We Got The Big One in Singapore - The all New Chevrolet Captiva!

The All New All-Wheel Drive SUV from Chevrolet is finally here, and we can’t wait for you to see it.

It’s big and it’s awesome. The all new Captiva 2.4 LT is a great looking 7-seater AWD SUV that’s built to take entire families or all of your best pals off the beaten track in style. And when you’re in the mood for painting the town red, you’ll find that this Chevy SUV is as good as it gets when it comes to ride comfort and executive-style comfort.

But here’s even better news: the Captiva LT from Alpine Motors comes better fitted and better styled. Along with Alpine Motors lower servicing costs and wider range of services, you can expect the following when you buy from any of our 2 showrooms:

• 18-inch Alloy Rims
• Exclusive Top Grade Leather Seats
• Exclusive Leather-bound Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Factory installed Parking Sensors
• Cruise Control
• Side Steps
• Electronic Sun Roof
• Rain Sensor

Hurry down to our showroom at 8 Boon Lay Way or 833 Bukit Timah Road to see the Captiva LT for yourself.

New York motor show : Chevy Triplets

New York motor show
Chevy triplets steal limelight
These three Chevrolet superminis stole the limelight at the New York expoBy Sam Hardy

Following on from the computer-generated illustrations we published last week (Issue 955), Auto Express can now bring you the best pictures yet of the exciting trio that points the way to a head-turning Matiz replacement. Most eye-catching is the Beat – a three-door hot hatchback painted Vertigo Green and featuring aggressive LED tail-lights which take styling cues from the Ultra WTCC concept.

Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine, while inside, the headlining uses fibre-optic lights to provide a ‘sky-at-night’ feel. What’s more, the dash features a pop-up juke-box instead of a standard stereo.

An altogether more rugged interpretation is the Trax – a crossover fitted with protective moulded bumpers and a spare wheel mounted on the rear. Under the skin, it gets a hybrid 4x4 system that uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels.

Chevrolet says the set-up is cheap to manufacture, easy to fit and has no negative effect on fuel consumption. That means it could quite easily make its way on to future small Chevrolets.

Completing the stylish trio is the retro Groove, which takes its inspiration from Sixties hot rods. This model sports an upright windscreen, chunky shoulders and large 17-inch alloys in a wheel-at-each-corner layout. Under the bonnet, power comes from a 1.0-litre diesel engine.

Each concept has been created at parent company GM’s design studio in Incheon, South Korea. They have been made not only to reflect bosses’ desire to expand the Chevrolet range worldwide, but also to suit changing tastes in the US, where smaller, more frugal cars are becoming popular.

However, the concepts’ main purpose is to show the look of the next Matiz, due in 2009. To gauge public reaction, the marque has set up the www.vote4chevrolet.com site, where fans can pick their favourite design.

Sister firm Vauxhall will unwrap its new small car – to replace the Agila – next year, but it won’t share the Chevy’s platform. Instead, this architecture will be used on another Vauxhall, to sit above the Agila, in a few years’ time.

Click here to read the article at www.autoexpress.co.uk

LIPUTAN CHEVROLET "CAPTIVA" LAUNCH -- 8th BANGKOK MOTOR SHOW

Posted by: "Johnson H. A (Aveo Milis Indonesia)

Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:33 am (PST)

Kebetulan 2 minggu yang lalu aku menghadiri Bangkok Motor Show 2007 di BITEC itu. Sempat juga liat2 Captiva. Memang mobil satu itu keren habis euy. Modelnya jauh lebih bagus dari Honda CRV 2007. Interiornya juga apik banget, terutama bagian dashboard.
Cuman ya itu, sekeren apapun mobilnya, pertanyaan selanjutnya dari calon pembeli adalah: "bagaimana dengan after sales servicenya?".
Ini yang sangat kurang dari GM/Chevrolet indonesia.

Seharusnya GM Indonesia belajar dari GM Thailand. Mereka sangat bersaing soal harga dan after sales servicenya sangat bagus. Itu yang membuat mereka mampu menduduki posisi ke tiga dalam penjualan mobil di sini.

Click untuk baca Captiva di Singapore..

Motivation by Carlos Ghosn

Ghosn likes to quote the words of Antoine de Saint­-Exupery, the French pilot and poet who once wrote :
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

Read the full story from Carlos Ghosn CEO Nissan

Motivation

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to collect the wood
and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the
endless immensity of the sea."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, as quoted by Carlos Ghosn

Chevy : The Proud Parent of Triplets

By Ed Peper

General Manager, Chevrolet

What an exciting year we’ve had here at Chevy! I could spend a whole post just talking about all the great stuff that Chevy’s already done this year. You can be thankful I’m resisting the temptation, though.

But there is something new and exciting that I have to tell you about — Chevy’s new set of triplets.

At the New York Auto Show, we have just unveiled our latest babies — the Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax — a trio of vehicles that demonstrate GM’s design innovation. We’re always biased about our own “kids,” but I really think these are fun and spirited concepts. I’m proud that they are practical and fuel-sipping, but they don’t sacrifice style. These cars also fulfill the rising popularity of this segment worldwide, from Shanghai to Paris to Rio to Moscow — all places where Chevrolet sales are already rising fast! And we think they’ll help us grow sales even more.

Now, we want the consumer’s opinion on these new products. So we’re soliciting public reaction at www.vote4chevrolet.com. Head on over, take a look at the triplets — and let us know what you think!

Want to see more photos? Make sure to check out Flickr.

Chevy Concepts on Flickr

New President Director GM-Indonesia : Mukiat Sutikno

Tanggal Kirim: 30 Mar 2007 16:46:19 Penulis: Andrie Tjhia

Seperti yang kita ketahui, orang nomor satu di manajemen General Motors (GM) di negara mana pun, pastilah dipegang oleh orang asing. Asumsi bahwa mereka datang dari negara maju yang notabene secara budaya lebih disiplin, handal dan terpercaya menjadi alasan utama membenarkan keadaan tersebut.

Kali ini, GM merubah filosofi tersebut. Dengan mengedepankan fakta bahwa orang lokal lebih mengerti secara pasti keadaan pasar otomotif di negaranya, maka manajemen lokal pun dipercaya menggantikan manajemen internasional.

Kamis (29/3), bertempat di salah satu hotel berbintang di kawasan Senayan, PT. General Motors AutoWorld Indonesia (GM Indonesia) secara resmi mengumumkan Mukiat Sutikno sebagai Managing Director GM Indonesia yang baru.

William S. Botwick, Presiden Direktur GM se-Asia Tenggara, menjelaskan bahwa, "Saat ini adalah saat yang tepat untuk mengubah manajemen internasional menjadi manajemen lokal. Kami memilih Mukiat, karena GM melihat pengalamannya dalam mengembangkan industri otomotif di Indonesia, sekaligus diyakini lebih mengenal kemauan dan keinginan pasar lokal."

Mengomentari kepercayaan yang diberikan GM kepada dirinya, Mukiat mengatakan, "Saya sangat senang terpilih sebagai Managing Director GM yang baru. Saya juga berterima kasih kepada Arif Pramadana (Operation Director GM Indonesia-red). Ke depannya kami akan bersama-sama mengembangkan produk Chevrolet di Indonesia. Misi selanjutnya, saya akan membangun kembali 'image' Chevrolet di Indonesia. Sekaligus bersama tim dari GM, kami akan melanjutkan agenda-agenda yang telah ditentukan oleh GM, serta melaksanakan rencana untuk meluncurkan mobil baru di masa depan."

Pada kesempatan yang sama, Botwick juga menjelaskan mengenai Indonesia yang sedang dalam tahap studi analisa terkait kesiapan dan kelayakannya untuk menjadi basis produksi GM di Asia. Namun sampai saat ini GM masih belum bisa memberikan keputusan terkait hal tersebut.

