Canadian Auto News Watch - Thursday November 27, 2014
General Motors Corporate News
GM told to share ex-CEO's performance evaluation; Information sought by customers
in ignition-switch suit
Note: Also in The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon), Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star.
Byline: Linda Sandler, Source: Bloomberg, Page: B8, Edition: Early
Edmonton Journal - Thu Nov 27 2014
Mississauga News Wheels - Mississauga Wheels Nov 27-28 digital edition
Note: Carlisle to lead GM Canada + auto show.
Permalink: edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk...
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk - Thu Nov 27 2014
Cadillac could see new sports car, more diesel engines and V-Series models | Driving
Permalink: driving.ca...
driving.ca - Thu Nov 27 2014
The latest on air bag recalls, with cars involved; The latest on air bag recalls, with cars
involved
Canadian Press - Wed Nov 26 2014
Column: Saving our auto sector
Byline: Chris Vander Doelen, Source: The Windsor Star, Page: A3, Edition: Early
Windsor Star - Thu Nov 27 2014
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General Motors Product News
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Permalink: www.msn.com...
msn.com - Thu Nov 27 2014
2015 Buick Verano - Autos.ca
Permalink: www.autos.ca...
autos.ca - Thu Nov 27 2014
2015 Chevrolet Malibu; Day 2 - Autos.ca
Permalink: www.autos.ca...
autos.ca - Thu Nov 27 2014
Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Concept
Permalink: www.autogo.ca...
autogo.ca - Thu Nov 27 2014
Chevrolet Chev.Ca
Note: Silverado HD.
Source: The Gazette, Page: A56, Edition: Final
St. Albert Gazette - Wed Nov 26 2014
GMC gm.ca
Note: Canyon.
Source: The Gazette, Page: A56, Edition: Final
St. Albert Gazette - Wed Nov 26 2014
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General Motors Corporate News
GM told to share ex-CEO's performance evaluation; Information
sought by customers in ignition-switch suit
Edmonton Journal
Thu Nov 27 2014
Page: B8
Section: Buisness
Byline: Linda Sandler
Dateline: NEW YORK
Source: Bloomberg
general
motors
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Thu
Nov
Also in The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon), Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star.
27
2014
5:49
am
ET
A U.S. judge told General Motors Co. to give customers any portions of former chief executive Rick Wagoner's
2009 performance evaluation that relate to recalls and ignition-switch issues.
Wagoner may have watched a presentation showing stalling by the Chevrolet Cobalt about three weeks before
he resigned in March 2009, GM's paid investigator, Anton Valukas, has said. That finding was the first
indication a CEO at the largest U.S. automaker had any knowledge of faults in the Cobalt's ignition switch.
The order signed Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman was made on the condition that Detroitbased
GM finds the review document after a "reasonable" search. Personnel files for 32 current and former GM
employees were demanded by customers in a $10-billion US car-price lawsuit against GM in Furman's court
and by the family of an accident victim suing in a Georgia state court. They're trying to strengthen their case
that GM hid a known flaw for at least a decade.
GM, which says it's now focused on safety issues, will also turn over four years of performance ratings tied to
pay for 26 people, including Ray DeGiorgio, the engineer in charge of the defective switch, and Mike Robinson,
vice-president of global regulatory affairs.
Robinson was the highest-ranking executive GM fired around the time Valukas published his June report,
according to a person familiar with the matter.
"GM will comply with the court's decision and provide the appropriate documents," the company said in a
statement Wednesday.
Mary Barra, who became CEO in January after more than 30 years at GM, has said she didn't learn about
company investigations into Cobalts until December 2013, and Valukas backed those statements. She said she
learned about the stalling and switch recall in January, a month before it began.
GM is also to dig up separation agreements and disciplinary letters that might illuminate its handling of the
switch.
The carmaker won the right to limit to the switch issue what it shows the customers. Lawyers in the $10-billion
group suit wanted to see complete performance reviews, saying they would "provide valuable insight into GM's
troublesome corporate culture, where cost control was placed above safety." In a letter to Furman, the lawyers
disputed Valukas's findings on Barra, saying documents they got earlier from GM indicate she knew about the
recall two months before making it public.
