!NEW! GM and Opel reveal groundbreaking technology for automated driving

• GM to put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years
• Opel Insignia demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving 

Opel Insignia Research Vehicle: Demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving

General Motors and Opel are demonstrating their commitment to the future of automated driving and connected mobility at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress (September 7-11) by showcasing an Opel Insignia research vehicle, an automated Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 concept vehicle and a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) connectivity.

“GM will put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years. What’s more I am announcing that we will bring an advanced, highly-automated driving technology to the market in the same time frame,” said GM CEO Mary Barra.

“At GM, we have a renewed passion, the financial resources, the technology and the talent to think big, to step up our investments and take calculated risks. I am listening to customers and they want unfettered personal mobility. They expect us to help mitigate if not eliminate the congestion, pollution and traffic accidents. To me, these aren’t noble causes but imperatives,” continued Barra.

Opel Insignia Research Vehicle

An Opel Insignia will demonstrate intelligent and connected technologies on the south side of the city island. This vehicle, equipped with cameras, LiDAR sensors (Light Detection And Ranging), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies, demonstrates a future vehicle that can handle both low-speed, stop-and-go city driving and highway-speed automated driving.

For automated driving: Opel Insignia equipped with cameras, Lidar sensors, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies

The six LiDAR sensors in the bumpers of the Insignia constantly use light scanning to identify objects around the car. The forward pointing camera on top of the car reads lane markings and detects other objects. The V2V and V2I technologies located in an antenna on top of the car work to communicate with other objects that the vehicle encounters. The car also uses GPS satellite to constantly remain aware of its position on the roadways. All of these inputs are fused through GM’s sensor fusion technology to enable 360 degrees of awareness and object detection.

EN-V 2.0 Concept

The Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0 showcases the latest in intelligent and connected automotive technologies. After debuting the original two-wheeled EN-V concept in 2010 at Shanghai World Expo, this iteration offers a four-wheeled drive system that combines cameras, Lidar and V2X to offer a hands-free, low-speed electric driving experience.

Chevrolet Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0 

The EN-V 2.0 has many of the same technologies that power the Opel Insignia research vehicle at low speeds. The small electric concept vehicle, however, is built strictly for low speeds. The EN-V 2.0 and the Opel Insignia research vehicle will interact on the same road on Belle Isle.

Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) Technology Demonstration

GM is demonstrating other potential uses of V2X communication technology by presenting a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication technology.

 Chevrolet Cruze with V2X technology 

At Belle Isle, mock construction sites are set up on the road course, and participants will be driven in the Cruze toward the work areas. Mannequin “workers” in the construction area are blocked from the view of the driver and passengers, however, they are equipped with arm bands that communicate their location to the oncoming Cruze via warning lights blinking on the “head’s up” windshield display. In the future, V2P communication technology could be integrated into more aspects of pedestrian life, enhancing driver awareness of pedestrians.

“Being at the vanguard, we clearly have a lot of work ahead of us. But we will put the time to good use by accelerating our R&D and vehicle engineering efforts, engaging with regulators around the world and most importantly, talking to the customers,” concluded Barra.

!NEW! Shanghai GM Launches All-New Chevrolet Cruze

The all-new Chevrolet Cruze, Shanghai GM’s new-generation midsize performance sedan, was officially launched on 22nd August in Shenzhen.

All-new Chevrolet Cruze, Shanghai GM’s new-generation midsize performance sedan, was officially launched on 22nd August in Shenzhen.

Priced between RMB 109,900 and RMB 169,900, the new Cruze is offered in seven variants with a choice of segment-first 1.4L mid-mounted direct injection turbocharged or 1.5L mid-mounted naturally aspirated gasoline engines.

“The all-new Cruze is the first model based on GM’s new global platform for midsize compact cars,” said Shanghai GM President Wang Yongqing. “With GM's global intelligent technology, it sets new benchmarks for styling, efficiency and user-friendliness in its segment. We expect the new Cruze to appeal to younger car buyers looking for an exhilarating driving experience.”

“Designed to Raise your Heartbeat”

The all-new Cruze was developed by GM's global design team based on Chevrolet’s new “Designed to Raise your Heartbeat” concept. Its design was inspired by the Chevrolet Tru 140S concept vehicle, which made its global debut in 2012.

Chevrolet Tru 140S concept

Its short front and rear overhangs make the new Cruze dynamically compact. A fastback design enhances aerodynamics and fuel economy. It has a drag coefficient of 0.28.

All-new Chevrolet Cruze, Shanghai GM’s new-generation midsize performance sedan

The All-new Cruze is available with a choice of six exterior colors: Pearl White, Jazz Black, Street Grey, Metallic Silver, Magic Red and Crystal Blue.