Beralih ke Chevrolet Captiva, rencananya SUV terbaru GM tersebut akan diluncurkan ke pasar Indonesia pertengahan tahun ini. Ketika ditanya soal harga, pihak GM masih belum bisa menyebutkan secara pasti angka ataupun kisaran harganya. "Untuk masalah harga Captiva, kami masih mempelajarinya," ujar Mukiat.

Klik untuk baca Artikel di Otomotif.co..
Klik untuk baca artikel di Oto.co.id

Top 10 Carmakers with the Best Dealerships

Washington DC March 8, 2007

The AIADA newsletter reported that yesterday Forbes rated the top ten carmakers with the most attentive, effectual dealerships.

BMW's MINI made the list, thanks to its customer-friendly sales approach. "We really catered all aspects of the dealership experience to our target customers," says MINI spokesman Andrew Cutler. "And they're a different kind of customer in that they're very hands-on and technically tuned-in and want to know about their car."

J.D. Power's Tom Gauer says that dealers as a whole are getting better at respecting customers' time, but that this is still a major point of contention that separates the best from the worst. Dealerships with the highest sales satisfaction have gone to a single-contact system all the way through the sales process, which helps keep the customer from feeling passed off or ignored. This tactic has long been used at luxury dealers, but non-luxury ones are increasingly adopting it.

10 car companies -- luxury and non-luxury -- with the best dealership experience by combining their SSI and CSI scores.

The autochannel

Top 10 Carmakers with the Best Dealerships

Washington DC March 8, 2007

The AIADA newsletter reported that yesterday Forbes rated the top ten carmakers with the most attentive, effectual dealerships.

BMW's MINI made the list, thanks to its customer-friendly sales approach. "We really catered all aspects of the dealership experience to our target customers," says MINI spokesman Andrew Cutler. "And they're a different kind of customer in that they're very hands-on and technically tuned-in and want to know about their car."

J.D. Power's Tom Gauer says that dealers as a whole are getting better at respecting customers' time, but that this is still a major point of contention that separates the best from the worst. Dealerships with the highest sales satisfaction have gone to a single-contact system all the way through the sales process, which helps keep the customer from feeling passed off or ignored. This tactic has long been used at luxury dealers, but non-luxury ones are increasingly adopting it.

10 car companies -- luxury and non-luxury -- with the best dealership experience by combining their SSI and CSI scores.

The autochannel

Driving the Chevrolet Captiva in Holland

From "Autozine.nl" the internet automotive magazine

Reactions by owners

Name : "Mail"
Experience with the car : Beautiful car, drives incredibble. Enjoyable to drive on the highway. On rough terrain, remarkably quite, no rattling. Consumption 11-12Ltr/100km, not very economical. But one should not complain when buying a car like this.

Name : S.Snijder
Experience with the car : Experience the sensation! What a perfect car.

Name : "Info"
Experience with the car :
You can buy the 2.4liter gasoline with confidence. It is not a performance vehicle, but what difference does it make doing zero to 100kph (60mph) in eleven and not 10 seconds, just one second. Easy to move around traffic . If you are looking for a nice spacious vehicle, you try the Captiva. I recommended it.


Name : Pijnacker
Experience with the car :
I am absolutely satisfied with it wit the 2.4L version I bought. The car is extremely comfortable and richly equipped,especially for a base model.

Name : Richard Druppers
Experience with the car :
You have to buy it! Everybody has something to complain about the 2.4L engine. Here (www.autozine.nl), de Autoweek, Autovisie and others. I startedwith the info compiled from deze publication and bought the Captiva anyway. Conclusion : Sometimes the automotive press is not in line with our experience.
No need to spend unnecessarily, at least givethe 2.4L-version a try. For me he is more than satisfactory.


Comments on the testreport

Name : BMW
I tried the V6 and I have to say that I was impressed, beautiful finish, tight suspension, drives very controlled. In comparison to the Santa Fe and the Sorento(Hyundai), the Captiva gives a more definitive European impression.

Name : Victor
I tried the 150PK diesel version but eventually choose the 127HP version. I will only get mine in June. After reading the testreports, we started wondering if we choose the right engine.

Name ; Herman Van Dijk
I too drove an entire weekend in the 2.4L Captiva and I have to admit that I was surprised by its comfort, quite ride and quality of the car. In respect to any minusses of the 2.4L; I didn't notice any! It rides beatifully.

Name : Verryssen Ronal
I tried it during the Open House, and was charmed by this beautiful SUV, the 2.4L version. The price/quality performance is quite reasonable if not excellent.


Name : Robert Gras
I too tried my hand at this baby, and I have to agree with the previous comment plus the following : What is wrong with the 2.4L? True, it's not a performance beast, will not tear up the road, but then I would have taken a Cayenne (Oh no, forget it! Did you see the price?). So : a car with a great impression. Even with the 2.4, a decent performance and great material finish. Mij opinion : For the driver who is not a real road warrior and looks for something different.

Click here to read the original reports at autozine

Fastlane Blog : Good Feedback on the Certified Used Vehicle Warranty

By Brian McVeigh

General Manager, Fleet and Commercial Operations (USA)

Preliminary reports from our dealers indicate that customer interest has been encouraging regarding last week’s announcement that General Motors will provide a fully transferable 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty with no deductible on 2002-2006 model GM Certified Used Vehicles.

You should note that there are no exceptions to eligibility for this powertrain limited warranty, which is standard only on 2002-2006 model year GM Certified Used Vehicles purchased on or after March 5, 2007. However, you may want to consider the many GM Protection Plan offerings, as they can be tailored to include only the powertrain components or broader coverage, based on your needs.

Continue reading "Good Feedback on the Certified Used Vehicle Warranty"

GM's Vauxhall VXR8, the Australian challenge to BMW's M5

On the menu of this coupe : A 6 litre V8 engine , 420 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. Accellerating from 0 to 60mph (+100 km/h) in 4.9 seconds. No joking. And thanks to the 360mm brake discs the VXR8 comes to a stop quicker than either the M5 or the Lamborgini Murcielago. All this for only €53.000, close to half the price of an M5 or a Class E63.


Quoted from : www.leblogauto.com

Getting a Jolt From Chevy Volt

By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman

The introduction of our Chevrolet Volt concept car and E-Flex electric propulsion system at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month created quite a stir, garnering twice the media coverage as the runner up for us, our Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

The Volt came on the heels of our announcement at the Los Angeles show that we’ve begun work on a Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid, and puts a face on our efforts to diversify the energy sources we use to power automobiles.

However, some cynics accused us of pulling a PR stunt, saying the Volt is simply an attempt by GM to “greenwash” the public and would never be a real vehicle. The truth is just the opposite — we are treating Volt just like any other vehicle we do, giving it a dedicated development team and designating resources for it. With that in mind, I thought I’d take a moment to update you on the program so far.

Continue reading "Getting a Jolt From Volt"

Chevrolet Captiva : Desain Modern Bercita Rasa Amerika

General Motors (GM) yang melahirkan SUV baru Chevrolet ini dikenal memiliki DNA yang kuat dalam menciptakan SUV


Seperti apakah wujud dan keistimewaan Chevrolet Captiva? Buat pembaca setia, berikut kami sampaikan gambaran secara lengkapnya. Sejarah singkatnya, General Motors (GM) yang melahirkan SUV baru Chevrolet ini dikenal memiliki DNA yang kuat dalam menciptakan SUV.


Sejarah SUV GM sendiri sudah diukir pada 1935. Di usia yang masih muda, 27 tahun (lahir 1908), GM berani melansir sebuah SUV 8-seater yang berbobot sekitar setengah ton. Chevrolet Suburban merupakan SUV pertama GM. Hingga kini Suburban merupakan salah satu SUV tersukses sepanjang sejarah di Amerika Serikat.