Emails marked "urgent" from GM to supplier Delphi Automotive PLC ordered 500,000 switches for Chevrolet
Cobalts and other small cars by Dec. 18, according to communications made public by the lawyers.
The $2.6-million Delphi order was small for GM. In an average week, it orders about $40 million of parts from
suppliers, said Alan Adler, a GM spokesman.
Barra was in transition at the time. Formerly GM's product chief, she was named Dec. 10 to succeed the
retiring Dan Akerson as CEO and took over Jan. 15.
Separately, GM asked Furman to put off taking customers' arguments in support of their suit until a bankruptcy
judge decides whether they have a right to demand money from the carmaker.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber ruled in the company's 2009 reorganization that it can't be sued for its
predecessor's errors. The customers are pressing to go ahead, saying Gerber can't free GM from its own
mistakes.
The automaker said in a filing Tuesday that most of the customers are claiming compensation for cars made by
so-called old GM, the pre-bankruptcy entity. Only nine out of 68 sets of named plaintiffs across seven states
"definitively assert that they purchased vehicles manufactured by New GM," the company told Furman.
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Illustration:
• / Rick Wagoner
Edition: Early
Story Type: News
Length: 586 words
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Mississauga News Wheels - Mississauga Wheels Nov 27-28 digital
edition
edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk
Thu Nov 27 2014
general
motors
noted
Carlisle to lead GM Canada + auto show.
on
Thu
Nov
27
2014
6:19
am
ET
View original item at edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk...»
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Cadillac could see new sports car, more diesel engines and VSeries models | Driving
driving.ca
Thu Nov 27 2014
View original item at driving.ca...»
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The latest on air bag recalls, with cars involved; The latest on air
bag recalls, with cars involved
Canadian Press
Wed Nov 26 2014
Section: Business,International
Automakers have recalled 8 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix a problem with air bags made by Takata Corp.
The air bags can explode with too much force, sending shards of metal into the passenger compartments.
At least five deaths worldwide have been linked to the inflators inside the air bags.
Boundaries of the recalls vary, but generally they include Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American
Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii and "limited areas near the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Alabama,
Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging owners vehicles in those areas to get them
repaired as soon as possible. The agency has also demanded that Takata and a handful of automakers widen
the recall of certain driver air bags nationwide because of incidents that occurred outside of the original recall
zone.
NHTSA urges owners to use their vehicle identification number on manufacturer sites to see if vehicles are
have been recalled by the manufacturer.
Here's the latest list of models covered by multiple Takata-related recalls:
BMW:
Total affected: 627,615
Models: 2000 to 2005 3 Series Sedan, 2000 to 2006 3 Series Coupe, 2000 to 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon,
2000 to 2006 3 Series Convertible, 2001 to 2006 M3 Coupe and M3 Convertible.
Chrysler:
Total affected: 371,309.
Models: 2003 to 2008 Ram 1500, 2005 to 2008 Ram 2500, 2006 to 2008 Ram 3500 and 4500, 2008 Ram
5500, 2005 to 2008 Dodge Durango, Dodge Dakota, and Chrysler 300; 2007 to 2008 Chrysler Aspen.
Ford:
Total affected: 85,004 (Field service campaign)
Models: 2004-2005 Ranger, 2005 and 2006 GT, 2005 to 2008 Mustang.
General Motors:
Total affected: 103,000
Models: 2003 to 2005 Pontiac Vibe made by Toyota, 2005 Saab 9-2X made by Subaru.
Honda:
Total affected: 5,051,364
Models: 2001 to 2007 Accord, 2001 to 2005 Civic, 2002 to 2006 CR-V, 2003 to 2011 Element, 2002 to 2004
Odyssey, 2003 to 2007 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 to 2006 Acura MDX, 2002 to 2003 Acura TL/CL, 2005
Acura RL.
