For the first time in its history, General Motors won both the Car and Truck of the Year awards at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Chevy Silverado was expected to win over the Ford Edge and the Mazda CX-7. The Saturn Aura was a surprise winner over the Honda Fit and Toyota’s Camry, the best selling car in America.
Though it’s no longer the dominant force it once was, GM’s showing at the auto show is part of a steady stream of good news from the automaker as it seeks a turnaround.
In addition to winning the coveted awards, GM’s CEO Rick Wagoner also introduced the Chevrolet Volt, the new GM Concept Car. The Volt is the flagship of a new line of vehicles called E-Flex that will run on electronically driven propulsion systems. It travels 40 miles solely on electricity before the engine kicks in to charge the batteries.
According to Bob Lutz, GM’s product development chief, the Volt, on a 60-mile commute, would get the equivalent of 150 miles per gallon. Lutz added that the Volt’s future will depend on improvements in battery technology, but doesn’t think a rollout by 2010 is unreasonable.
In other developments:
GM unveiled the new edition of the Cadillac CTS at the auto show. The new CTS will be exported to China as part of the company’s overall effort to market the Cadillac brand there.
Today, GM introduced its all-new Chevrolet Malibu. Company officials have high hopes for the car, which boasts more luxurious appointments than its predecessor and a competitive base price of about $20,000. It offers an enlarged sunroof and remote starter and will also be offered in a hybrid version when it goes on sale this fall.
Finally, the European unit of GM is expected to post a record profit for 2006, its first in six years. The unit accounts for a fifth of GM’s total auto revenues. GM said it sold more than 2 million units in Europe for the first time last year.
Although Wagoner is pleased with the progress to date of GM’s turnaround, he acknowledged that future challenges remain.
For the first time in its history, General Motors won both the Car and Truck of the Year awards at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Chevy Silverado was expected to win over the Ford Edge and the Mazda CX-7. The Saturn Aura was a surprise winner over the Honda Fit and Toyota’s Camry, the best selling car in America.
Though it’s no longer the dominant force it once was, GM’s showing at the auto show is part of a steady stream of good news from the automaker as it seeks a turnaround.
In addition to winning the coveted awards, GM’s CEO Rick Wagoner also introduced the Chevrolet Volt, the new GM Concept Car. The Volt is the flagship of a new line of vehicles called E-Flex that will run on electronically driven propulsion systems. It travels 40 miles solely on electricity before the engine kicks in to charge the batteries.
According to Bob Lutz, GM’s product development chief, the Volt, on a 60-mile commute, would get the equivalent of 150 miles per gallon. Lutz added that the Volt’s future will depend on improvements in battery technology, but doesn’t think a rollout by 2010 is unreasonable.
In other developments:
GM unveiled the new edition of the Cadillac CTS at the auto show. The new CTS will be exported to China as part of the company’s overall effort to market the Cadillac brand there.
Today, GM introduced its all-new Chevrolet Malibu. Company officials have high hopes for the car, which boasts more luxurious appointments than its predecessor and a competitive base price of about $20,000. It offers an enlarged sunroof and remote starter and will also be offered in a hybrid version when it goes on sale this fall.
Finally, the European unit of GM is expected to post a record profit for 2006, its first in six years. The unit accounts for a fifth of GM’s total auto revenues. GM said it sold more than 2 million units in Europe for the first time last year.
Although Wagoner is pleased with the progress to date of GM’s turnaround, he acknowledged that future challenges remain.