Links : Klik di link2 berikut untuk artikelnya :

Artikel Oto.co.id selengkapnya

Captiva di Chevrolet UK

Captiva New Zealand/Australia (Holden)

GM Indonesia berpeluang salip Thailand

oleh : Ahmad Muhibuddin, Bisnis Indonesia

JAKARTA: PT General Motor Indonesia (GMI) berpeluang mengambil alih peran General Motor Thailand sebagai basis produksi produsen otomotif Amerika Serikat di Asia Tenggara menyusul kebijakan ekonomi yang tidak kondusif di Negeri Gajah Putih tersebut.

Direktur PT GMI Arif Pramadana mengatakan sebagai negara dengan potensi pasar mobil terbesar di kawasan Asean, Indonesia merupakan salah satu negara yang dilirik oleh raksasa otomotif dari Negeri Paman Sam, GM. Dia mengakui pasar produk GM yang menggunakan merek Chevrolet di Indonesia saat ini belum terlalu kuat. Namun pihaknya mulai tahun ini akan memfokuskan diri pada penguatan brand dan produk, perbaikan layanan purna jual dan perluasan jaringan penjualan, serta optimalisasi sumber daya manusia.

"Kami memang belum besar di sini, tapi kami punya komitmen berinvestasi di Indonesia. Jadi tidak tertutup kemungkinan, GM Indonesia mengambil alih GM Thailand untuk menjadi basis produksi GM di Asean. Kapan waktunya, kami belum tahu," katanya, kepada Bisnis. Pemerintahan Thailand yang didukung oleh kekuatan militer setempat telah menerapkan kebijakan pengendalian mata uang serta peraturan perundangan baru yang membatasi kepemilikan asing sehingga mempengaruhi kepercayaan investor. (tw)

Bisnis Indonesia

Arif Pramadana

Pada tahun 1950 perkembangan bisnis di dunia otomotif pernah ditorehkan oleh PT. General Motors Indonesia (GMI) atau sekarang lebih dikenal dengan General Motor AutoWorld Indonesia (GMAW) sebagai ATPM Chevrolet. Kebesaran nama Chevrolet pada masa itu sangat menakjubkan. Selain sebagai salah satu pionir dalam menciptakan kendaraan-kendaraan bermesin besar, Chevrolet juga merupakan salah satu produsen yang pertama kali memperkenalkan kendaraan sport utility vehicle (SUV) pada tahun 1980.

Yang jelas kijayaan Chevrolet mulai dari masa lalu hingga saat ini merupakan bukti inovasi dan kerja keras yang terus dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang berpengalaman di bidangnya.Saat ini, GMAW memiliki seorang komandan baru, yaitu Arif Pramadana, pria asal Sumatera Utara. Arif mengisi posisi yang ditinggalkan oleh Presiden Direktur Ali Pandir yang secara resmi mengundurkan diri sejak 31 Oktober 2006.

Pria yang menyenyam pendidikan di Inggris sejak SMU ini, menjadi salah satu orang yang dipercaya untuk menggawang PT.GMAW di Indonesia. Setelah beberapa tahun melalang buana bersama Chevrolet, kini is dipercaya untuk memimpin menjalankan program-program yang telah dirancang selama tahun ini. Disela-seta kesibukannya, is dengan ramah menerima Autoshop untuk sebuah wawancara eksklusif. Berikut ini petikan wawancara pria yang sedang memimpikan mobil Aston Martin ini.

GM Warranty Gets Better in the US. Improve GM resale value

By Brian McVeigh

General Manager, GMNA Field Sales, Service & Parts

I’m out in Las Vegas at the annual conference of the National Automobile Dealers Association — some of the most important people in our business. It’s always great to be with our dealer partners, because they aren’t shy about sharing their opinions with auto manufacturers. Plus they get direct input from car buyers. Today, General Motors North American President, Troy Clarke, was able to deliver some great news to them that will help improve car buyers’ opinions of GM vehicles.

We announced that beginning March 5, GM will offer its limited powertrain warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance for 100,000 miles or five years (whichever comes first) on all 2002-2006 Certified Used Vehicles from Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile. This warranty is fully transferable, has no deductible and covers over 900 powertrain-related components. It also includes a limited bumper-to-bumper warranty for 3-months or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Click here to read the complete article..

Think Big : Designing the message

Want to hook customers? Remember that good design isn't simply about the product, it' about the entire business.

Behind every great customer experience is a tight coupling of product, service brand expression and business system. Designing for business - both the product and the message that go with it - is essential because a great experience should not be a veneer or hollow shell built to disguise an otherwise unremarkable product or service. A customer experience is the sum of many things working in concerto to create something true, authentic,, and compelling. User delight must be designed into every element. Not just the user-facing offering , but the product line, information systems, service and support, marketing communications - everything that will influence what customers hear, see, and feel.

Click here to read the full story and other marketing concepts at Ideacircus

2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT 4-Door Review (USA)

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
With carey Russ

2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT 4-Door

Subcompact sedans may not be high-profile dream machines, but they do meet a need. As inexpensive transportation, both in price and operating cost, a subcompact sedan works for people with modest budgets who want a new car, not a used one. And a subcompact can also work well as a dedicated commute vehicle, especially if it's roomy enough inside for a four-person carpool.
With rising fuel costs, subcompacts have been getting more attention in this country recently, and Chevrolet has the Aveo as its entry in this competitive segment. Like many of its competitors, the Aveo is offered in hatchback or sedan form. 2007 sees significant upgrades to the Aveo, and this bodes well.
I drove one of the original Aveo hatchbacks when it was new a couple of years ago. In its first year, it was decent but not great, lacking suspension refinement. Subsequent refinements to the engine, suspension, and safety systems improved it, and having Chevy's extensive distribution network behind it helped make it popular. But the 2007 model is improved further, and the Aveo is now a solid contender in the subcompact class.

from : www.theautochannel.com, 21 Jan'2007
Klick : http://theautochannel.com/F/news/2007/01/21/034703.html

The Australian : Holden Captiva

Holden's SUV line-up has suffered a big gap for several years – but now has a vehicle worthy of the place, writes Robert Wilson

SELL the sizzle, not the steak, is one of the oldest maxims of marketing. Now Holden at last has something to get the juices flowing among those with an appetite for SUVs.

For two years Holden's SUV offering has been meaty but unappealing. The Adventra was a modified Commodore wagon, and while a reasonable choice for a trans-Outback expedition it never captured the imagination of suburbia – where most SUVs are sold.

With hindsight, it's not hard to see why. The Adventra's undoubted dirt road touring ability was the steak, but where was the sizzle? Without the tough styling and high driving position of other SUVs it seemed a bit undercooked in most potential buyers' eyes.e imagination of suburbia – where most SUVs are sold.

The Australian..

Strong Earnings Seen For GM

Market Scan R.M. Schneiderman, 01.16.07, 11:47 AM ET


Ailing auto giant General Motors should see solid earnings over the next two quarters, according to a Monday report by Goldman Sachs. "GM's outlook and strategy update at the Detroit Auto Show on January 11 reinforced our expectation for positive earnings momentum in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007," said Robert Barry, an analyst for the research firm.

The reason: cost savings from job and benefit cuts as well as stronger-than-expected SUV pricing and sales. "Anecdotally, GM management seems to have more spring in its step - no doubt in anticipation of what is set to be its strongest lineup in years," said the analyst. He added that the company's planned fleet sale cuts should also weight positively on earnings.

Nonetheless, he cautioned that GM (nyse: GM - news - people ) still faces long-term problems and that foreign competition may continue to eat away at marketshare."We do not think GM's current product cadence strength and related benefits will drive a sustainable 'turnaround,'" said Barry. He has a "neutral" rating on the company.