Mazda:
Total affected: 64,872
Models: 2003 to 2007 Mazda6, 2006 to 2007 MazdaSpeed6, 2004 to 2008 RX-8, 2004 to 2005 MPV, 2004 BSeries Truck.
Mitsubishi:
Total affected: 11,985
Models: 2004 to 2005 Lancer, 2006 to 2007 Raider.
Nissan:
Total affected: 718,178
Models: 2001 to 2003 Maxima, 2001 to 2004 Pathfinder, 2002 to 2006 Sentra, 2001 to 2004 Infiniti I30/I35,
2006 Infiniti M35 and M45, 2002 to 2003 Infiniti QX4, 2003 to 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45, 2013-2014 Infiniti QX
56/80.
Subaru:
Total affected: 17,516
Models: 2003 to 2005 Baja, 2003 to 2005 Legacy, 2003 to 2005 Outback, 2004 to 2005 Impreza.
Toyota:
Total affected: 971,314
Models: 2002 to 2005 Toyota Corolla, 2003 to 2005 Matrix, 2002 to 2005 Sequoia, 2003 to 2005 Tundra, 2002
to 2005 Lexus SC.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, automakers.
Copyright © 2014 The Canadian Press
Length: 362 words
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Saving our auto sector
Windsor Star
Thu Nov 27 2014
Page: A3
Section: Windsor & Region
Byline: Chris Vander Doelen
Column: Opinion
Source: The Windsor Star
Are the Canadian and Ontario governments ever going to get their acts together on the auto industry? It's
somewhat doubtful, after listening to all the partisan jawing this week.
The North American automotive industry is rolling in high gear again, nearing record levels of production. And
it's poised to keep soaring for years to come.
A bunch of new billion-dollar assembly plants will almost certainly be built in North America by the major
manufacturers because demand is surging, Export Development Canada's annual Windsor seminar on the
auto industry heard this week.
The U.S. economy is lurching out of its six-year-long crisis. Consumer confidence is back, and it's pushing the
NAFTA zone into a powerful recovery mode.
"The next four years are going to be very exciting," says Stuart Bergman, assistant chief economist and
director of the EDC.
"We believe this recovery is the real thing," he told about 100 Windsor-area tooling industry executives and
their bankers on Tuesday. "We do believe (Canada) is staring down a great opportunity on the trade front."
Too bad Ontario and Ottawa are going to find it extremely difficult to reap the benefits for our shrinking share of
the business, implied the next speaker, Windsor-born, Michigan-based industry analyst Michael Robinet.
Currency issues, transport bottlenecks, policy confusion, red tape, high Canadian costs - there are all kinds of
reasons why, but the industry here faces a lot of what he politely calls "challenges."
Even as the industry moves from bust back to boom, it continues to shift itself farther and farther away from its
birthplace on the Detroit River to the deep south.
The dropping value of the Canadian dollar has been a help, says Robinet, managing director of IHS
Automotive. "But currency can only get you so far. Logistics, in my view, is a bigger force." The automakers
have become ruthless about cutting every extra mile of shipping.
Logistically, southern Ontario moves farther from the centre of the industry every year. That makes our parts
and suppliers more expensive, and therefore more expendable.As measured on a map of North America, the
physical centre of the industry has already moved from somewhere in the middle of Indiana to approximately
the middle of Alabama. And it continues to move by 22 kilometres (14 miles) per year, IHS staff have
measured.
The way Robinet and his consultants at IHS see it, the continental industry is now organized into three clusters:
the Great Lakes cluster, the Southern U.S. cluster and eastern Mexico. And while ours was once larger than
the other two combined, now it's smaller than either.
Any company within any one of those clusters can reasonably aspire to supply assembly plants within their own
bloc, but not in one of the others. Which is why Robinet says it's fruitless for Ontario to see itself as being in
competition with Michigan and Ohio and Indiana. Rather, we're on the same side.
"It's shared destiny - and it's crucial," Robinet says of Ontario learning to see itself as part of the larger group.
"Michigan getting a new plant is great for Ontario. Ontario benefits highly."
