Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , GM No one is allowed to escape the grinding maw of Detroit's woes -- not even Detroit Piston extraordinaire and hometown mayor Dave Bing. The mayor owns an automotive supplier called The Bing Group that provides stamped parts for carmakers. The recession has put the company on such slippery footing that it told GM it couldn't provide any more parts, and it's looking to sell itself. As part of assuming the position of mayor, Bing stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the company by creating a blind trust. Or at least, he was supposed to -- Bing remains the registered agent for the company, and that makes him the first person the state would go to for information on the firm, which suggests that he should know something about how its currently run. Regardless, Bing is still considering whether to sell and will decide early next year. GM has told the company that as a condition of GM's bankruptcy its suppliers are compelled to keep sending parts even if GM didn't pay them, but that didn't appear to take into account the supplier nearly going bankrupt without that money. In the interim, GM is moving toward paying its suppliers on a weekly basis, which should help The Bing Group (and others). Yet in spite of the talked-about economic rebound, Detroit still hurts. [Source: Detroit News | Image Credit: Dave Hogg via CC2.0 ] Fitting Irony: Detroit Mayor Bing's own auto supply company hurting and on the block?

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising , Buick , Cadillac , Chevrolet , GM , GMC , Earnings/Financials According to the number-crunchers over at Edmunds.com, things are looking up for General Motors in the month of October. If preliminary figures hold up, The General's market share should come in at 22.4 percent, a notable gain from the 19.1 percent share the automaker averaged throughout the third quarter of 2009. Driving this newfound marketplace success is thought to be GM's recent abundance of new product launches, which include important models like the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac SRX along with the Equinox and Camaro from Chevrolet. GM has received mostly favorable reviews on each of these vehicles and has invested money into advertising and media campaigns. Still, maintaining the measure of success seen over the last month and continuing to grow that momentum in the long term won't be easy, and GM isn't likely to recapture its position as the dominant player in America that it once was any time soon. Of course, we'll be watching. [Source: Auto Observer | Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images] Edmunds: GM market share will grow in October originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs , Marketing/Advertising , GM When word got out that Mark LaNeve (right) was leaving General Motors effective October 15, we weren't at all sure where the soon-to-be-former exec was heading. The Wall Street Journal has finally let the cat out of the bag, reporting that LaNeve is leaving the auto business for a marketing gig at Allstate. LaNeve will sign on as the overseer of all marketing initiatives including brand stewardship, strategy and advertising, reporting only to CEO Thomas Wilson. LaNeve leaves GM after five years as vice president of marketing and advertising. LaNeve was usurped by the General's own Bob Lutz, who semi-retired in April only to come back a couple months later to help strengthen the company's marketing and advertising initiatives. He is is being replaced as vice-president of U.S. sales by former Buick-GMC boss Susan Docherty. While his new post at Allstate may not be as glamorous a job as being a VP at a major automaker, the insurer has recently made some hefty profits. The WSJ says Allstate raked in big bucks in the second quarter, after earlier getting hit hard by the economic downturn. In other words, LaNeve's company car perks might not be as generous, but he appears to be in Good Hands.

Filed under: Motorsports , Acura , BMW , Chevrolet , Ford , Mazda , Porsche 2009 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship finale at Laguna Seca - Click above for high-res gallery One of our favorite forms of racing just wrapped up another season with a typically exciting finale at California's Laguna Seca raceway. Although it doesn't get much press, we love Speed World Challenge because the cars are so much like the ones we drool over in the real world and the drivers are a great mix of gentlemen racers and displaced pros looking to keep their skills sharp if and when they get the call to move up to the show. Some drivers only make it out to one or two races, while others are in it for the championship trophy -but when they do show up, they are driving some impressive machinery. We just told you about the championship-winning Ford Mustang FR500C , but the list of competitors reads like a fantasy car collection, with drivers campaigning vehicles like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Chevrolet Corvette, Aston Martin DB9, Lotus Exige S, Acura NSX, Cadillac CTS-V, and even a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT . The slightly less exotic Touring Car class features fun cars like the Mazda6, Mazda3 and RX-8, Dodge Neon SRT-4, Acura TSX and Integra Type R, BMW 325 and 328i, Scion tC, Honda Civic Si, Ford Focus, Subaru WRX and Legacy, Lexus IS300, and even a Volkswagen Jetta TDI. As is the case with most racing these days, the series and event titles are longer than the tracks they race on, but we're willing to type it all out here for those who want to know what happened in the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championship Presented by Toyo Tires season finishing Applied Computer Solutions Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by Bondurant at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. That's quite a mouthful, but there's even more to the story. Follow the jump to read all about this, the final race to determine the championship. You'll find a full report as well as the complete results for the race and the final points standings for all of the drivers and teams that competed in Speed World Challenge this season. And don't forget to check out the incredible gallery of Speed GT by our very own photomeister, Drew Phillips.

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , GM General Motors has announced its planned production for next year: 2.8 million vehicles. That's a 45% increase over its production this year - 1.9 million cars and trucks - and according to some analysts, it's completely unwarranted. GM says it arrived at that number based on "real simple math." Analysts quoted in the Detroit Free Press today appear believe that GM was guided more by hope and a quest for market share. Just about everyone agrees that next year's new car market will grow compared to this year, with estimates generally ranging from a 10% to 15% increase in sales. GM slashed its production this year so much that by September, its inventory hit unprecedented lows. To be ready for what it believes will be a 15% bounceback in overall North American car sales, a boost in its own sales (which were down almost 40% this yea)r, and to have enough inventory on hand, it figures it needs to bump production by 45%. Every analyst appears to agree that GM will need to make more cars. But 2.8 million? Even as one analyst said, "There is no question that their production is going to be up next year and it's going to be significant - it really is," they were all in agreement that 2.8 million vehicles will leave a lot of cars either sitting on lots or being ridiculously discounted. The announcement has brought out sentiments that we are seeing shades of the old GM with a 'make them and move them by any means necessary' mentality.

