General Motors
General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is the world's largest automaker and has been the global automobile industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With it's global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries.
In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world's leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.
GM is the majority shareholder in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea, and has product, powertrain and purchasing collaborations with Suzuki Motor Corp. and Isuzu Motors Ltd. of Japan. GM also has advanced technology collaborations with DaimlerChrysler AG and BMW AG of Germany and Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, and vehicle manufacturing ventures with several automakers around the world, including Toyota, Suzuki, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. of China, AVTOVAZ of Russia and Renault SA of France.
Genuine GM Parts and accessories are sold under the GM, GM Performance Parts, GM Goodwrench and ACDelco brands through GM Service and Parts Operations, which supplies GM dealerships and distributors worldwide. GM engines and transmissions are marketed through GM Powertrain.
GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
On June 30, 2006, Kirk Kerkorian, whose Tracinda Corporation is the third-largest shareholder of General Motors, proposed a global alliance between GM and the Renault-Nissan group, which was formed in 1998 with Renault acquiring a majority stake in Nissan. Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of both Renault and Nissan expressed interest in possibly acquiring a stake in GM, and including them in the successful Renault-Nissan partnership. GM ordered an emergency board meeting to examine Kerkorian's proposal suggesting that GM's board is treating Kerkorian's proposal with urgency. |