So what are we doing about this reality on the Canadian side? Pointing fingers of partisan blame, mostly. And
trying to trowel more layers of stifling government oversight onto problems often caused by having too much
government in the first place. That's me talking, not Robinet.
This week we had critics slamming Ottawa for helping bail out General Motors and Chrysler without having a
proper plan to do so. Were they supposed to assign the rescue to bureaucrats, and wait months for a policy
paper to be translated into French? The Ontario industry would have been dead by then.
We've heard others call for the creation of a U.S.-style "auto czar" in Ontario, as though hiring more political
cronies will somehow make things move more quickly. Do they mean quickly like the way the healthcare
system moves?
Someone in the audience put Robinet on the spot by asking him if Canada even has an auto policy. He often
consults with Ottawa and briefs cabinet ministers. So he minded his words.
"I wouldn't necessarily say we don't have one," he said carefully. "But what we had a decade ago ... things
have changed in the industry. It's in flux. But trust me that this government knows, and it's something on the
radar, and it's accelerated as well."
But it's not all about the federal government, Robinet told me afterwards. When a new plant is built in the U.S.,
"the federal government isn't involved at all. It's all the states and it's all integrated in one step."
And one more thing: in those two U.S. industry clusters, "the states all pull for each other." Maybe there's a
lesson there.
[email protected] or 519-255-6852 Follow me on Twitter @winstarvander
© 2014 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved.
Edition: Early
Story Type: Column
Length: 807 words
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General Motors Product News
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
msn.com
Thu Nov 27 2014
View original item at www.msn.com...»
Return to top
2015 Buick Verano - Autos.ca
autos.ca
Thu Nov 27 2014
View original item at www.autos.ca...»
Return to top
2015 Chevrolet Malibu; Day 2 - Autos.ca
autos.ca
Thu Nov 27 2014
View original item at www.autos.ca...»
Return to top
Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Concept
autogo.ca
Thu Nov 27 2014
View original item at www.autogo.ca...»
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Chevrolet Chev.Ca
St. Albert Gazette
Wed Nov 26 2014
Page: A56
Section: News
Source: The Gazette
general
Silverado HD.
motors
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on
Thu
Nov
27
2014
5:50
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Silverado HD (new for 2015!) Overall: Chevy follows up on the new-for 2014 Silverado by launching a similarlooking, but beefier 2015 Heavy Duty model.
Drivetrain: Total carryover under the hood; base 6.0-litre gas V8; bi-fuel version can be switched from gasoline
to natural gas; 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8 is big on yacht-and house-hauling torque.
Chevrolet's 2500-and 3500-series heavyduty trucks are intended to be hard-working commercial rigs. That's
why the stuffthey haul is called "payload" since someone is most likely writing the HD owner/operator a check
for transporting some very heavy and/or valuable gear. The usual cab styles return, but the extended-cab is
replaced by a new double-cab with rear doors that are hinged at the front. As well, both the fivefoot-six-inch
(167-centimetre) and eight-foot cargo (243-centimetre) beds have a built-in recessed step at each corner for
easier access. All HD powertrains return unaltered for 2015. The base 6.0-litre gasoline V8 puts out 360
horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Chevrolet also offers a bi-fuel version of the 6.0 that can be
switched from gasoline to natural gas, although power drops to 301 horses and 333 pound-feet of torque. For
serious grunt, there's the optional 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8 rated at 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of
torque. Both engines use six-speed automatic transmissions: a GMdeveloped Hydramatic comes with the 6.0;
and the turbo-diesel employs an Allison-built unit. Chevy includes its "smart exhaust brake system" to the
turbo-diesel that, when coasting, holds compressed exhaust gasses inside the engine's cylinders, creating
resistance, which in turn slows down the truck without touching the brakes. The result is less wear and tear on
the brake hardware and greater control for the driver, especially when hauling or towing heavy loads downhill.
