So, this is what General Motors has to say for themselves...

[Ian David]

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
From: [e-mail]


Thank you for your recent email to General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner on
environmental issues.

General Motors is addressing a range of challenges. We are focused on
building great cars and trucks, more clearly communicating the inherent
value in our vehicles, staying aggressive in the marketplace and
continuing to reduce cost and further improve quality.

GM has a long-standing commitment to the environment. Today, smog-forming
emissions from our cars and trucks are reduced by 99% from uncontrolled
levels. On a model to model comparison basis, we lead the industry with
the highest number of fuel-efficient products. Our product line-up
includes 20 models that get 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway.

We are implementing a near, mid and long-term plan to continue to develop
and bring to market new technologies to improve the environmental
performance of our products. This plan includes improving the efficiency
of the internal combustion engine, and adding to our portfolio of hybrid
products that currently includes city buses and the Chevy Silverado and
GMC Sierra full-size pick-up trucks. Longer term, we are working hard to
make hydrogen fuel cell technology commercially viable.

In terms of our operations, we are well on our way to meeting our goal of
reducing CO2 emissions by 8% from our facilities globally between 2000 and
2005. We have a long track record of environmental improvements in our
operations and are working hard to achieve targets we have set for
reductions in air emissions, waste, and water usage around the globe.

As I have indicated, we are working hard to improve the fuel efficiency of
our products. Consumers also have a role to play in selecting the most
fuel efficient products that meet their needs and using them responsibly.
Communications initiatives by groups like the Center for a New American
Dream and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers contribute to an
informed dialogue of what companies, individuals, governments and
environmental organizations can do to be part of the constructive solution
to environmental challenges. This helps consumers understand what has
already been accomplished and offers policy alternatives for moving
forward.

At GM, we are guided by our Environmental Principles that were established
by our Board of Directors in 1991. Our GM Corporate Responsibility
Report at http://www.gmresponsibility.com contains extensive information
about our efforts and results. I invite you to learn more about our
initiatives and our progress online.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A. Lowery
GM Vice President Environment & Energy


>
> To: "Rick Wagoner" <[e-mail]>
>Subject: Don't go Green. I don't want what is good for General Motors

> Dear Mr. Wagoner:
>
> The way GM has operated for the last twenty years is inexcusable.
>
> I am happy to see you miss the boat on environmentally responsible
> vehicles, so long as it means your company will be left in the ash heap.
>
> I say, in a strictly financial sense:
> Die, General motors, die!
>
> Fuck you and the giant SUVs you drove in on.
>
> Sincerely,

[phantom power]

1. They have 20 models at >= 30mgp highway?

I'll believe it when I see it.

[punpirate]

2. It's possible...

... but ask them what their fleet mileage is. They love selling SUVs and big trucks because the profit margin on them is high. Last I heard, before the oil shocks started, over 50% of their sales were in those two categories.

If we go by their actual sales and the actual mileage of their fleet, it's a damned sight lower than 30 mpg highway.

[Massacure]

4. Doesn't GM own several brands?

We discussed companies that are owned by other companies in my history class three months ago, but I cannot think of the term.

Edit; CONGLOMERATE! That's the word I'm thinking of. Isn't GM a conglomerate?

[phantom power]

5. Yes, for instance Saturn probably accounts for several hi-mileage models

I tend not to count those as "GM", but I guess I should.

[LTR]

7. Saturn is definitely GM

All of their vehicles nowadays have platform-mates in other GM divisions.

[LTR]

8. GM owns...

Chevrolet
Pontiac
Buick
GMC
Saturn
AM General (Hummer)
Saab
Saturn
Vauxhall (Great Britain)
Opel (Germany)
Holden (Australia)
Daewoo (Korea)

And the definition of a conglomerate is traditionally a company that owns other companies that make diverse products. GM is one, to an extent, in that they also own companies like Delphi, Hughes, and also dabble in financial services (GMAC, which caters mostly to car financing) and real estate. A classic example of a conglomerate would be R.J. Reynolds, a tobacco company that owns Nabisco, a food company. Or Clear Channel, which is primarily a radio broadcasting company that owns billboard and event ticket subsidiaries.