GM is set to report earnings on Jan. 30

Read the article at Forbes.com..

The order books have opened -New Chevrolet Captiva from only £16,995 on-the-road

By Nigel Bernhard (The Autocannel.com)
London, January 15, 2007

With an impressive equipment list, stylish good looks, up to seven seats and brilliant all-round flexibility, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Captiva would cost a lot more than it does – yet prices start at just £16,995 on-the-road.

What’s more, even the entry-level model is superbly equipped – the front-wheel drive 2.4-litre LS 5-speed manual comes with air conditioning, a six-speaker radio-CD with MP3 capability and remote controls, electrically-adjustable mirrors, tailgate with separate opening rear window, front, side and roof airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, five full-size three-point seatbelts, charcoal-coloured roof rails, remote two-stage central locking and a Thatcham-approved security system with deadlocks.

Click for the the rest of the article..

AutoWeek Editors Choice Awards : Chevy Volt

The Best of Detroit 2007 North American International Auto Show

"MOST SIGNIFICANT" : Chevrolet Volt

“The idea behind the car—a pure electric powertrain that gets its energy from plugging in at home or work, or from an on-board generator powered by a small gasoline engine—is surprisingly simple,” said Gritzinger. “GM says they’ll be ready to build this car by 2010 or 2012, and unless battery companies can’t come through, Volt and GM’s E-flex System could spell the beginning of the end of America’s addiction to foreign oil.”

The Volt's interior..
The Awards article at Autoweek.com..

GM Indonesia : Fresh face for 2007 confirmed

JAKARTA: Tahun 2007 ini tampaknya akan menjadi milik SUV mengingat banyaknya model baru yang dipasarkan di segmen ini. Setelah Daihatsu Terios dan Toyota Rush dirilis ke pasar, kini giliran PT General Motors Indonesia (GMI) bersiap memasarkan produk andalannya, New Chevrolet Captiva.

Saat dikonfirmasi, Pulic Relation Manager PT GMI Kiki Fajar memastikan pihaknya akan segera mendatangkan pengganti Chevrolet Blazer bagi pencinta model sport utility vehicle (SUV) di Indonesia pada tahun ini. Model yang dimaksud adalah New Chevrolet Captiva, mobil sport multiguna dengan kapasitas mesin 2.000 cc.

“Kami rencanakan awal semester II atau sekitar Juli akan merilis New Chevrolet Captiva di Indonesia. Kemungkinan kami akan mengimpornya secara CBU [completely built-up] dari Thailand,” ungkapnya, akhir pekan lalu.

Sejak PT GMI menghentikan produksi Blazer di pabriknya di Pondok Ungu, Bekasi, pada Maret 2005, perusahaan ini belum memiliki model mobil SUV baru di Indonesia.

Coba bandingkan si Chevy Captiva (kanan) dengan BMW X5 (klik link ini untuk gambar), boleh juga kan.

Baca artikel lengkapnya di KampoengNews..

Lutz: GM’s Image is Changing

Images aren't easy to change, but there's little doubt that General Motors' got a real boost from this year's North American International Auto Show, said the automaker's outspoken car czar, Bob Lutz. It has received wide praise for its new models, as well as kudos jurors on the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury who picked the Chevrolet Silverado as top truck and the Saturn Aura as best car during the opening session of the Detroit Auto Show.

"That shows that perceptions about General Motors are changing, especially among the media," said the septuagenarian executive, adding that positive coverage will help GM improve its image among potential buyers. "You can't do that with advertising anymore, even with all the money in the world." There's an internal payoff, as well, stressed Lutz. With the GM team "energized," he suggested, "that drives performance."

Even so, the vice chairman admitted there are some speedbumps in GM's path. Another surge in oil prices could hurt sales of the new Silverado and other full-size trucks. And while the company has trimmed about $9 billion out of its fixed, annual costs, it still has a severe cost penalty compared to competitors like GM. So-called "legacy" costs including retiree health care, puts the Detroit maker several thousand dollars behind the likes of Toyota in terms of what it costs to build a vehicle like the new Aura.

Read the full article at The Carconnection.com ..

Car Awards of the year

After last year's double victory by Honda winning both awards, this year is GM's turn to win both with the "Saturn Aura" and the "Chevrolet Silverado".

This was however not an expected outcome. Since the creation of the awards in 1994, the American manufacturers have managed to bring home seven "car of the year"-awards, and 9 "Truck of the year"-awards. the jury is comprised of 49 journalists representing both Canada and the U.S.

Nominees 2007 North American Car of the Year Nominees 2007 North American Truck of the Year :
Chrysler Sebring Acura MDX Dodge Caliber Acura RDX Honda Fit Audi Q7 Hyundai Elantra BMW X5 Infiniti G35 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Jaguar XK/XKR Chevrolet Silverado Lexus LS 460 Dodge Nitro Mercedes-Benz S-class Ford Edge Nissan Altima GMC Acadia Nissan Versa Honda CR-V Saturn Aura Hyundai Santa Fe Toyota Camry Jeep Wrangler Mazda CX-7 Saturn Vue Green Line Toyota FJ Cruiser

List of the winners since 1994 :
1994 : Mercedes Classe C / Dodge Ram
1995 : Chrysler Cirrus / Chevrolet Blazer
1996 : Chrysler minivan / Ford F150
1997 : Mercedes SLK / Ford Expedition
1998 : Chevrolet Corvette / Mercedes Classe M
1999 : Volkswagen Beetle / Jeep Grand Cherokee
2000 : Ford Focus / Nissan XTerra 2001 : Chrysler PT Cruiser / Acura MDX
2002 : Nissan Altima / Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2003 : Mini / Volvo XC90
2004 : Toyota Prius / Ford F150
2005 : Chrysler 300 / Ford Escape Hybrid
2006 : Honda Civic / Honda Ridgeline

Read the original at www.leblogauto.com (French)...

Other articles on the awards :
www.mobilku.com...
www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat...

Chevrolet SS Concept

Concept : Contemporary Chevy Muscle

The 2003 Chevrolet SS concept showcases a new generation of Chevy muscle, with dynamic design, race-proven technology and balanced performance.

A modern interpretation of Chevrolet's Super Sport heritage, the Chevy SS is a contemporary four-door family sedan turned sports car. It packs rear-wheel drive with a high-technology version of the legendary small-block V-8, and high-performance suspension and brakes to match.

"It's a vehicle to be shared with your family or with your buddies," said Franz von Holzhausen, the SS's exterior designer. "It builds on Chevrolet's great performance heritage, while updating the SS concept for a whole new generation."

Read the story at www.rsportscars.com..

Chevrolet Borrego

Chevrolet developed the Transformer-like Borrego concept vehicle to target youthful, active drivers

Targeting youthful, active drivers, Chevrolet has developed the Transformer-like Borrego concept vehicle. With partner Subaru supplying the drivetrain, it's hard not to see the Borrego as a 21st-century Brat, though the Gen-Y target audience never heard of that bite-sized pickup.

In cargo mode, the Borrego is a two-seater with a six-foot bed. Activate the Avalanche-inspired midgate via remote control to create four-place seating, reducing the cargo box to three feet. A roof panel that is stored under the cargo bed is then installed to cover these two new seats, and the rear window can be raised again, if desired. Self-inflating seals keep the compartment watertight regardless of whether it's set up for two passengers or four.

Read the full story at www.motortrend.com...

Revisited : The GM Concept Cars

From Radical to more radical..

One of our most popular articles has been our coverage of some of the GM Concept cars of the 1950s and 1960s. In this expanded and revised article, we renew our acquaintance with some of those fantastic looking cars - and add a whole lot more, some shown in rare colour pictures.

