Spark EV Electric Motor Manufacturing Begins in Baltimore

WHITE MARSH, Md. – Until now, electric motors and drive units – the heart and soul of electric vehicles – have been mostly imports. General Motors today commemorated becoming the first U.S.-based automaker to manufacture these key parts in America for the new Chevrolet Spark EV at its Baltimore Operations plant in White Marsh, Md.

“The era of using electricity to help improve performance and fuel economy is already here and the trend is only going to grow,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability. “Today is further proof GM is leading in the development of electric vehicles that will improve America’s energy security.”

GM engineers designed and developed the Spark EV’s motor and drive unit to provide maximum efficiency and power with world-class reliability. The permanent magnet motor features a unique design to provide precise delivery of power. The Spark EV electric motor will produce 130 hp (100 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque to deliver acceleration of less than 8 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. The Spark EV will be sold in California and Oregon this summer and sales will expand to Canada, Europe and South Korea later.

“Electric motor development and manufacturing is a critical area of expertise GM has mastered as we grow our portfolio of electric vehicles to address the needs of our global customers.” said Larry Nitz, GM executive director of Vehicle Electrification Engineering.

After refining its expertise in electric motors at a pilot facility in Wixom, Mich., production of electric motors began at White Marsh. Workers at the Baltimore plant completed extensive training on the operation of the sophisticated machines used to configure portions of the electric motor and drive units.  

“In Maryland, innovation is something we do well and with our world class work force, we’re in a position to grow Maryland’s Innovation Economy so we can create even more jobs for our hardworking families,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “Thanks to the leaders at General Motors, the first electric motors and drive units will be manufactured right here in Maryland. Together, with companies like General Motors leading the way, we must make the better choices to invest in a stronger future: more job creation, more opportunity, and a stronger, growing middle class.”

Conventionally powered vehicles on the road today have a variety of electric motors to power seats, windows, windshield washers and other functions. Electric motors are used in hybrid and electric vehicles to propel the vehicle. Electricity is stored in a battery and feeds power to the electric motor to drive the wheels. 

“The motor design was created by American engineers and it’s being manufactured and assembled by American workers,” said plant manager Bill Tiger. “By designing electric motors in Michigan and manufacturing them at Baltimore Operations, GM controls the design, materials and production processes, as well as reducing costs and improving performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability.”

About General Motors Baltimore Operations Highly Green and environmentally friendly, the Baltimore facility is GM’s exclusive manufacturer of A1000 transmissions for heavy duty pickup trucks and electric motors and drivetrains for the Chevrolet Spark EV. They have been landfill free since 2007, recycling 100% of their waste. They had a 1.2 MW roof mounted solar array installed in May 2011 and received certification for their Wildlife Habitat in June 2011. A new facility has been built on the campus to house manufacturing for eMotor production. This business was brought back from Mexico to the U.S.

About General Motors General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Chevrolet used advanced virtual tools to help reinvent its flagship sedan

DETROIT – When professional basketball players and other big-and-tall customers asked Chevrolet for more space and a more comfortable ride in the all-new 2014 Impala, engineers used the latest high-tech tools – including a spaciousness calculator – to create more leg and head room and larger storage areas.

The tool kit also included advanced computer modeling tools, digital human ergonomics models and 3D Cave Automated Virtual Environment.

The team used the spaciousness calculator – a General Motors-exclusive tool – to analyze how customers perceive the vehicle’s roominess, and virtual human models to make the most of vehicle interiors based on an extensive database of driver sizes and postures. The 3D CAVE helped in evaluating design concepts for blind spots, reflections and visibility of objects inside and outside the car.

“Using various advanced technologies, we were able to make dimensional and design modifications in a virtual environment before locking down on a final architecture,” said Crystal Windham, director, Chevrolet passenger car interior design. “These steps are necessary to develop a solid foundation to build on to achieve the best spaciousness, comfort and overall design that will impress our customers.”

Some of the updates made to Chevy’s flagship sedan include:

• Adding nearly two inches of driver legroom by increasing the range of fore/aft adjustment for the front seats;
• A telescoping steering wheel that allows drivers of varying sizes to reach it comfortably;
• Redesigning the center console with a low instrument panel to increase knee spread, which adds comfort on long drives and enhances the sense of roominess while keeping controls within easy reach;
• Expanding rear-seat legroom more than two inches, enabled by the 1.2-inch increased wheelbase and thinner profile front seats;
• Nearly 19 cubic feet of trunk space – ample room for four golf bags and more space than many full-size sedans.

As Automobile magazine’s Michael Jordan (not the basketball legend) noted in his review of the Impala, “The low cowl and receding wings of the dash enhance the sensation of space, while the use of high-strength steel in the A-pillars enables them to be twisted slightly to increase the driver’s field of view.”

Visibility from the driver’s seat also is improved through the use of fold-down rear headrests and a thin profile rear center-mounted LED brake lamp in the headliner. A rear backup camera also is available.

“These new tools, the latest in automotive design, allowed us to make improvements more quickly and efficiently than on previous Impala models – improvements we’re sure Impala customers will appreciate,” said George Madjeric, General Motors engineering group manager for Vehicle Architecture.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Production begins for 2014 Chevrolet Impala

• All-new flagship sedan adds content, technology
• Pricing starts $27,535, including destination

OSHAWA, Ontario – The all-new 2014 Impala, Chevrolet’s flagship sedan, began driving off the line at Oshawa Assembly today.  The Impala will begin arriving in Chevrolet showrooms this month. 

“The all-new Impala demonstrates the new direction of Chevrolet,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM Canada. “Our employees in Oshawa have executed a flawless plan in bringing this iconic nameplate to life. The newly redesigned Impala will exceed customers’ expectations because of the hard work of our employees at Oshawa Assembly.”

The 2014 Impala will also be manufactured at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, starting in May.

The 2014 Impala has several new features, including Adaptive Cruise Control and crash-avoidance technologies like Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert. Ten standard airbags are included – among the most in the segment.

Chevrolet’s latest MyLink radio debuts in the 2014 Impala. The in-vehicle entertainment system includes a customizable eight-inch color display screen. The system also adopts natural voice recognition – a first for Chevrolet.

Three direct-injection engine choices will be available: a 3.6L V-6, a newly designed 2.5L four-cylinder and a 2.4L four-cylinder with fuel-saving eAssist technology estimated to deliver up to 35 mpg on highway driving. All engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala is built at Oshawa’s state-of-the-art Flexible Manufacturing line along with the Chevrolet Camaro, Buick Regal and Cadillac XTS.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Volt owners exceeding EPA electric-driving estimate

DETROIT – Chevrolet Volt owners are consistently achieving the published EPA-estimated mileage of 98 MPGe gasoline-free miles, and many are even exceeding it.  Their experience contributes to an out worldly total of 150 million electric-powered Volt driving miles – roughly the distance from Earth to Mars.

The typical Volt owner who regularly charges the vehicle is going 900 miles between fill-ups of the gasoline engine that powers the Volt’s on-board generator. That avoids about $1,300 a year at the pump. 

MPGe is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. The EPA uses it to compare the consumption of alternative fuel vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles and other advanced technology vehicles with the fuel economy of conventional internal combustion vehicles expressed as miles per U.S. gallon of gasoline.

Some drivers are all but avoiding gasoline.

“I have driven more than 23,500 miles in my Volt in 21 months, and have been to a gas station twice,” said Brent Waldrep of Auburn Hills, Mich. “The last time, was in August (2012), and I still have about 65 percent of that tank left. I go about 9,000-10,000 miles between fill ups.”

Waldrep is atypical, but he is not alone.

“It’s been more than 5,000 miles and I’ve only filled up once not including the dealer fill,” said Larry Read of Canyon Lake, Texas.

Paul Friday of San Jose, Calif., says he gets about 7,000 miles between fill-ups and adds about three gallons of gas to his Volt every three months.

“We’ve seen and heard from our Volt owners that they are achieving fantastic performance numbers with their vehicle as many are beating the EPA label estimates,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Our Volt owners are showing the performance potential of driving electric, and having fun doing it.” 

Volt owners remain the most satisfied of any in the entire industry for the past two years with more than nine in 10 telling a major consumer publication they would buy another Volt.  

For the first 38 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.50-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range up to another 344 miles on a full tank.

More results from Volt owners can be found at www.facebook.com/chevroletvolt

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Chevrolet Silverado, Impala Move In Above Comerica Park

DETROIT – When the American League Champion Detroit Tigers take the field for their home opener on Friday, two of Chevrolet’s newest players – the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck and the 2014 Impala full-size sedan – will overlook the action.

The two vehicles were hoisted into place on Monday, an annual rite of spring in Detroit where Chevrolet has been the Tigers automotive sponsor since 2010.

Each vehicle made news Monday apart from the thrill of finding their seats above the stadium. 

The Silverado with a V6 engine will debut later this spring at the same suggested retail price as the outgoing model.  Chevrolet also announced, the V8 variant of the 2014 Silverado will offer the best V8 fuel economy in the segment and more miles per gallon than the Ford EcoBoost V6.

The Impala, meanwhile, began regular production Monday in Oshawa, Ontario, and will go into product at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant later this month.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

GM to Participate in Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 New York Auto Summit

DETROIT – General Motors will participate in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 New York Auto Summit on Wednesday, March 27.  Chuck Stevens, GM North America Chief Financial Officer, will present at approximately 11 a.m. (EDT).

A live webcast and presentation materials will be available on the Investors page on GM’s website at   www.gm.com/investors.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Tim Mahoney Named Chief Marketing Officer Global Chevrolet

DETROIT – General Motors today named Tim Mahoney as Chief Marketing Officer Global Chevrolet and Global GM Marketing Operations Leader, effective April 1. Mahoney joins Chevrolet from Volkswagen, where he has been Chief Product and Marketing Officer since 2011.

He will report to Alan Batey, GM Vice President, U.S. Sales and Service, and interim GM Global Chief Marketing Officer.

In his new role, Mahoney will be responsible to execute Chevrolet’s new brand platform, Find New Roads, and for overall coordination of GM’s global marketing operations.

“Tim’s experience and passion for the automotive marketing business, combined with his innovative and collaborative style, has made him one of the most respected marketers in the business,” said Batey. “His background and experience is a perfect fit for Chevrolet at the perfect time. With more than 20 new product launches around the world in 2013, Tim will play a key role as we continue to grow the brand globally.”

Mahoney has an extensive background in global automotive marketing serving in a variety of marketing positions at Subaru of America, Porsche Cars North America, Inc., and, most recently, Volkswagen.

Mahoney’s appointment is consistent with other initiatives recently announced to align and grow Chevrolet globally, including the selection of Commonwealth, a newly formed advertising agency, to service the brand’s advertising around the world.  Last month, Chevrolet announced a new global communications platform – Find New Roads – to align its global marketing, engineering, design and retail operations behind a single vision.

In 2012, Chevrolet sold 4.95 million vehicles worldwide, making it the world’s fastest-growing major automotive brand.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.