Included is a stability program that reduces the trailer's tendency to wobble about, while hill-start assist
prevents the HD from rolling backward when on an incline. For the 2015 model year, the HD's maximum
hauling capacity has increased to 3,508 kilograms from 3,275 and conventional towing capacity has similarly
increased to 8,890 kilograms from 8,165. Fifthwheel-capacity is up to 10,525 from 10,200. Since the uses for
an HD pickup vary greatly, the standard and optional HD equipment on the WT (Work Truck), LT and LTZ trim
levels is tremendous. And with the luxurious new "High Country" trim level (beating out the LTZ), you can outfit
the HD from bare-bones basic to over-the-edge luxury.
Base price (incl. destination): $38,200
Type: Heavy-duty three-quarter /one-ton pickup
Base Engine (hp): 6.0-litre OHV V8 (360) Optional engine (hp): 6.6-litre OHV V8, turbo-diesel (397)
Layout: Front-engine, rear-/four-wheel-drive
Transmissions: Six-speed automatic l/100 km (city/highway): n/a Safety: Front airbags; anti-lock brakes Weight
(kg): 2,400
Illustration:
• / (See hardcopy for photo)
Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Length: 422 words
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GMC gm.ca
St. Albert Gazette
Wed Nov 26 2014
Page: A56
Section: News
Source: The Gazette
general
Canyon.
motors
noted
on
Thu
Nov
27
2014
5:47
am
ET
Canyon (new for 2015!) Overall: A mid-size companion to the Sierra joins the GMC fleet; similar to the
Chevrolet Colorado, but squarer with a bit more base content.
Drivetrain: Base four-cylinder and optional V6 available with all cab styles, as is fourwheel-drive; a six-speed
automatic transmission is standard with either engine.
When it comes to trucks and sport utility vehicles, General Motors tends to do things in pairs. Both the
Chevrolet and GMC divisions share many similar, but moderately restyled vehicles wearing different
nameplates, including the new-for-2015 Canyon and its Chevy iteration, the Colorado. After being cancelled
following the 2012 model year, both pickups are back for 2015 in bigger and more powerful forms. Of course
they're still smaller and less capable than the full-size GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado. For many pickup
buyers, however, they have plenty to offer, whether it's the four-door extended-cab with 62-inch box, or the
four-(full) door crew cab that comes with a 50-inch, or available 62-inch bed (sorry, no regular-cab versions this
time). Each style can be ordered with a 200-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder or a 305-horsepower V6. A sixspeed manual transmission is standard with the 2.5, while a six-speed automatic is optional, but standard with
the V6. Interestingly, the V6 comes very close to matching the four-cylinder in the fuel-economy department
(11.9 l/100 km in the city and 8.8 highway for the fourcylinder versus 13.0/9.2 for rear-wheel-drive models). It's
also the one to buy when hauling payloads up to 725 kilograms or towing up to 3,175 kilograms (double the
2.5's capacity). Canyons can be had in base SL, SLE and SLT trim levels. SLE trims equipped with the
Autotrac (drivers can select four-wheel-drive themselves or allow the system to engage it automatically) are
available with an off-road suspension package, locking rear differential, all-terrain rubber, automatic
transmission and hill-descent control. All Canyons come with a power driver's seat, corner steps built into the
rear bumper, locking tailgates and two-tier loading that, by sliding braces and a platform that you supply,
creates two separate cargo areas. Options and packages for the Canyon include leather seats (heated in front),
20-centimetre touch-screen/navigation, and a factory-installed spray-on bed liner. For added safety, a forward
collision alert and lane departure warning features can be added.
Base price (incl. destination): $23,300
Type: Four-door mid-size pickup
Base engine (hp): 2.5-litre DOHC I4 (200) Optional engine (hp): 3.6-litre DOHC V6 (305)
Layout: Front-engine, rear-/four-wheel-drive Transmissions: Six-speed manual; six-speed automatic (opt.)
l/100 km (city/hwy): 12.2/9.1 (2.5 MT, RWD)
Safety: Front airbags; front/rear side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags (opt.); anti-lock brakes; traction
control; stability control.
Weight (kg): 1,780
Illustration:
• / (See hardcopy for photo)
Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Length: 422 words
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