Company ProfileGeneral Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 217,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at http://www.gm.com. |
GM in ThailandRegistered in 1993, GM Thailand is one of the linchpins of the expansion strategy developed by GM for the Asia Pacific Region. In 1996, Thailand was selected as the regional manufacturing site and construction of the assembly center began later that same year on a 190-acre plot in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong Province. The THB 30 billion (US$750 million) manufacturing plant was modeled after GM’s plant in Eisenach, Germany, which is ranked among the most efficient automotive facilities in the world. GM Thailand’s state-of-the-art technology makes it one of the most modern car assembly plants in Thailand and one of the more advanced facilities in the Asia Pacific region. In 2006, a further US$66 million was invested to expand the production area and construct a new paint shop. GM Thailand now employs over 2,000 people and headed by Mr. Martin Apfel, President of General Motors Southeast Asia Operation Limited and President of General Motors (Thailand) Limited and Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited since March 2010. While GM Thailand’s operations are closely linked with its parent company General Motors Corporation in the US, it is entirely a separate legal entity from it’s parent company. This has given GM Thailand the ability to operate independent of GM Corp, with the capability, resource, products and technology to grow in Thailand and the ASEAN region, while at the same time maintaining access to GM Corp’s global resources. More information, please visit www.gmthailand.com or www.chevrolet.co.th |
Product MilestonesThe first product of GM Thailand's plant, the Zafira, created a new MPV segment in the domestic market in 1999. It also allowed GM Thailand to become the leading Thai automotive exporter in terms of export value, eventually exporting to 19 countries around the world, including Japan and a number of European countries. In May 2003, GM Thailand started production of a one-ton pickup truck designed under a joint agreement with Isuzu and which is exported -- under various brand names such as Chevrolet, GMC, Holden and Isuzu – to export markets worldwide via both the Isuzu and the GM distribution networks. Manufacturing for the new mid-sized Chevrolet Optra started one month later. In addition to the Thai market, the Optra was also manufatured for export to other markets in the ASEAN region. In March 2004, the Chevrolet Colorado, the first Thai-built American-style one-ton pickup truck, was introduced to compete in the domestic pickup truck market, the country’s largest automobile sector. To further enhance the product range, the Chevrolet Colorado G80 Diff-Lock, the Chevrolet-patented automatic rear differential locking system, was introduced first time in truck industry in Thailand. Another addition to GM Thailand's product line came in November 2005 in the form of the versatile Optra Estate Wagon. Offering the distinctive functions of a multi-purpose family vehicle with top-of-its-class levels of comfort and reliability, the Optra Estate Wagon represented Chevrolet's first foray into the wagon segment. In line with GM's leadership in alternative fuel technology, the Chevrolet Optra CNG, the first and only OEM compressed natural gas-powered vehicle in Thailand, was launched in August 2006. The Optra CNG, available in Sedan and Estate version, was offered with GM’s Bi-Fuel system which enabled it to run on either gasoline or CNG, automatically switching between one and the other depending on fuel availability. To further cement its leadership in the field of alternative fuel, GM Thailand launched the Chevrolet Colorado CNG Dual Fuel in early 2008 and is currently studying the viability of extending CNG systems and capabilities to other models in its line-up. In September 2006, the Chevrolet AVEO was introduced to compete in the Thai sub-compact sedan market. GM continued its growth in Thailand with the introduction of yet another model to its line-up. Based on GM's global Captiva marquee, the Chevrolet Captiva was launched in June 2007. The compact sports utility vehicle was offered with a choice of 2.4-liter gasoline or 2.0-liter intercooled turbo-diesel engines and, as further testament to GM Thailand's capability for quality products, the Captiva is also exported to other ASEAN markers. |
GM's NetworkThe launch of the Zafira coincided with GM's establishment of Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited in year 2000. Chevrolet Sales Thailand, as the affiliated sales and distribution company of GM Thailand, and is now responsible for the local distribution of Chevrolet vehicles manufactured at |