All-new Chevrolet Cruze is available with a choice of six exterior colors - On photo Pearl White

The wheels were pushed out to the corners of the car and the roofline stretched, while the center point of the lower edge of the windshield was moved forward. In combination with its more compact powertrain, this gives the all-new Cruze a spacious interior with 22 mm of additional knee room for back seat occupants.

All-new Chevrolet Cruze - Spacious interior with 22 mm of additional knee room for back seat occupants.

The saddle brown interior and Chevrolet's characteristic dual-cockpit styling enhance the feeling of sportiness and luxury. Ergonomically designed, multifunctional front seats wrapped in soft premium leather with a three-option heating function add to the refinement. Energy-efficient automatic climate control filters out 90 percent of PM 2.5 in the interior.

The saddle brown interior and Chevrolet's characteristic dual-cockpit styling enhance the feeling of sportiness and luxury.

New Global Compact Midsize Car Platform

The new Cruze is the first model to adopt GM’s new global compact midsize car platform. It was developed by team of European engineers. Most of its tuning and road testing were carried out at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring.

Although 72 percent of the new Cruze’s body consists of high-strength steel, the extensive use of aluminum and lightweight materials in key areas such as the engine, chassis and interior makes it 10 percent lighter than the current-generation Cruze. This enhances fuel economy without compromising safety.

A reinforced Watt linkage, an all-aluminum subframe and Bosch’s ninth-generation Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – which all come standard – maximize handling and stability in high-speed cornering for driving pleasure and safety.

Efficient Powertrains

The all-new Cruze is among the first vehicles to take advantage of GM’s new Ecotec small engine portfolio.

Its 1.4T SIDI engine generates maximum output of 110 kW and peak torque of 235 Nm. The turbocharged engine is offered with a choice of a new seven-speed Dual Clutch Gearbox (DCG) transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The transmissions provide smooth gear shifting and enhanced reliability while contributing to the sedan’s fuel efficiency.

The 1.5 SIDI engine, the segment’s only naturally aspirated engine with direct injection, generates maximum output of 84 kW and peak torque of 146 Nm. It is paired with a new six-speed Dynamic Start/Stop Shift (DSS) automatic transmission, which provides precise gear shifting.

Its mid-mounted direct injection engine technology and wide range of fuel-saving features such as start/stop technology and ultra-low rolling resistance tires make the new Cruze up to 24 percent more fuel efficient than the current-generation Cruze. The engines offer peak fuel economy of only 5.9 liters per 100 km. In addition, they are up to 50 percent quieter than engines in competitive models.

Customer-Friendly Features and World-Class Safety

The all-new Cruze's peerless people-oriented technologies start with the Chevrolet MyLink 2.0 infotainment system. Its best-in-class eight-inch multi-point touchscreen serves as the operation window for intelligent navigation, personalized built-in apps (My Chevrolet, Driving Assist, Cloud Radio and Cloud Phone) and Siri Eyes Free functionality.

Chevrolet MyLink II system - eight-inch multi-point touchscreen serves as the operation window for intelligent navigation, personalized built-in apps (My Chevrolet, Driving Assist, Cloud Radio and Cloud Phone) and Siri Eyes Free functionality.

Developed to meet global five-star safety standards, the all-new Cruze comes with a range of active and passive safety features. It is the only vehicle in its class with active park assist, which takes the worry out of parking. The side blind zone alert system warns the driver of potential hazards when changing lanes. The model’s air bags are designed to protect pedestrians as well as occupants.

Shanghai GM introduced the Chevrolet Cruze sedan in 2009. It later added a hatchback to the Cruze lineup. More than 1.1 million Cruzes have reached China’s roads, making it one of Chevrolet’s most popular models in the market.  

!NEW! Shanghai GM Norsom Motors Marks 10th Anniversary

GM China joint venture opens Phase III manufacturing plant and produces first all-new Chevrolet Cruze

SGM-Norsom Phase III - Assembly Shop

Shanghai GM Norsom Motors, GM China’s joint venture with SAIC and Shanghai GM in Shenyang, Liaoning, celebrated its tenth anniversary today by opening its Phase III manufacturing facility and producing the first all-new Chevrolet Cruze.

The Phase III plant has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and 450,000 engines. It can produce up to five models on three platforms.

The facility includes press, body, paint, powertrain and general assembly shops. It also has auxiliary powertrain facilities, a distribution center and a high-speed test track. Adjacent to the new plant is a 2.44-square-kilometer automotive parts and components park.

