As a driver, you probably don't give much thought to where, when or by whom the components that make up your vehicle were produced. Today, it‘s simply a case of turning the key in the ignition and off you go. 100 years ago, however, when automobiles were in their infancy, things weren’t quite so convenient; cars were started by hand-cranking the engine into life using a starting handle inserted through the vehicle’s radiator grill. Fortunately, in 1911, General Motors Corporation (GM) changed the (often sweaty) face of motoring forever with the invention of what was at the time a revolutionary leap forward for motoring: the electric starter. Not only did it save the energy needed to crank the engine into action, it also allowed drivers to control the temperature inside their vehicles – all with one switch.
While road accidents, deaths and injuries are always a concern for automotive manufacturers, if it wasn‘t for GM’s introduction of reinforced metal roofs and shatter-proof safety glass in windscreens 89 years ago, the accident statistics would undoubtedly be even more alarming.
These are just two of the countless automobile innovations GM has introduced over the years to make driving a safe, comfortable, more enjoyable experience for motorists across the globe. Other features the company has fitted as standard to all its vehicles – things that most of us now take for granted – have included disk brakes, power steering and seat belts.
100 years of creativity has made GM the world’s leading automotive company in terms of sales, innovation and technology development and implementation. The company has consistently quashed motoring records, rewriting the history of the automobile along the way.
Since its formation in September 1908, GM has produced almost 10 billion cars. Bumper-to-bumper these vehicles would stretch for over 4.5 million kilometers: the equivilent of 117 times around the globe. One could say that GM spans the planet in the blink of an eye.
Today, GM cars and trucks are sold worldwide under 12 brands, the most familiar for Thai drivers being Chevrolet, Opel, Holden, Saab and Cadillac. The company also operates 11 design centers across the globe to ensure it meets the demands of drivers from all corners of the world. Worldwide, GM employs 284,000 employees: more than the population of some small countries.
As the biggest automotive manufacturer in the world, GM is far from complacent; it continually strives to be more innovative, as illustrated by the constant engineering improvements it has made to the more than 800 concept vehicles it has developed to date. The 200 most distinguished of these concept cars are now on permanent display at the GM Heritage Center in Detroit, USA, to serve as a reminder of the company’s history and to inspire the next generation of vehicle designers.
With GM design engineers located around the globe, research and development is a 24/7 operation. But no GM team works in isolation; connected via multimedia conferencing facilities, GM designers at the company’s 11 international design centers use the latest technology – including 3D Virtual Reality Design – to review blueprints, improve and reconfigure engines and remodel exteriors and interiors before the latest concept cars are unveiled at international motor shows.
It is only after market feedback and exhaustive testing – often in excess of 5 million kilometers per prototype – that the company will know whether a concept car is suitable for commercial production. While the new technology has made research and development more convenient, attention to detail is a part of GM’s 100 year legacy.
With the global fuel crisis hitting all nations, GM continues to seek solutions that not only reflect the company’s commitment to its customers but also its responsibility to the environment. GM’s “Energy Solution Provider” concept is pro-actively developing technology to both reduce fuel consumption and lower vehicle emissions.
With a tremendous investment in both financial and human terms, GM has developed a wide range of energy-saving solutions as it strives towards the ultimate “Gas-Free” vehicle. Current initiatives include ethanol-based bio-fuels, with the company developing an E100 vehicle that runs on 100% ethanol; a Bio Hybrid vehicle, introduced at the beginning of 2008, which mixes bio-fuel and electricity; the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric car; and the Chevrolet Tahoe Boss, a self-drive, computer controlled vehicle that eliminates driver error.
Last but not least, the imminent arrival of mass-produced Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology – allowing the manufacture of hydrogen-powered vehicles that emit no harmful exhaust fumes – will revolutionize the global automotive industry. GM is currently testing a fleet of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell SUVs in cities across the States and major cities around the globe. When these tests are conclusive GM will become the first automotive company to introduce tomorrow’s technology into today’s lifestyle.
After 100 years in business, many companies would be happy to rest on their laurels: not General Motors. Even before the centennial celebrations get underway GM is already planning for the next 100 years. While the company acknowledges that it is the events of the past century that have placed it in pole position in the global auotmotive industry, its vision is firmly focused on the technologies of the future. This forward-thinking corporate philosophy is reflected in the company’s new “GMnext“ branding initiative.
Keep track with the latest GM movements at the company’s new online portal geared towards a gas-free future at http://www.GMnext.com.
Captions
1. Renaissance Center: General Motors Corporation’s Global HQ encompasses 5.5 million square feet of working space (the equivalent of 60 football fields) on the banks of the Detroit River in Michigan, USA. This 5 billion USD (160 billion Baht) corporate nerve center is one of the largest business complexes in the world.
2. Chevrolet Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Zero gasoline, zero emission – hydrogen-powered fuel cells are the cleanest and most efficient technology around. The only thing coming out of the exhaust pipes of these vehicles is H2O – pure water.
3. Chevrolet Tahoe Boss: This smart, self-drive, computer-controlled vehicle can be programed to safely navigate any journey and, using a combination of radar, sensors, GPS positioning, intelligent algorithms and the most accurate computer software, is smart enough to perceive any obstacles on the road ahead. Simply key in your destination, grab a coffee and sit back with the morning’s newspaper.
4. Inside GM Heritage Center: 200 of the most distinguished concept cars are on display both to reflect the company’s historic journey and inspire the road ahead.
5. Full-size clay model: One part of the concept car production.
6. Bio Hybrid Car: The first of its kind in the world.
7. Virtual Reality Design Center: The most advanced design center of it’s kind allows GM design engineers to utilise 3D Virtual Reality Design software to inspect every detail from blueprint to bumper before the vehicle goes into commercial production.
8. Chevrolet Volt: This plug-in electric car will make owning a car as convenient as owning a household appliance as it is soon-to-be shipped out to markets around the world.
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3 June 2008
For further information, please contact:
Chartchai Suwanasevok,
Member of the Board of Directors
General Motors Southeast Asia Operations Ltd.
Director – Public Relations for GM Thailand/ASEAN
General Motors (Thailand) Ltd. and Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Ltd.
Tel: 0-2791-3400 Fax: 0-2937-0441
Email: chartchai.suwanasevok@gm.com
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