China, GM Investigate Hot Chevrolet Cruze Sedans

Seriously?

Both the China Car Times and Auto Sina report that consumers were concerned the automatic transmission in Chevrolet Cruze 1.6 models produced dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation.

Shanghai General Motors division subsequently asked China’s Physical and Chemical Research Center of Science and Environmental Analysis to test the cars, and the results found the cars pose no unusual risk. The tests reportedly found that the Cruze’s automatic transmission emitted just 0.4µT (less than one-millionth of one Tesla, a measure of magnetic energy) while Chinese and international standards say that up to 100µT of electromagnetic radiation is safe for humans.

For comparison purposes, a cassette tape registers about 24µT and the Earth’s magnetic field at the equator measures approximately 31µT.

Shanghai GM reiterated to the Chinese press that it builds cars in accordance with all international safety laws, and that GM conducts an array of testing to ensure its cars don’t produce adverse or unhealthy levels of radiation.

It’s unclear how the concerns over radiation in the Chevrolet Cruze began, but such rumors likely panicked plenty of consumers given how popular the Cruze is in China: the car sold 22,711 units there in January 2012, and 221,196 examples during all of 2011.

The Cruze sedan is sold in China with three different engines, a 1.6-liter inline-four with 115 to 119 hp; a 1.8-liter inline-four with 145 hp; and a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four with 181 hp. The base engine is offered with either five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions, while the 1.8 and turbo engines are mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic.


via China Car Times, Auto Sina courtesy of Automobile Magazine Staff

General Motors/Chevrolet 2009 SUV Fuel System Recall - 27,000+ Affected

GM IS RECALLING 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHICLES. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE SEPARATION OF THE ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING (RTV) SEAL BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE HOUSING MAY ALLOW WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MODULE.

Consequence:
WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, SETTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR THE ENGINE MAY BE HARD TO START, MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MAY 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Source: NHTSA

Twitter while Driving? General Motors Onstar may make it Possible

Most Twitter addicts have been guilty of stoplight tweeting (an epic race against the clock to squeeze in 140 characters before the light turns green), but if recent rumors are true, General Motors is going to make TWD (Twittering While Driving) much safer if they integrate the Twitter microblogging service into OnStar.

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Obama Administration to General Motors CEO: You're Fired

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is about to resign after eight years as the Obama administration prepares to decide on the automaker's request for additional government rescue loans, two people familiar with the matter said.

A senior Obama administration official told NBC's John Yang that Wagoner, 56, was asked to step down by the White House.


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General Motors most likely to close Truck, SUV, Pickup Plants first

General Motors Corp.'s latest plan to return to profitability calls for the struggling automaker to close five more plants than it originally expected. The lingering question is which plants will be the first to go.

It's a question GM has not yet answered, but industry experts think overcapacity is likely to claim one of the company's remaining pickup truck factories, as well as powertrain and parts stamping plants in communities that are already among the hardest hit by the auto industry downturn.

Many experts who study automobile manufacturing were reluctant to name specific plants that could be on the chopping block. Some cited fears of a "self-fulfilling prophecy." But a look at what GM is already producing and what is -- or isn't -- selling offers some clues, and analysts say an Ohio plant is among possible candidates for closure.

Haig Stoddard, auto analyst with IHS Global Insight, said truck and SUV plants are more vulnerable, given recent sales trends. GM's assembly plant in Pontiac, Mich. -- one of three U.S. plants that make Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups -- could be a target, Stoffard said.


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Will GM be Able to Close 2000+ Dealerships?

Part of GM’s restructuring plan calls for reducing their massive network of 6,200 dealers by 25 percent.

Few will argue the logic behind that thinking. The ones who will argue are the dealers in that unfortunate 25 percent, a group who will very likely make life even more difficult for GM.

In fact, it’s happening already. According to the Detroit Free Press, Alabama dealership Abercrombie Chevrolet is suing GM and GMAC, claiming a conspiracy by the two to break its franchise agreement “in an effort to shut down dealers and avoid paying franchise buyout fees.”...Continued