[LTR]

9. GM owns...

Chevrolet
Pontiac
Buick
GMC
Saturn
AM General (Hummer)
Saab
Saturn
Vauxhall (Great Britain)
Opel (Germany)
Holden (Australia)
Daewoo (Korea)

And the definition of a conglomerate is traditionally a company that owns other companies that make diverse products. GM is one, to an extent, in that they also own companies like Delphi, Hughes, and also dabble in financial services (GMAC, which caters mostly to car financing) and real estate. A classic example of a conglomerate would be R.J. Reynolds, a tobacco company that owns Nabisco, a food company. Or Clear Channel, which is primarily a radio broadcasting company that owns billboard and event ticket subsidiaries.

[LTR]

10. dupe

Damn DU froze up!

[LTR]

6. I'm a Chevy salesman...

...so I'll chime in with their 2005 car offerings:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

Aveo: 26 34 (automatic), 27 35 (manual)
Cobalt: 24 32
Malibu: 24 35 (2.2 4 cyl.), 22 32 (3.5 V6)
Malibu Maxx: 22 30
Impala: 21 32 (3.4 V6), 20 30 (3.8 V6)
Monte Carlo: see Impala
Corvette: 18 26 (manual), 18 26 (automatic)

Etimates for 2006 aren't available, but Impala and Monte Carlo get new engines that may vary by a mile or two. The new HHR (based on the Cobalt and a highly functional alternative to the SUV) will get up to an estimated 31 on the highway.

Keep in mind that this is just Chevy. I didn't even mention Pontiac, Buick, Saturn, Saab or other GM makes. Interesting to note that almost all of them are capable of getting 30 MPG or higher. And even the new Corvette with it's powerful 6.0 motor gets good mileage compared to similar sports cars. Why not write to Lambourghini about THEIR gas hogs that get 12 MPG?

As for trucks, we all know that they are gas hogs. Even I'll admit that. Is GM solely responsible? Hell no! Everyone, especially the goody-goods at Toyota, makes gas-guzzling trucks that are cash cows. Yet people still buy them, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't make them.

GM doesn't get enough credit for widespread distribution of flex-fuel-ready engines. What's flex-fuel? What that means is that these engines can run on fuel that contains up to 85% ethanol (aka E85). That translates to 15% actual gasoline, folks. E85 is a fuel made almost entirely from renewable resources (aka corn). And it is very common on many GM trucks, including Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban. Fuel economy goes down since it burns faster than petroleum, but it is much cheaper and has a much higher octane rating (which lends itself to performance). The 2006 Impala is probably the first car (not truck) to be flex-fuel-ready. Cost difference? Not even noticeable. Meaning it won't kill the pocketbook like the Toyota and Honda hybrids.

In addition, the new 1500 trucks (Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, etc.) planned for 2007 will be designed with better fuel economy in mind. Chevy already has a Silverado hybrid that, while not improving fuel economy drastically, is at least a step in the right direction. Diesel versions of their bigger bread-and-butter trucks are also available. Hey, give 'em credit for at least doing something.

GM may not have a splashy over-hyped hybrid like Toyota and Honda, but to say that they're not working on fuel efficient technologies is highly unfair.

[wallwriter]

3. GM is not the only evil in this story.

You have to add the Repug administration for legislating loopholes for SUV fuel economy and pollution. And you have to add the idiotic American public for buying these vehicles.

GM sells moderately OK vehicles that are not as good as Honda or Toyota, but are orders of magnitude better than the GM vehicles of 20 years ago.

You can buy a Chevy Cavalier and 30+ mpg on the highway. or a Saturn something or another or an Aveo. But precious few McMansion dwelling Diet Coke swilling cell phone-while-driving exurbanite shitheads have any interest.

There's plenty of blame to go around.