeer for maximum grip results in optimal acceleration, cornering and handling during performance driving in the Regal GS AWD.

AWD is available on all 2014 Regal models equipped with the new 2.0L Turbo engine that produces a refined 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Regal is the fourth Buick in the current lineup to offer AWD, alongside Enclave, Encore, and LaCrosse.

Photo Credit: © General Motors

!NEW! Buick Sets Global Sales Record Topping 1 Million in 2013

1,032,056 deliveries is best in brand’s 110 year history

Buick Encore 

Buick delivered 1,032,056 vehicles in China, the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2013, the most Buicks sold in a single year in the brand’s 110-year history. The previous record was 1,003,345 sold in 1984.

Strong growth in both China and North America accounted for the record-breaking year, with global sales up 15.4 percent over 2012. China posted a 15.7 percent sales gain, while the U.S. delivered a 13.9 percent sales increase. Canada also saw strong sales growth, with a 9.5 increase over 2012. In the U.S., 42 percent of Buick buyers were new to the brand and to General Motors.

Buick experienced strong global growth in both crossovers and sedans from a product lineup that is among the freshest in the industry and the strongest the brand has ever featured.

Buick Verano 

The new Encore small crossover ended 2013 with 97,311 sales globally, while the eight-passenger Enclave saw sales grow 6.5 percent in North America. Enclave recorded its best year of U.S. sales in 2013.  Exclusive to China, the GL8 posted an annual sales gain of 9.7 percent.

Buick Excelle GT

In the sedan segment, the China-exclusive compact Excelle again dominated in the compact sedan segment, delivering 6.9 percent sales growth. The Excelle GT and Verano compact sedans combined globally to deliver a 16.3 percent gain, while sales of the Excelle XT hatchback, sold only in China, were up 17.5 percent.

Buick Excelle XT 

Country	2013 Volume	2012 Volume	Percent Change
China	809,918	700,007	15.7
United States	205,509	180,408	13.9
Canada	14,310	13,068	9.5
Mexico	2,319	1,122	106.6
Total	1,032,056	894,605	15.4