Advanced global manufacturing technology and processes have been adopted throughout the plant. They include an environmentally friendly paint shop featuring a fully automated interior and exterior painting process, a world-class fully automated high-speed press, a decoiling and blanking production line, and Shanghai GM’s first highly automated flexible body manufacturing system. Its 518 robots give the body shop a domestic industry-leading automation rate of 93 percent.

The technology is supported by Shanghai GM’s world-class management and quality systems, which enable agility, flexibility and modularity.

The new Chevrolet Cruze represents Shanghai GM’s newest entry in the midsize compact car segment. It was developed for China on GM’s latest architecture. The new Cruze has a new design and comes with a choice of new 1.4T and 1.5L Ecotec engines. The Phase III powertrain plant is GM's first facility in the world to put the Ecotec engines into volume production.

Shanghai GM Norsom Motors Co., Ltd. was established in 2004. Shanghai GM holds a 50 percent stake and oversees management. GM China and SAIC each hold 25 percent stakes. The joint venture manufactures the Buick GL8 family and the Chevrolet Captiva and Cruze. It has produced about 1.7 million vehicles. With the opening of the Phase III plant, Shanghai GM Norsom Motors has an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles and 450,000 engines.

!NEW! Chevrolet Unveils Interior Photos of the New Generation Cruze

Shanghai GM today released interior photos of the new Chevrolet Cruze, which made its world premiere at Auto China 2014 in April. One month ago the automaker unveiled the model's innovative exterior design, which served as an exciting preview of its interior design language.

 New Chevrolet Cruze 

Conceived with Chevrolet's "Power of Ingenuity • Youth" concept in mind, the all-new Cruze was created by GM's global design network. The model offers the first expression of Chevrolet's next-generation design language characterized by the slogan "Design with a Heartbeat," and demonstrating the brand’s global design cues. These photos attest to the car’s "dynamic, sophisticated, efficient, and innovative" design philosophy from inside to outside.

Dynamic Styling, Efficient Space Contribute to an Engaging Interior

Remaining true to its dynamic driving characteristics, the New Cruze features Chevrolet's flowing signature dual-cockpit design inspired by classic sports cars Corvette and Camaro. Though incorporating a sports-car-like streamlined style, the cabin is roomy and comfortable. Its three-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel is combined with a dual gauge sporty instrument cluster

The flowing signature dual-cockpit design of the New generation Chevrolet Cruze 

Despite being a compact vehicle, the new-generation Cruze maintains delivers unexpected spaciousness. The model’s interior space was expanded by optimizing its layout and structure, moving forward the cowl point, as well as adopting four wheels that extend outward and a roof curve that extends backwards. Moreover, an all-new downsized engine helps maximize cabin space. With class-leading rear knee room, the all-new Cruze provides customers with roomy interior dimensions plus a superior driving experience. Additionally, its efficient, intelligent butterfly-shaped center console delivers intuitive, user-friendly operation, with clear functions at a glance.

Innovative Features and Exquisite Details

When Chevrolet developed the Tru 140 Concept two years ago, it was based on market research indicating that future young car buyers wanted a refined interior design with incredible attention to detail. Inspired by the concept car, the new-generation Chevrolet Cruze comes with an innovative and sophisticated interior that was created to exceed the demands ofyoung customers.

 New Chevrolet Cruze - The front dash, door panels, and seats of the Cruze are all wrapped in hand-stitched saddle brown premium leather

The bold use of a rich, saddle brown color throughout enhances the feeling of luxury. The front dash, door panels, and seats of the Cruze are all wrapped in hand-stitched saddle brown premium leather. The model also affords young customers superior connectivity with a stylish best-in-class eight-inch multi-point touch screen, abundant personalized built-in APPs, and the Chevrolet MyLink II system, which allows customers to get directions, access their personal contacts, and stream music and images by connecting their smartphone via Bluetooth. They can also use voice controls to access features such as hands-free calling. Luxurious chrome accents, which echo the exterior chrome detailing, are accompanied by a piano-black-trimmed center console and ice blue ambient lighting.

New Chevrolet Cruze MyLink II system - Eight-inch multi-point touch screen

The new Cruze represents the "dynamic, sophisticated, efficient, and innovative" design philosophy of Chevrolet both inside and out, to embody Chevrolet's "Design with a Heartbeat."  

General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 10 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 58,000 employees in China. GM and its joint ventures offer the broadest lineup of vehicles and brands among automakers in China. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles are sold under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands. In 2013, GM sold nearly 3.2 million vehicles in China. 

