Video: GM shows next-generation head-up display technology

General Motors R&D and several universities are working on a system that would use data gathered from an array of vehicle sensors and cameras and project images generated by compact ultra violet lasers directly onto the entire surface of the windshield.

For example if you are driving in the fog, the system could use vehicle’s infrared cameras to identify where the edge of the road is and the lasers could ‘paint’ the edge of the road onto the windshield so the driver knows where the edge of the road.

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NASA and GM team up to build robots

It makes sense that NASA is interested building robots, but GM? Aren’t they having hard time building cars? Apparently not and if you think about it, then robots do have a big part already in the production of cars. Its just that todays robots do very simple tasks.

Now together with NASA they will accelerate the development of the next generation of robots and related technologies for use in the automotive and aerospace industries.

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GM to be first major U.S. automaker to manufacture electric motors

Currently GM buys electric motors from suppliers, but as the company will be using more and more electric motors in the near future(both electric vehicles and hybrids) it makes absolutely sense to start designing and manufacturing electric motors in house.

By doing so, GM will lower costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by controlling design, materials selection and production processes.

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Shanghai GM introduces new small car - the Chevrolet New Sail

Chevrolet New Sail sedan is the first passenger car created in China by a Sino-foreign joint venture. Developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), both GM-SAIC joint ventures, it will be first sold in China, and in other emerging markets in the near future.

Shanghai GM offers five variants of the New Sail with the base model priced around RMB 60,000 (US$8,800).

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Detroit 2010: GMC Granite Concept

We have not heard much from GMC(one of the for brands left under the GM umbrella) lately, but here’s something new in the form of a concept car called Granite.

If GM decides to produce this concept, it would be the smallest GMC ever - though it still has the same aggressive design we are use to seeing on GMC models.

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Saab brand can not be sold, brand to be wound down

This come as a surprise. It looked like Saab had plenty of parties who were interested buying it from GM. Looks like the negotiations did not go well as last month Koenigsegg Group AP withrdaw and now GM believes the discussion with Spyker Cars won’t lead anywhere.

As a result, GM will start an orderly wind-down of Saab operations. According to GM, Saab will continue to honor warranties, while providing service and spare parts to current Saab owners around the world.

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GM investing $336 million in Detroit plant to build the Chevy Volt

General Motors has big plans with the plug-in extended range Chevrolet Volt. This car will likely change the future of GM in either good or bad way. Hopes are high!

Today General Motors announced that it will invest $336 million in the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to begin production of the Chevrolet Volt in 2010.

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GM needs your help naming the Volt exterior color

We have all seen the official Chevy Volt pictures where it is finished with the silverishgreen color that GM at the moment calls an emerald hue.

But this is not a good name for a color, especially for a car that General Motors has placed very high hopes. As this is the main launch color for the Volt, GM is turning to you for help.

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All-new Chevy Caprice Police car will hit the streets in early 2011

In 1996 Caprice police car production ended because GM’s full-size, body-on-frame car architecture was discontinued. Now GM has announced that the Caprice Police car is back and returns for active duty in 2011 across North America.

This full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan will offer both V8 and V6 engines with special equipment and features.

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GM-eBay partnership to end

Apparently GM did not get the results it expected from its experimental venture of selling cars through eBay. The program was launched on August 11 amidst great fanfare and hype, but did not translate into increased sales for GM.

Though the program was supposed to run till September 8, it was extended, but even the extension did not help. However, GM spokesman John McDonald deemed the program a ‘success’ because it helped the Detroit-based company improve strategies to reach car buyers who typically don’t consider GM products.

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GM may increase production

Thanks to the cash for clunkers program by the US government GM reported a boost in its sales figures, so much so that it is seriously considering increasing production of some of its models. Among the cars which may be produced in greater numbers are the 2010 Chevy Equinox and Camaro, Cadillac SRX and Buick LaCrosse.

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Magna buys Opel from GM

The suspense is finally over – GM is selling Opel to Magna. But the political factor has resulted in a rider. It has asked for governmental help and also support from the labor unions to help in the restructuring exercise. The automaker wants that the four Opel plants in Germany, which employ almost half of its 55,000-strong European work force, should be kept open.

Negotiations with the IG Metall union are expected to take time and be tough. At the same time, The German government has not specified as to the amount it will commit to the deal though it had earlier given figures of between €4.5 billion, or $6.5 billion, in loan guarantees.

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Automakers report increase in sales

Thanks to the government’s cash for clunkers program many automakers have reported a sudden increase in sales, with August being the best month of the year so far. Due to this program as many as 690,114 new auto sales were reported by the Department of Transportation (at a taxpayer cost of $2.88 billion).

More fuel efficient cars have been sold and many consumers, apart from the auto industry as a whole, have benefited. GM, Ford, Toyota are among the major companies which have reported an increase in sales.

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GM’s eBay initiative seems to have paid off

When GM announced its initiative to sell new cars through eBay there were concerns about how successful such an initiative would be. However, GM has now reported that its dealers in California (which is the first state where eBay is selling new GM cars) have already received 2,400 offers to buy cars.

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GM changes its mind regarding Buick crossover

Quite recently GM had announced a new Buick crossover which was supposed to be like an ex-Saturn Vue. However, after receiving a great deal of negative feedback on the vehicle from the media, employees and dealerships the automaker has decided to cancel its plans of putting into production.

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