1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car

The 1938 Buick Y-Job is generally considered the industry's first concept car. Created by General Motors Styling and Buick Engineering, it was designed by Harley J. Earl, GM's first design chief, and built on a production Buick chassis modified by Charlie Chayne, then Buick's chief engineer. Buick called it "Y" because so many makers dubbed experimental cars "X." Styling and mechanical features of the "Y Job" showed up on GM products, particularly Buick and Cadillac, throughout the '40's...

Read the full article (Autospeed Magazine) with concepts from the thirties till now...

Ini Dia! Gudang Buku Otomotif

OtoBooks

Kesulitan mencari buku manual mobil kesayangan Anda? Atau, membutuhkan buku panduan restorasi mobil vintage? Sambangi saja OtoBooks di kawasan Bona Indah, Lebak Bulus, Jakarta, atau kontak ke 0812 966 6270. "OtoBooks yang dimulai pada 2000 ini berawal dari hobi," ujar Herman Haryadi, sang pemilik toko buku. "Namun seiring peningkatan minat konsumen, kini menjadi komersial." Koleksi OtoBooks terbilang lengkap, dengan lebih dari 1.500 judul buku. Sebut saja buku manual Land Rover, Toyota Hardtop, BMW, sampai buku model sepeda motor Harley Davidson. Sejumlah pelanggan dari luar kota juga sangat terbantu lantaran OtoBooks menyediakan layanan pengiriman.

Sumber : Hang Tuah Blog (Click link)

Happy New Year 2007

Impala - The American answer to the Camry to come to Indonesia?

Rule three of automotive journalism: When a domestic carmaker introduces a new midsize, midprice sedan, reviewers are to write, "They're now as good as Camry and Accord." So here goes. The 2008 Chevy Malibu, which Chevrolet will introduce at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, looks like it's now as good as the Camry and Accord.


Our obligation to the profession complete, it's only fair that we ask you to check back a few months from now to see what we think of the new 'Bu after we actually drive the thing. But, we must say, the completely restyled, more powerful Malibu sedan really does look pretty good.


Read the article at www.edmunds.com..

KENAPA BUTUH SOLAR BAGUS?

Otomotif, 25 Desember 2006

Prinsip kerja CR (Common Rail) sebenarnya mirip dengan mesin bensin yang sudah mengusung sis­tem fuel injection. Penyemprotan bahan bakarnya diatur se­cara electronic dengan perantara ECU (electronic control unity atau bisa dibilang komputer.

Di CR mempunyai satu pompa yang diatur oleh solenoid valve un­tuk menyalurkan solar ke setiap silinder.
Tekanan penyernprotannya pun sangat tinggi (± 1.800 bar). Begitupun komponen-komponen seperti injektor di CR didesain lebih akurat ketimbang injector konvensional. "Sehingga membutuh­kan bahan bakar spek tinggi," tegas Aloysius Oentoro, general manager parts & service PT Multi France Motor, ATPM Peugeot.

Jadi jika kualitas solar jelek atau sulfur tinggi, akibatnya rawan terhadap kinerja mesin. "Tekanan yang dikeluarkan tidak akan maksimal," jelas Budi Sujanto, aftersales manager PT Auto Euro Indonesia, ATPM Renault.

Memang, sebagai tahap awal solar sudah disaring oleh filter solar. Namun jika dibiarkan atau jarang dicek saringanya itu tak tertutup kemungkinan bisa menjalar ke injektor dan komponen lain. "Filter solar lebih cepat mampet dibanding mesin diesel biasa. Karena punya lubang yang sangat ke­cil di CR," lanjut Dendy Tjahjaindra.

Lebih lanjutnya, pengendara akan merasakan tenaga mesin yang kurang maksimal. Lebih detailnya, "Kemung­kinan mesin jadi pincang atau mbrebet," imbuh Dendy.

Memang sangat disayangkan, saat pemerintah sedang mengikrarkan efisiensi pemakaian bahan bakar namuntidak disertai dengan penga­wasan kualitas. Padahal teknologi CR ini diklaim bisa menghemat bahan bakar dan rendah emisi.

Nah, efisiensi kan tidak hanya dari mesinnya, tapi juga kualitas ba­han bakar. Kalau mesin bisa efisien kan pemakaian bahan bakar bisa lebih hemat alias enggak boros.

Bukan begitu, Bos?

· Pi

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone

Kompas 22 December 2006

The Manifesto

Markets have undergone a profound transformation after decades of top-down corporate messaging. As you read this, the marketing world is changing, and with it the way business will be conducted for decades to come. This change is being demanded by the enlightened and empowered consumer – the so-called prosumer – who no longer responds to a media-propelled “brand essence.” Most current advertising still relies on obsessive proliferation of the brand through mass media that seek economies of scale – the more eyeballs, the better. But consumers want more than mass messages sent to eyeballs. They want respect, recognition and relevant communication, and they've indicated that the best way to give it to them is through experiences that are personally relevant, memorable, sensory, emotional and meaningful. Consumers have changed dramatically, and the brand world must change to meet their needs and desires, or lose them to those that recognize the unique influences shaping the evolving marketplace.

“Today, customers take product quality and a positive brand image as a given,” writes Columbia Business School guru Bernd H. Schmitt in the seminal book Experiential Marketing. “What they want is products, communications, and marketing campaigns that dazzle their senses, touch their hearts, and stimulate their minds – that deliver an experience.”

The question isn't which industries will be transformed by the focus on customer experience, but only which will be first. Companies who do not recognize this change will perish. Those who see the necessity for change and embrace XM will be embraced in turn by the most empowered consumer base in the history of the world. At the IXMA, an international cadre of forward-thinkers is building and propagating the experiential marketing (XM) revolution.

Read the complete manifesto..

Answer by GM Indonesia to Cry for help by Blazer User community

CLICK ini untuk Jawaban/Minta Maaf GM atas isu promosi servis ini ...






Mohon hak jawab dari GM digunakan segera atas kesempatan
Posted by: "Diaz@office" tomikris@gmail.com tomikris Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:12 pm (PST)

Yang Kami hormati bapak bapak Petinggi GM,

Mohon tanggapan dari bapak bapak untuk segera menggunakan hak jawab yang diberikan ketua umum BIC kami dimilis ini,

Seperti kita ketahui bersama, bahwa jika Ketua Umum kami bersabda, maka titah beliau. akan segera dipatuhi seluruh anggota BIC di Indonesia.

Secara pribadi yang saya ketahui saat ini, Ketua Umum kami sedang sibuk menyabarkan para anggota BIC untuk tidak segera bertindak sendiri sendiri, karena hingga detik ini pihak GM belum juga menggunakan hak jawabnya.
Kami mengetahui bahwa pihak GM memonitor milis ini dan kami juga sudah melakukan cross check bahwa issue ini sudah diketahui oleh pihak GM.

Ini hanyalah gently reminder dari kami komunitas pengguna blazer di Indonesia yang sangat prihatin mutu service yang diberikan GM pada customernya di Indonesia

Salam
Tomi Diaz

Elegant solutions - Let Learning Lead

BreaktroughThinking
Learnng and innovation go hand in hand, but learning comes first.

Real learning is a cycle of questioning, experimenting and reflecting. It's how we convert curiosity into an innovative solution, so learning must BE the work, not something separate from it. Learning triggers creativity down the line, and makes the other practices work.

Learning cycles come naturally. But they were replaced by institutional education as we grew up. So all we really have to do is get back in touch with them and practice. And learning cycles aren't complicated. they are all around us. so much so that we often discount them.

The next time you see an infant in a high chair throwing food on the floor, know that you are watching a learning cycle in action...

Download the Manifesto...