!NEW! GM Reports Best Monthly Sales Since August 2008

May total sales up 13 percent; retail sales up 10 percent

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) dealers delivered 284,694 vehicles in the United States in May, up 13 percent compared to a year ago, marking the company’s best May in seven years and its best total sales since August 2008. Retail sales – vehicles sold to individual buyers – were up 10 percent while fleet sales were up 21 percent. GM expects to increase its total market share year over year.

“The momentum we generated in April carried into May, with all four brands performing well in a growing economy and 17 vehicle lines posting double-digit retail sales increases or better,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of Sales Operations.

For the month, Chevrolet sales were up 14 percent in total, driven by a 26 percent increase in car deliveries. Buick sales were also very strong, with deliveries up 11 percent in total and 10 percent on a retail basis. Buick had its best May total and retail since 2005. Both Cadillac and GMC had their best May total and retail sales since 2007.

May Sales Highlights (vs. 2013 except as noted)

• The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles was an estimated 16.5 million units – the third consecutive month above 16 million.
• Cruze was up 41 percent. Chevrolet Corvette deliveries were up 268 percent, Spark sales doubled, Camaro was up 30 percent and Impala was up 23 percent.  Malibu retail sales were up 12 percent.
• Retail sales of Chevrolet and GMC large SUVs doubled, while retail sales of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were up 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
• Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra sales were up for the third month in a row, with May deliveries up 8 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
• At Cadillac, sales of the CTS sedan were up 39 percent and Escalade deliveries were up 30 percent. SRX sales were up 27 percent, for the vehicle line’s best May ever.
• Buick Encore deliveries more than doubled and Regal sales were up 49 percent.
• GM’s average transaction prices (ATPs), including full-size pickup ATPs, were in line with April. Calendar year to date, GM’s ATPs are up about $2,700.  
• Incentive spending as a percentage of average transaction price was 10.4 percent, down 0.5 points from a year ago, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates. The industry average for May was 9.9 percent.  
• Commercial fleet sales were up 21 percent for the seventh consecutive monthly increase and the best month since September 2008. Within commercial fleet, full-size van sales were up 46 percent and full-size pickups were up 35 percent.
• Small business deliveries, which are included in retail sales, were up 10 percent.

GM’s fleet deliveries in May exceeded expectations due to the timing of rental customer deliveries, and May will likely represent the company’s highest fleet volume month of 2014. Last year, June was GM’s highest volume fleet month. As a result, GM expects that June 2014 year-over-year fleet sales will be down sharply.

!NEW! General Motors Sells April Record 278,263 Vehicles in China

Vehicle sales by General Motors and its joint ventures in China increased 6.3 percent on an annual basis last month to an April record 278,263 units.

Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling, as well as their Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Wuling brands, all reached new highs for April sales.

Its strong performance took GM’s sales for the first four months of 2014 to a record 1,197,375 units, an increase of 11.0 percent on an annual basis. This is the eighth consecutive year and the earliest ever that GM has sold more than a million vehicles in a calendar year in China.

Shanghai GM’s domestic sales in April were up 5.8 percent year on year to 128,608 units, SAIC-GM-Wuling’s sales in China were up 7.4 percent to 144,729 units and FAW-GM’s sales in the domestic market were down 3.9 percent to 4,926 units.

Buick sales in the domestic market totaled 68,707 units in April, which was an increase of 2.7 percent on an annual basis. The original Excelle family had sales of 24,092 units, while sales of the Excelle XT and GT totaled 18,253 units. They were followed by the Regal, which sold 8,126 units, and the GL8, which sold 6,403 units.

Chevrolet sales in China rose 6.4 percent from the previous April to 53,810 units. Its best-selling model was the Cruze, whose sales increased 16.0 percent to 20,036 units. Following the Cruze was the Sail, which had sales of 16,598 units, an increase of 7.7 percent.

Cadillac sales were up 49.4 percent from last April to 6,091 units. It benefited from strong demand of 2,678 units for the XTS luxury sedan and 2,405 units for the SRX luxury utility vehicle.

Wuling sales in China rose 11.2 percent on an annual basis in April to 138,524 units. The Hong Guang family sold more than 60,000 units, which was an increase of 92.3 percent year on year.

Between January and April 2014, Shanghai GM had domestic sales growth of 9.3 percent to 550,430 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling generated domestic sales growth of 13.2 percent to 624,740 units. Both were new highs for the period. FAW-GM’s local sales were up 1.1 percent to 21,893 units.

In addition, during the first four months of 2014, Buick sales rose 11.2 percent year on year to 306,801 units, Chevrolet sales were up 2.8 percent to 222,181 units, Cadillac sales jumped 85.4 percent to 21,448 units, Wuling sales grew 14.9 percent to 599,157 units and Baojun sales were down 15.7 percent to 25,583 units.

