GM’s CEO talks, sells more busses and considers selling something more. Chrysler announces the return of the Pentastar and a deal with Cerberus and Daimler to fund its pensions. Buick get a new logo and slogan, and Saturn gets a new ad campaign. Details on all after the break.
GM CEO Rick Wagoner said Thursday he didn’t see the Chrysler deal starting a rush towards private ownership in the auto industry. He said he expects to see further consolidation in the industry though. While giving his speech, he attacked federal lawmakers who support dramatically tougher fuel standards as “pie in the sky, unfunded federal mandates” for not providing Detroit help in meeting them.
Reutersreported Wednesday afternoon, GM is considering selling its medium duty truck unit to Navistar. The discussions are just in the preliminary stages according to Reuters and neither company would offer comment on the matter.
The Seattle Post Intelligencer reported Thursday morning the city of Seattle has put its money where its mouth is, and the next 100 buses they buy will come equipped with GM’s Dual Mode hybrid system. The contract covers up to 500 buses should the city exercise it in its entirety and is worth more than $500 million. The first 100 buses will be delivered by 2010.
The UAW announced it had received a guarantee of an additional $1.2 billion contribution to the Chrysler pension fund by Daimler and Cerberus as part of the deal for Chrysler, Automotive News reported. The UAW also told employees of the automaker in an online discussion that Cerberus had guaranteed them no additional job cuts beyond the already announced restructuring.
The Detroit Free Press reported today that Chrysler would return to using the old Pentastar logo for the company. It won’t be the same pentastar as was on your grandparents K-Car however, as it will be “updated and modernized.”
Along with the summertime launch of its new Enclave crossover, Buick announced yet another new slogan “Drive Beautiful” and an updated look for its classic tri-shield logo. The first advertisements will air May 20.
Buick isn’t the only GM division getting a new ad campaign and slogan. Saturn has just launched a major advertising push for its hybrid models. Created by Deutsch LA, the slogan “Rethink American” plays up Saturn’s domestic roots and its environmental friendliness. Ads started running last Monday on Heroes which airs on NBC.