Achievements & RecognitionGeneral Motors' investment in Thailand and its forays into the ASEAN region has continually received numerous awards and recognition, both for its corporate operations and products range. They include: August 2000 – GMT’s assembly center in Rayong Province received a Royal inauguration when HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the official opening ceremony. May 2000 - the Zafira – driven off the line by Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, was named MPV of the year in Thailand for three consecutive years. – October 2003 - The Chevrolet Lumina, an internationally recognized luxury sedan imported from Australia, was employed as the Official Car for the APEC CEO Summit meeting in Bangkok. December 2003 - J.D. Power Asia Pacific ranked Chevrolet Thailand the number 1 in Sales Satisfaction Index March 2004 - The Optra received the Car of The Year 2004 award under the ‘Best 1800 cc Sedan’ and was also nominated ‘Best of Class–Mid-sized Sedan’ by J.D. Power Asia Pacific.- May 2004 - GM received Outstanding Award for Safety, Occupational Health and Working Environment by the Thai Government for its safety performance and work environment initiatives for the fifth consecutive year. From hereon, GM Thailand has won this award every consecutive year. May 2004 - GM Won the “Prime Minister’s Industry Award” 2004 for Safety and Quality Management, in addition to the awards reception in the above two other categories. August 2004 - GM won the “Best Manufacturer Award” from Australian Chamber of Commerce April 2005 - Chevrolet Colorado won 2005 “Car of The Year“ Award as “Best Pick-Up Truck Class: CAB 2WD” from Automotive publisher Grand Prix International. May 2005 - GM Thailand received 2005 Prime Minister’s Industry Award for Environmental Quality Preservation. September 2005 - GM Thailand received ISO/TS 16949:2002 Quality Management System certification from the standard system auditing company TUV-NORD (Thailand) Ltd., covering the entire manafacturing process and supporting units. September 2005 - GM Receives Prestigious Award for Outstanding Labor Relations from Ministry of Labor for the 3 consecutive years (2003 - 2005) in recognition of the GM’s commitment to outstanding labor relations since the company was established here in thailand 5 years ago. March 2006 - The Chevrolet Colorado G80 Diff-Lock pickup and Chevrolet Optra Estate wagon have each been awarded the “Car of The Year 2006” from Grand Prix International Co. Ltd. The G80 Diff Lock Colorado was named ‘Best Pick-up Class X-Cab 2WD”, and the Optra Estate for “Best Estate under 1,600 cc”. December 2006 - General Motors Thailand received ISO/IEC 17025 certification for its chemical and lubricant laboratory in Rayong, making this facility the first and only automotive lab of its kind to be certified. April 2007 - Automotive publisher Grand Prix International bestowed upon three Chevrolet models with the 'Car of the Year' award. The winning models were Chevrolet Colorado CTi Maxx 3.0 Litres Z71 pickup, Chevrolet Aveo sedan and Chevrolet Optra Estate. May 2007 - GM Thailand has been certified for four consecutive years by Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS (TBCA) for its continuous efficiency in workplace management concerning AIDS precaution. The award is certified by the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare, Ministry of Labor and Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. February 2008 - The Chevrolet AVEO was awarded the ‘Green Label’ environmental certificate, being recognized for its minimal impact on the environment in comparison to other passenger cars in Thailand. This made Chevrolet the only automobile brand in Thailand to have won this prestigious award twice in a row. April 2008 - Three more Chevrolet models received Grand Prix International's 'Car of the Year' award. The winning models this time were the Chevrolet Colorado, Captiva and Optra CNG. May 2008 - General Motors and Chevrolet were again presented with the “Outstanding Award for Safety, Occupational Health and Working Environment” at the 22nd National Work Safety Week ceremony. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the company has been recognized for its safety performance and work environment initiatives. September 2008 – GM celebrated its 100th anniversary worldwide and reveals its plans for the next 100 years through its GMnext campaign. It also organised the GM Auto Tech Symposium and stamped its leadership in alternative fuel technology and initiatives. The event was attended by the then Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Samak Sundaravej. October 2008 - Chevrolet Captiva received the 'Green Label' environmental certificate. July 2007- GM Thailand’s Rayong manufacturing plant assembled the 500,000th vehicle March 2009 - Chevrolet Colorado CNG, Chevrolet Captiva and Chevrolet Optra CNG received Car of the Year Award. June 2009 - The 2009 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Automotive Awards - Best Alternatively Powered Passenger Car of the Year (Thailand) April 2010 - The Chevrolet AVEO 1600cc and Chevrolet Optra Estate CNG have both won an award each at the recent ‘Car of the Year’ awards organized by GrandPrix International. April 2010 - ‘Best Design Award’ received at Bangkok International Motor Show 31st. The design concept of Chevrolet’s booth this year is Chevrolet’s “Brand Transformation”. May 2010 - The SAIC-GM Pavilion for World Expo 2010 Shanghai received the Most Excellent Public Building Prize from the Architectural Society of Shanghai. |
GM Next >>In 2008, GM celebrated its 100th anniversary. As a dynamic and forward-looking organisation, GM has always believed in the need to forge ahead with new initiatives, technology and best-practices and has put in place plans to do so as the new century dawns upon the world's leading autombile maufacturer. |
Sustainable Alternatives
In-line with its forward-looking corporate culture, GM’s main strategy is to develop alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles. Years of research and development have enabled the corporation to develop many other types of fuels and a variety of propulsion systems that both reduce and eliminate completely the need for gasoline. As a showcase of the world’s leading alternative fuel vehicles, the Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell, a gasoline-free, hydrogen-fueled vehicle provides top class performance, passenger comfort and zero damaging emissions. The only emission from the vehicle is pure water. As a nearer-term solution, Hybrid technology, utilizing a combination of electricity and engine power, is currently the viable option, drastically reducing the need for gasoline. An example of this will be the Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid which runs either on gasoline, electricity or a combination of the two. Another alternative energy concept attracting a lot of attention is FlexFuel vehicles powered by ethanol, and GM currently has E85 and E100 vehicles under development, such as the Chevrolet Impala E85. Ethanol is relatively inexpensive to produce and could also become a source of revenue for Thailand as the country switches to local production; creating jobs while at the same time contributing to a cleaner environment by reducing the levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Ethanol can be produced from various agricultural products. At the same time, GM is also working on new ways to create biofuels from a wide variety of waste materials, including municipal waste and even old tires, which could drastically reduce price of the fuel in Thailand. One of the processes currently explored by GM include the use of thermo-chemical process where microorganisms consume waste and release ethanol. This revolutionary technology would allow ethanol to be produced anywhere in the world but as a primarily agricultural country, Thailand is ideally positioned to become a major ethanol producer with the capacity to become not only self-sufficient but also have enough reserves for export. Furthemore, an increased use of ethanol will also help reduce Thailand's dependence on imported petroleum from foreign countries. In addition to alternative fuels, GM is also committed to developing more cost effective, environmentally friendly engines for all its vehicles without compromising performance. For example, GM’s Active Fuel Management System allows an engine to 'turn off' half the cylinders under light-load conditions, improving fuel economy by 7 to 12 percent. |
Commitment to the FutureGM's push for alternative fuels isn't just limited to within the Thai market, but will extend to the ASEAN region, with Thailand as the center of expertise in automotive energy diversity. It will leverage its global engineering resources to carry out in Thailand advanced engineering projects that are aimed at accelerating the adaptation of the motor vehicle to fuels prevalent in the ASEAN region such as CNG, cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel and LPG. Research will be conducted in partnership with the Thai government, industry partners and academic institutions. Another initiative by GM on advanced alternative energy resources is the establishment of a partnership with Thailand’s most advanced and socially responsible petroluem company, PTT Public Co. Ltd. to cooperate and discuss the feasibility of making a study to determine the market and infrastructure requirements and benefits of expanding the utilization in Thailand of advanced alternative energy in the transportation sector and OEM vehicles. |
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