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Cadillac , GM Click above to view Modernista's Cadillac commercials after the jump It was three years ago that Cadillac switched to ad agency Modernista!, and one year leater it rolled out its "Life. Liberty. And the Pursuit." campaign. In a four-sentence statement put out by Cadillac General Manager Bryan Nesbitt, the brand is looking for a new agency and Modernista! "has elected not to participate" in the search. There have been various reasons given for the split. An agency rep said it was down to "creative and strategic differences." Another report said it was about fees and Cadillac not being able to stick with a small independent, versus going with a shop under the same corporate umbrella as GM's other ad agencies. And Fritz Henderson said " We think we can do better. " Cadillac did well enough with the Kate Walsh ads, and its Reignition spot created the kind of anticipation the brand sorely needs. We look forward to seeing what kind of "better" Henderson and Lutz have in mind. In the meantime, follow the jump to check out some memorable Caddy ads from Modernista and a spot from the campaign before, "Breakthrough." [Source: GM] Continue reading Cadillac kicks current ad agency to the curb, seeking new suitors Cadillac kicks current ad agency to the curb, seeking new suitors originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:27:00 EST.

Filed under: Saab Having concluded the relationship with its former sugar daddy, GM, Saab is scouting locations for its new corporate headquarters to make a fresh start. According to one report, that location could be Royal Oak, Michigan, about fifteen miles from Detroit. Saab apparently has $2.2 million to invest in a new HQ over the next five years, where it plans to house "mostly sales and marketing functions." The building in question is 13,000 square feet and boasts the few amenities necessary to Saab's situation: offices for 50 people and a large garage. A Saab spokeswoman said Royal Oak is "trendy" and fits "our customer demographics." Finalizing the deal looks to rest on Royal Oak providing tax abatement, which hasn't been decided yet. Even if the city does give Saab some help moving in, the longer-term story is Saab's possible return to New England: the company began in Connecticut when it first came to U.S. shores. And with other upmarket European brands having decided that the Midwest simply didn't cut it, it wouldn't be a surprise. [Source: Saab History ] Saab pondering Detroit suburb for new U.S. headquarters? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:58:00 EST.

Filed under: Chevrolet , GM Forget about more cowbell, for GM it's all about more Chevy -- at least, that's the situation for Chevrolet's new VP Brent Dewar. So far this year the Bowtie has posted more than 60% of GM's North American volume, but Dewar wants that to get to 70%. "As Pontiac goes away, Saturn goes away," Dewar said, "Chevrolet has to step up. The 70 percent target is the right kind of number we need to work on." The real perspective on that challenge is in the numbers: GM's market share was 22.4 percent a year ago and is now 19.7 percent. However, while GM is out to increase overall market share it has half as many brands as it did last year: Pontiac and Saturn are dead, Saab and Hummer have found other homes. For Dewar, the general (if slight) upward trend in sales, as well as the coming Cruze and the Volt, will help Chevy achieve that number. But beyond that we have no idea what he plans to use to breach the 70 percent figure, and we find it interesting that Chevy is trying to make up for more even with Cadillac's and Buick's imminent models. Nor is it clear how GM will maintain its overall numbers globally without Opel, but we look forward to finding out. [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] REPORT: Chevrolet to take larger role at GM, account for 70% of total volume originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST.

Filed under: LA Auto Show , Budget , Hatchback , Mazda , Design/Style 2010 Mazda2 (Thailand-spec) - Click above for high-res image gallery Mazda has just announced that it has commenced production of the Mazda2 subcompact in Thailand. No big deal, right? Well, not in and of itself, but the Japanese automaker also released three images of the car, and its sporting a revised front fascia that mimics that of its big brother, the Mazda3. Mazda doesn't specifically indicate that all new 2s worldwide will get the smiley face treatment, but it seems likely that the automaker would want to keep all of its products in line with one another. Presumably, that would include the United States, which is slated to get the subcompact near the end of 2010 . In any case, we're expecting to see the car make its debut in North American-spec later this year at the LA Auto Show , so we'll know for sure if it will sport the new look soon enough. Check out the photo galleries below to compare the new car with the old. Gallery: 2010 Mazda2 (Thailand) Gallery: 2007 Mazda2 Continue reading Mazda2 gets friendly update in Thailand, new fascia to go global? Mazda2 gets friendly update in Thailand, new fascia to go global? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST.

Filed under: SUV , Government/Legal , Hummer , Earnings/Financials Hummer H3T - click above for high-res image gallery Not so many years ago, Hummer appeared to be one of General Motors' most potentially lucrative brands. Now, the fallen brand looks poised to fall into the hands of the Chinese very soon. Bloomberg is reporting that a deal to sell Hummer could be finalized in the coming days as Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. hammers out a purchase price. During its bankruptcy proceedings, GM estimated the Hummer brand to be worth $500 million, but last week's collapse of the Saturn deal with Roger Penske appears to have made the Detroit automaker ready to accept whatever it can get. The final tab paid by Sichuan Tengzhong could be as low as $150 million. The Chinese government has thus far been reluctant to approve Sichuan Tengzhong's move for Hummer, in part because of the brand's image as a gas guzzler. The hope is that once a purchase agreement is complete, the regulators will allow it to move forward. For its part, GM likely just wants the deal done and some extra cash in its coffers so it can move on with its streamlining efforts plans. Gallery: Review: 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha [Source: Bloomberg ] REPORT: GM close to offloading Hummer for as little as $150 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST.