GM together with its China family joins 2007 Shanghai Auto Show

GM together with its China family joins 2007 Shanghai Auto Show

by Jerick Brooks

General Motors--world's largest automaker and manufacturer of quality Oldsmobile mufflers --- together with its China joint ventures are going to showcase a couple of vehicles under the theme Driving China's Automotive Industry into the Future at the Auto Shanghai 2007. 41 vehicles from GM, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and Shanghai General Motors are to be presented on the 4,500 square-meter stand at the Auto Shanghai 2007.

GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin E. Wale, "GM is proud to be joining our joint ventures to show the people of China our unmatched lineup of vehicles in addition to some new products and technologies that are making their first appearance in China. Our stand demonstrates how China's vehicle buyers are benefiting from our partnerships today and will continue to benefit from our partnerships well into the future."

The main focus of the GM's stand is the two concept vehicles that are making their worldwide premier. The two products are to be personally introduced by GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner.

The Buick Riviera is a charming coupe developed with global design input by GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai. The Riviera concept was created to showcase Buick's new global design direction that combines East and West. The Riviera also marks the return of a popular Buick nameplate after an eight-year break.

Aside from the Riviera Concept, the producer of the renowned Oldsmobile muffler will also showcase its latest achievement in electric and fuel cell technologies which is the next iteration of the E-Flex electric architecture. This second variant of E-Flex system that will make its first appearance in Shanghai makes use of GM's new fifth-generation fuel cell propulsion technology and a lithium-ion battery.

The system was first launched last January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in the form of the Chevrolet Volt concept vehicle. Chevy's Volt will also be displayed at GM's stand for the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show.

Aside from the Buick Riviera and E-Flex system there would be other concept vehicles that are going to be displayed on the GM stand such as the Chevrolet Camaro sports car, the Chevrolet WTCC race car, and the Cadillac Cien sedan.

Production Vehicles on Display In addition to the concept vehicles, GM together with its joint ventures are also going to display its array of products that are currently or will soon be offered in China such as the following:
Another new addition to the Buick range is the Buick Park Avenue luxury sedan which is the brand's top-of-the-line model. The rest of Buick lineup includes the three members of the Excelle family, Buick LaCrosse premium sedan, and Shanghai's best-selling model the Buick GL8 executive wagon.

The Cadillac which is GM's American luxury brand has displayed all five vehicles that are presently being offered in China. One of the best-selling Cadillac products, the Cadillac SLS luxury business sedan is making its first appearance at the Auto Shanghai.

Chevrolet has also presented its range of cars starting off with its Chevrolet Spark mini-car and the all new Chevrolet Epica intermediate sedan which has started selling last March. The Chevrolet Aveo hatchback together with the popular Chevrolet Lova compact sedan will also be put on display at the GM stand.

GM's Opel import brand from Germany will also show for the first time in China its two new models, the Opeal Astra GTC that features a panorama windshield that provide both the driver as well as the front seat passenger with an unlimited field of vision. Passengers also get to experience their surroundings with a feel just like being inside the cockpit of an airplane since there is no crossbeam that is limiting the view. The Opel Astra Twin Top which was launched in Europe last May 2006 is a slimline four-seat cabrio-coupe and the first car in its class to feature an innovative three-part roof system.

Saab, which is GM's premium brand from Sweden, is displaying four members of its Saab 9-3 family that includes the Convertible, Sporthatch, Linear sedan, and vector sedan. Also joining the display is the Saab 9-5 Aero sedan.

The Wuling mini-vehicle brand from SAIC-GM-Wuling is going to be represented by the Hong Tu minivan which is making its first appearance at the Shanghai auto show. The Sunshine minivan which is GM China family's most popular model will also be displayed at the Shanghai Auto Show.

The Shanghai Auto show began last April 22 and will run through April 28 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The vehicles of GM and its joint ventures are on display on the GM stand in Hall E1.

Ford CEO Talks About Working Together

Ford CEO Talks About Working Together

by Katie Jones

Ford's effort to protect the environment is clearly manifested in their production of environment friendly vehicles. This concern for the environment has led the company to produce hybrid cars and vehicles which run on alternative fuel as well as clean diesel engines for their larger vehicles.

Ford's Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally recently made the company's dedication towards protecting the environment his topic while talking at the Lied Center in Kansas City. He talked about the power of working together and the need for it. During the course of his speech, he also shared his experiences in life to those present during his speech.

The Chief Executive Officer of the United States' second largest car manufacturer claimed that he loves the idea of working together. In fact, working together is the main topic of his talk. He talked about his tenure as the President and the Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Planes. Mulally said that it is of utmost importance that a leader should put people first and include everyone on the project as well. And to make it possible, Mulally said that communication is needed and is entirely very important for the whole process. "The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it occurs," says Mulally. "The fact that you say something and expect them to know what it means; that's arrogant," says the Kansas University alumnus.

Mulally stressed out that there is a need for coworkers to be on the same page. They should be able to work on a single plan with everyone pitching in on the job at hand. Mulally said that when a problem surfaced in the workplace, he wants to be working with people who can find a way to address the situation and solve the problem. He also said that he saw that kind of people at the institution. "There is not an institution in the world that has more motivated, more skilled and neater students than the University of Kansas," says Mulally.

During his speech, he recounted his experiences in life as a young man working odd jobs in Lawrence. He said that his career started delivering newspapers. After that, he became a bag boy for Dillon's grocery store in the area. He left the job after he was inspired by then President John F. Kennedy to become an astronaut. He was at that time taking up liberal arts but then he switched to aeronautical and astronautical engineering at the University of Kansas. After he switched courses though, he was told that he is not fit to be an astronaut because he is slightly color blind.

After he graduated from the University of Kansas, he was told by a professor at the university to try to get a work at Boeing. The said professor has then recently left Boeing. After that, he was hired at Boeing and after some years joined Ford Motor Company as the new CEO. In connection with him being the current CEO of Ford, he also talked about their company's effort to protect the environment. He talked about several alternative fuels which are aimed to reduce the amount of damage that vehicle emissions are doing to the environment. He also tackled and dissected his thoughts on the problems that are being faced by the auto industry pertaining to the use of alternative fuels.

For example, he cited the use of bio-ethanol, while using ethanol as substitute for gasoline; it will need a lot of raw materials to supply the country with its needed fuel.

That is why Ford, with Mulally at the helm, is developing technologies that will reduce the dependency of the auto industry on petroleum products. Several Ford models with Ford fenders and other Ford auto parts are already offered with a hybrid version to reduce the amount of gasoline that they have to consume.

While there are already environment friendly vehicles out in the market, Mulally thinks that it is not enough. "The auto industry only accounts for 15 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, so the whole country needs to work together," says Ford's CEO.