Chevrolet Epica - Will we see this likely competitor for the Camry in Indonesia?

With its sporty yet elegant contours, the Epica complies exactly with the taste of Europe’s car drivers. In the distinctly arranged front section, particular highlights include the large wrap-around clear-glass headlamps and the substantial cross bar carrying the large Chevrolet bow tie in the chrome grille.

The side view of Chevrolet’s new top-of-the-line sedan is strikingly modern with its rising, wedge-shaped profile. It is marked by a striking character line that extends to the front and rear wings. The designers have positioned the grip-type chrome door handles and the large outer mirrors with integrated indicator lamps precisely on this character line. The rear is dominated by the large bumper and the dominant chrome strip that joins up the two tail lamps with their circular lenses.

The generous amount of space is one of the strengths of the front-wheel driven Epica (length/width/height: 4,805 / 1,810 / 1,450 mm, wheelbase: 2,700 mm).

Compare to the Toyota Camry's dimensions of 4805 / 1821 mm, wheelbase : 2776 mm, which is vertually identical.

Read the full article at www.topspeed.com

Brand Perception

By Michel Hogan, www.changethis.com - Business manifestos

We Need a New Word for Brand
To unlock the brand's true potential, today’s companies need to let go of slick superficiality and embrace authenticity! more

Brand perception
Specfically,customer perception - what they think you are is who you are. the Holy Grail of brand today is to create the right customer perception-the perfect mix of emotion and smarts that will drive boatloads of customers your way. And the best way to create that perception - a louder, bigger message that is put in more places! Slapped on t-shirts and caps for employees and splashed across the pagesof magazines and TV screens, how could anyone resist? Thankfully, this is not the end of the story...

The next wave
There is a new wave on the horizon. Let's call it the authentic brand. Authentic brands are deeply rooted inside the company. They are much more than the marketing veneer applied to the exterior face of the company. Authentic brands are honest. They are powerful mechanisms guiding decisions and direction across all functions of a company. they naturally filter out to the customer and everyone the company touches through those decisions and actions. This is the brand I love!

Download the complete manifesto..

Program ramah Chevrolet Indonesia

(15/12/2006) - PT. General Motors Autoworld Indonesia (GMAW Indonesia) selaku Agen Tunggal Pemegang Merek Chevrolet menggelar aktivitas aftersales khas Chevrolet bertajuk CHEVY CARE di areal parkir Kelapa Gading Mall I, Jakarta Utara. Chevy Care digelar mulai tanggal 15 hingga 17 Desember 2006 (Jumat-Sabtu-Minggu).

CHEVY CARE merupakan program differensiasi aftersales dari GMAW yang mengemas kegiatan aftersales dengan cara berbeda melalui Chevrolet Care program.

Aktivitas program CHEVY CARE selama 3 hari tersebut mencakup pengecekan kondisi gratis (10 items) untuk mobil Chevrolet jenis Trooper, Zafira, Optra, Blazer, Montera, Tavera, Aveo, Spark, Kalos dan Estate. Selain itu, Chevy Care juga memberikan pelayanan salon mobil gratis, yang pengerjaannya akan dibantu oleh Chevy Babes yang cantik dan smart.

Baca Artikel di "www.mobilku.com"...

The Challenge of Changing GM

Even the most gung-ho General Motors executive will admit that one of the company’s most vexing problems is changing the image of its brands with many consumers, especially those on the coasts who swore off American cars of every stripe years ago. The tough part, says GM car czar Robert A. “Bob” Lutz, is that it can’t be done with simple marketing. In a recent interview, Lutz said that “there isn’t enough marketing money in the world to change the perception of some of our brands overnight.”



Read the article at Autobeat ..

2007 Chevy Aveo (U.S.A. Test)

by Rex Roy - www.thecarconnection.com

New styling inside and out looks better than the outgoing model.

The base Aveo LS is a basic car … maybe too basic?

Front seats and cup holders should be better.

That jingling you hear isn't sleigh bells - it's actually the change left in your pocket after filling the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo's 45 Liter (11.9-gallon) fuel tank. This is but one of the joys of driving Chevy's small-but-tall people hauler. The fact that it is (actually) not bad to drive is another.

If you're a car-type person, you may remember that the Aveo was all-new in 2004. In a move that shows just how competitive today's automotive world is, General Motors elected to refurbish their entry-level model for its fourth model year. Good thing, too, as the Aveo's competition is just as fresh, and includes solid players such as the Hyundai Accent, the Honda Fit, and the Toyota Yaris.

Read the full story from "The Car Connection"..

Chevy Optra (Lacetti) in action

BMW Indonesia gelar lomba teknisi

(30/11/2006) - Lebih dari 100 teknisi dari seluruh dealer BMW se-Indonesia menunjukkan keahliannya pada BMW Technician Challenge yang berlangsung untuk pertama kali, mulai Juli hingga 23 November 2006 di BMW Training Center, German Center, Bumi Serpong Damai, demikian rilis PT BMW Indonesia, Rabu (29/11).

Baca Artikel "Mobilku.com" yang lengkap..

J.D. Power: Makin banyak keluhan terhadap mobil baru di Indonesia

(01/12/2006) - J.D Power Asia Pacific 2006 Indonesia Initial Quality Studi menyimpulkan Yaris, Vios, Fortuner dan Innova paling sedikit dilaporkan bermasalah ditap segmenya. Hasil studi ini diumumkan Kamis (30/11).

Complete article di www.mobilku.com..

J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts the CSI study annually in markets across the Asia-Pacific region to measure customer satisfaction with maintenance and repair service at authorized dealer service centers. The 2006 study measures overall customer satisfaction with after-sales service based on 35 dealer performance attributes, which are grouped into seven factors. The factors are (in order of importance): service quality; problems experienced; user-friendly service; service advisor; service initiation; service delivery; and in-service experience. CSI performance is reported as an index score based on a 1,000-point scale. A higher CSI score indicates greater customer satisfaction with the after-sales service experience at authorized dealer service centers.

The overall industry CSI score this year is 754 points. The overall industry has remained relatively stable since 2004, registering only a marginal two-point decline.

“Providing an after-sales service experience that meets or exceeds customer expectations is imperative for authorized dealer service centers to further strengthen their relationship with customers,” said Rajeev Nair, country manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific. “Apart from contributing to repeat business for the dealer, satisfied customers create positive word-of-mouth recommendations that drive first-time sales for the brand.”

“A delightful service experience contributes toward ensuring that customers do not defect to non-authorized service facilities, especially once the warranty period is over,” said Nair. “The study finds that only 4 percent of customers who provide CSI scores at or above industry average state they are likely to defect to a non-authorized service facility for maintenance once the warranty period is over. This statistic triples to 13 percent among customers who provide below-average satisfaction scores, further reinforcing the business case for authorized dealerships to invest in customer satisfaction.”
J.D. Powers Asia Link ..

LA Auto Show : Ulang Tahun ke 100

LA Autoshow berlangsung dari 1 sampai dengan 10 Desember di Los Angeles Convention Center di Los Angeles A.S.

debut : BMW X5

BMW redesigns and enlarges its full-size popular SUV. Thanks to the additional passenger space, the X5 sports a new optional third-row seat. New safety and handling enhancements include adaptive steering and suspension systems, rearview camera, Active Roll Stabilization, Adaptive Drive and Dynamic Traction Control.

Untuk delails2 yang lain cek di website LA autoshow..

When It Comes To Cars: Color Is Everything.

David Kiley (Autobeat Blog)

I didn’t used to think too much about paint color with cars. But it’s been on my mind more these days. Perhaps as vehicles get more expressive in their designs, colors matter more. Does that make sense? I mean…does anyone care if their 1999 Camry is silver or Champagne?