General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 12 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 58,000 employees in China. GM and its joint ventures offer the broadest lineup of vehicles and brands among automakers in China. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles are sold under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands. In 2013, GM sold nearly 3.2 million vehicles in China. 

New Modular ECOTEC Engines are More Adaptable, Efficient

Modular architecture streamlines powertrain portfolio, reduces manufacturing complexity

Global design and manufacturing processes enhance adaptability, with 11 engine variants ranging from 1.0L to 1.5L

Up to 2.5 million annual production at five global plants by 2017

Ecotec 1.0L Turbocharged three cylinder engine (right), Ecotec 1.4L Turbocharged engine (left) and the Ecotec 1.5L engine (center).

A new generation of Ecotec small-displacement engines streamlines General Motors’ global powertrain portfolio with a modular architecture that broadens its adaptability to global markets and reduces manufacturing complexity – while offering customers leading-edge efficiency, refinement and durability.

The new engines were developed for GM’s global vehicle portfolio and will power many of the company’s highest-volume small cars and compact crossovers – including the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze specifically tailored for China, which launches in 2014 as a 2015 model.

By 2017, more than 2.5 million new Ecotec engines are projected to be built annually in at least five manufacturing locations around the globe: Flint, Michigan (U.S.); Shenyang, China; Szentgotthárd, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; and Changwon, South Korea. The Flint facility alone represents an investment of more than $200 million in technology and tooling to support the engines’ production.

“Transportation solutions vary around the world and GM is committed to developing engines matched to the needs of the regions where they’re sold,” said Steve Kiefer, GM vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “The new engine family is designed to achieve segment-leading refinement and efficiency, and will make its way into five GM brands and 27 models by the 2017 model year.”

The new Ecotec portfolio will include 11 engines, with three- and four-cylinder variants ranging from 1.0L to 1.5L – including turbocharged versions – and power ratings ranging from 75 horsepower (56 kW) to 165 horsepower (123 kW), and torque ranging from 70 lb-ft (95 Nm) to 184 lb-ft (250 Nm). The architecture is also designed to support hybrid propulsion systems and alternative fuels.

The first production applications include a 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder for the Opel ADAM in Europe, and 1.4L turbocharged and 1.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines for the 2015 next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in China.

The new Ecotec 1.5L naturally aspirated engine will debut in the 2015 next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in China.

The turbocharged variants enable the engines to deliver the power and torque of larger-displacement engines with the efficiency of smaller engines. For example, the turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder used in the Opel ADAM makes as much power as the naturally aspirated 1.6L four-cylinder it replaces – with an estimated 20-percent improvement in efficiency.

The all-new Ecotec 1.0L turbo, three-cylinder gasoline engine will debut in the Opel ADAM and make as much power as the naturally aspirated 1.6L four-cylinder it replaces while offering an estimated 20 percent improvement in efficiency.

In fact, the new Ecotec family is on the leading edge of efficiency, with the new 1.4L turbo up to five percent more efficient than the 1.4L turbo engine it will replace. The new Ecotec engines also deliver segment-challenging refinement. Noise intensity is up to 50-percent quieter than Volkswagen’s EA211 1.4L four-cylinder and up to 25-percent quieter than Ford’s 1.0L turbo three-cylinder.

The new Ecotec 1.4L turbo will be up to five percent more efficient than the 1.4L turbo it will replace.

Clean-sheet design

The new Ecotec engines represent a clean-sheet design and engineering process, leveraging the diverse experience of GM’s global resources. Technologies such as central direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing, turbocharging and variable intake manifold airflow help achieve efficiency goals with broad power bands, for an optimal balance of strong performance and lower fuel consumption.

“The new Ecotec architecture represents the most advanced and efficient family of small-car gas engines in GM’s history,” said Tom Sutter, global chief engineer. “Along with performance and efficiency targets, we’ve also aimed for segment-leading refinement with low noise and vibration – and we’ve hit the bulls-eye.”

Modularity in parts – such as four-cylinder and three-cylinder blocks – that share bore spacing, bore diameter, liners and other dimensions, reduces complexity while increasing the flexibility to quickly adapt the architecture for new applications.

The new Ecotec engines are calibrated to run on regular unleaded gas – even the high-output turbo variants.

The new 1.4L turbo for the 2015 next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in China is estimated at 148 horsepower (110 kW) and 173 lb-ft of torque (235 Nm). The 1.5L is rated at an estimated 113 horsepower (84 kW) and 108 lb-ft of torque (146 Nm).

In China, Cruze models with the 1.4L Turbo engine will also feature an all-new dual-clutch gearbox.