Volkswagen produces the best blues. Hand down. I saw a Dodge Charger, which I like, in Gray, and hated it. The Ford Edge I just drove looked great in this deep copper color.

Into my mailbox today came the DuPont car color report. The findings: Silver (BOOOORRRRING) is the top color globally. Silver has been the top choice since 2000 when it overtook…..Green?

According to DuPont, the bottom half of the top ten colors forecasts future color leaders. A clear trend for the future, says the chemical giant, includes warmer tones such as red as well as the continued strength of blue. That makes sense to me. If you have a hot design in your driveway, I’d rather see it with an expressive color than silver or Champagne.

Red surfaced as the top color choice in the compact vehicle segment in South Korea, with 22 percent, as well as in the North American market compact/sport category, from 9 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2006. Black remains a top choice across the global landscape. It is among the top five colors in the regions examined and has gained ground in specific segments in North America. The 2006 color popularity report sees growth of black in the North American luxury segment with 22 percent, mirroring
black’s longstanding first place among European luxury vehicles with 37 percent.

Its amazing how bad some cars look in certain colors. Remember the Chrysler LH cars that preceded the 300c. The Chrysler Concorde in Champagne was one of the nastiest pieces of work to come down the pike in a while. The Ticonderoga pencil yellow Pontiac Aztek? Ouch! That looked worse than I do in horizontal stripes.

This seems pretty self serving for DuPont. But the company says that 40 percent of consumers willing to switch brands for a specific color, according to a national poll it commissioned. Would you?

For comments, how about some candidates for the worst design/color combo you can recall.

Original Article (Autobeat Blog) ..

New Models: First-ever diesel Chevy on show

www.channel4/4car

The first diesel-engined Chevrolet, the Lacetti (Optra/Estate?) TDCi, will make its debut at the Bologna Motor Show next week. The latest-generation Lacetti, a car formerly sold as a Daewoo, will be available by next summer with GM's all-new 2.0-litre diesel engine, producing 121bhp and 206lb-ft of torque. This engine will take the Lacetti up to 117mph, giving 0-62mph acceleration in 9.8 seconds, and a return of 49.5mpg (five-door hatch) or 47 mpg (station wagon). Carbon dioxide outputs are 149g/km (hatch) and 158 g/km (estate), so annual car tax or company car tax won't be too punitive, either.

article continues below

Chevrolet Spark Concept di Auto China 2006

(28/11/2006) - ww.mobilku.com
Chery QQ yang baru saja diluncurkan di Indonesia, pernah berurusan dengan Chevrolet. Produsen otomotif USA ini menuding QQ menjiplak Chevrolet Spark dan membawa kasus ini ke pengadilan. Pengadilan memenangkan gugatan Chevrolet.

Tahun ini, Chevrolet mengeluarkan kreasi terbarunya, Spark Concept di Auto China 2006 di Beijing Terlihat seperti Smart dengan ukuran sedikit lebih besar, Spark Concept tampil dengan disain lampu utama yang unik dan grille baru. Dibelakang kombinasi lampu belakang dipasang vertikal. Mobil mini ini tetap dirancang untuk mengakomodasi empat penumpang.


Tidak ada informasi tentang powertrain maupun kapan versi produksinya akan dipasarkan.

Baca di :
Mobilku.com
Hangtuah Blog

Offre “satisfait ou remboursé” chez Chevrolet : gare…

Par Raphael Caplan le 26 novembre 2006 | wwwleblogauto.com

On n'a pas de diesel, sauf sur le Captiva, mais on a des idées chez Chevrolet Europe (anciennement Daewoo). Pour dynamiser les ventes de la vieillissante Kalos, on propose au client de la ramener si elle ne lui plait pas. Bon évidemment, ce n'est pas une offre pérenne, puisqu'elle n'est valable que du 7 novembre au 31 décembre, pour des voitures livrables avant mars 2007, et ne concerne pas les versions GPL. Autre restriction, le client mécontent ne devra pas avoir parcouru plus de 3000 km, ni avoir possédé sa voiture plus d'un mois. Ce n'est pas tout : il lui faudra aussi présenter le bon de commande pour un modèle équivalent acheté chez la concurrence. Autrement dit, le nombre de véhicules repris par Chevrolet devrait être très faible, ce qui rend cette opération "satisfait ou remboursé" peut-être plus intéressante pour le constructeur, qui va attirer le chaland à moindre coût dans ses points de vente, que pour le client, qui au total n'a pas grand chose à gagner. Prix de base de la Kalos : 7990 €, soit moins qu'une Panda, une Twingo ou une C1.

Classé dans: Général| Chevrolet

Evaluasi Captiva (Inggris + Belanda)

Road Test UK: Chevrolet Captiva (2006)

With the upcoming introduction of the Chevy Captiva in Indonesia as the replacement of the discontinued Blazer, we hereby submit several articles with in-depth evaluations of the unit which is ach is already on sale in Europe.

Rating

Assets
Roomy with a versatile interior, well made with a surprising quality feel, comfortable on bad roads, some off-road ability, well-equipped, very good value

Drawbacks
Petrol version feels gutless, soggy dynamics, hardly an invigorating drive

Verdict
Decent compact SUV, doesn't move the game on but gets a four-star rating because it's such good value

Price range £16,000 to £25,000 approx. On sale in UK first quarter 2007

Read the complete Article..


Dutch Evaluation under Indonesia-like road conditions (www.autozine.nl). Very interesting..
Unfortunately the article is in Dutch. If you are interested in a translation, let me know and I will see if I can find the time. very interesting article.

One more Ductch article (www.vandermolen.nl) ...

GM Looks Forward in China

There's no telling how fast China car sales will grow, GM says. by Joseph Szczesny (2006-11-20)
After watching sales inChina increase 37 percent this year, GM expects more double-digit growth in 2007 as the Chinese market continues its rapid expansion. GM sales in the People's Republic of China, including those made by Shanghai GM, SAIC-GM-Wuling and a small but growing number of imported vehicles, are expected to reach around 950,000 units, according to Michael Bernhard, the chief financial officer for the GM China Group.

What about Indonesia with its huge potential market? When will this potential be explored?

Read the article at "Thecarconnection.com"

Indonesia Basis Produksi General Motors

posted or edited by Hotsaritua Situmorang — last modified 09-11-2006 10:08

'Kami masih menghitung berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk mengoperasikan pabrik baru itu.' Perusahaan otomotif asal Detroit, Amerika Serikat, General Motors (GM) berencana mengaktifkan kembali pabriknya di Indonesia tahun depan. Pengoperasian pabrik yang sempat berhenti sejak Maret 2005 itu membuat Indonesia menjadi basis produksi mobil GM kedua setelah Thailand. President South East Asia Operations GM William S Botwick menegaskan hal itu di Jakarta, kemarin. Ia mengungkapkan pihaknya sedang mengkaji pengaktifan kembali pabrik di Bekasi, Jawa Barat, yang berhenti beroperasi sejak Maret 2005. Pengkajian itu, menurut William, bertujuan menentukan model mobil yang nantinya diproduksi di pabrik itu. Pihak GM juga tengah menghitung berapa kapasitas produksi yang akan dijalankan dan berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk aktivasi kembali pabrik Bekasi. "Kami masih menghitung berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk mengoperasikan pabrik baru itu. Yang jelas, jika aktivasi pabrik jadi dilakukan, itu berarti kami harus melakukan investasi baru," papar William. Proses pengkajian itu, ujar William, akan selesai pada akhir kuartal I 2007. Jika sudah beroperasi, tidak tertutup kemungkinan mobil hasil produksi pabrik di Bekasi akan diekspor ke luar negeri.

Dari proyek itu, GM berharap bisa menjual 15 ribu-25 ribu unit mobil di Indonesia, dalam lima tahun ke depan. Pabrik GM di Bekasi didirikan pada 1993. Ketika itu, GM menginvestasikan dana US$110 juta dan bekerja sama dengan Garmak Motor untuk mendirikan General Motors Buana Indonesia. Sebelum ditutup Maret 2005, pabrik itu mampu memproduksi 15 ribu mobil merek Chevrolet dan Opel. Pasca-penutupan pabrik di Bekasi, General Motors Indonesia (GMI) terpaksa mengimpor mobil merek Chevrolet dari Thailand. Di Asia Tenggara, pangsa pasar mobil produksi GM termasuk kecil jika dibanding¦ kan dengan pabrikan mobil asal Jepang atau Eropa, hanya berkisar 3% atau kurang lebih 45 ribu mobil. Di pasar nasional, penjualan GM baru mencapai 750 unit pada tahun lalu dan 680 pada periode Januari-Oktober 2006. Selain menyampaikan rencana pengoperasian kembali pabriknya, William juga mengkritik kebijakan penerapan pajak penjualan barang mewah (PPnBM) produk otomotif, yang besarannya didasarkan atas kapasitas mesin dan asal negara. "Seharusnya pemerintah menerapkan PPnBM berdasarkan harga jual kendaraan. Dengan demikian, konsumen Indonesia bisa menikmati mobil impor dengan harga yang lebih terjangkau," kata William. Pemerintah langsung merespons usulan ini. Kini beberapa instansi mengkaji utang soal kebijakan PPnBM.

Sumber : Media Indonesia, 09 November 2006

Ghosn Talks Alliances in Detroit

Associated Press By TOM KRISHER 11.16.06

Ghosn predicted that the automotive business would continue to be tough in five or 10 years with new competitors entering the market. To be successful, auto companies are going to have to appeal more to the emotions of car buyers as opposed to rationality, he said. "It's gonna require a lot of innovation, a lot of change," he said. Nissan and Renault are watching to see how the domestic Big Three deal with their high labor costs, including health care and pensions, because Asian carmakers with U.S. plants are going to have the same expenses as their work forces age, Ghosn said. "If you don't pay attention, if you don't react today, you're going to face the same problem," he said.

Read the full article..

Chevrolet Prisma “Y” Concept

Text & Photos edited by Clinton Deacon
2 November 2006


Based on the newly launched Sedan Prisma, it is a very versatile multipurpose vehicle

Inspired in the new model recently launched by Chevrolet, Sedan Prisma, General Motors do Brasil’s Design Area created Prisma “Y”, a stylish vehicle which was carefully conceived with a view to developing an adventurous version.

Prisma “Y” is a model aimed at young consumers who are very interested in adventures”, emphasized Carlos Barba, GM Design Director for LAAM Division, encompassing Latin America, Africa and Middle East regions.

The design was totally developed by using the modern GM Design Department’s virtual reality room – the only existing one in the automotive sector all around Country -, and the letter “Y” is the initial of the English word “young” or “youth”.

“For developing Prisma “Y”, we focused on finding out the current directions of the Brazilian market. Our challenge was to find out the Brazilian tendencies and lifestyle”, commented Carlos Barba.

According to Barba, Prisma “Y” is a sportive and versatile vehicle, with capacity to carry not only five people, but also several camping and surfing equipment, including surfboards and bikes. “Everything that reminds us of weekend recreation and leisure is what our concept vehicle aims at”, added Barba.

Read the full article..

Common Platform

GM siapkan platform baru Aveo

Meskipun GM adalah pemain terbesar di dunia, perusahaan ini kurang beruntung dalam mengembangkan common platform (satu platform yang bisa digunakan banyak model). Saat ini GM sedang mengembangkan platfom kendaraan kecil yang dikalangan internal diberi nama Gamma. Platfom ini menjadi basis untuk Opel Corsa dan Chevrolet Aveo baru dan model-model lain dengan produksi 1.4 juta unit pertahun mulai 2009. Meskipun belum dikonfirmasi, Gamma akan dibuat di Korea, China, Thailand, India, Jerman, Eropa Timur, Mexico dan Venezuela.

Diharapkan platform cukup fleksibel untuk aneka variasi dipasar global. Platform global ini akan ekonomis karena diproduksi dalam jumlah sangat besar. Juga menguntungkan para pemasoknya di seluruh dunia. Di Korea akan menggunakan merek Daewo, di Eropa dengan Opel, USA dan China menggunakan merek Chevrolet. Gamma akan menggantikan model-model dari dua platform, termasuk diantaranya adalah Daewoo Kalos, Matiz, Gentra, Chevrolet Aveo, Opel Corsa, Tigra dan Meriva.


© 1999-2006, mobilku.com
Quoted from : Hangtuah Blog

My Way or the Highway

indofastlane

By Doug Herberger
GMNA Vice President, GM Service and Parts Operations

When’s the last time you were told as a customer, “Sorry, we don’t do it that way,” or “We can order that for you, but it will take about six weeks?”

Unless you’re being offered one of those rare, hot commodities where you are willing to wait, these answers just won’t cut it. If you’re like me, you just won’t do business there anymore.

In the last two decades many of us have found that time is becoming more and more valuable. With the demands of work, family and friends increasing in time and priority, many folks would agree: I don’t have the time or energy to fight over getting exactly what I want when I fork over hard-earned cash to any merchant.

So I say, “From now on, it’s my way or the highway.” To a certain degree, car and truck buyers should expect no less when they purchase one of our great GM products.

Continue reading "My Way or the Highway"

Automotive Sales : Projection 2010

The Government has placed as target to surpass the 1 million unit mark by the year 2010. Although this seems high it is only an increase of around 66% compared to the 2005 figures. Since the majority of the sales would be contributed by the MPV segment, the ignored sedan segment is also targeted for contribution.

This optimistic target was justified by proposed fiscal incentives as well as the continuing improving national economy.

(Quoted from a report by Desy Anwar, MetroTV, 31 Oct. 2006)

Free Internet connection at Hang Tuah dedalership

Internet Gratis

Khusus pelanggan bengkel Hangtuah, sambil menunggu kendaraannya di servis atau diperbaiki, kini dapat menikmati internet (tanpa dipungut biaya apapun) melalui koneksi nirkabel. Sehingga tidak perlu kehilangan kesempatan yang berharga, untuk mengakses dan berkomunikasi dengan jagad maya seluruh dunia.

Layanan ini menggunakan standar komunikasi data nirkabel 802.11b/g. Pengguna cukup menggunakan laptop atau handheld yang telah memiliki Wi-Fi 802.11b/g wireless capability. Fasilitas ini bisa dinikmati pada jam & hari kerja. Bila memerlukan informasi atau bantuan untuk koneksi internet nirkabel ini, silahkan hubungi petugas kami di counter bengkel.

Read full story...

Chevrolet Captiva

The new Captiva is good-looking,
has a wide model range,
plus a great diesel engine
By Charley Chae, 14th June 2006

First Opinion

The new Captiva is such an impressive machine that it's sure to upset the SUV hierarchy when it arrives in Britain. It's good-looking, has a wide model range - with both front and four-wheel-drive variants - plus a great diesel engine. It's a pity buyers here will have to wait until 2007 to take delivery, but the Captiva looks set to become the most accomplished model in Chevrolet's UK range.

At a glance

If there's one thing that matters in the SUV market, it's image - and the newcomer's sleek body looks good from the front and rear. UK-spec models, which will be badged Chevrolet rather than Daewoo, feature opening tailgate glass.

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Torque: 320Nm Economy: 41.0mpg 14 km/L (est) Price: £20,000 (est)

Read the full article in Auto Express...
And anothe article...

Guts (book)

By Bob Lutz
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Guts:8 Laws of Business from One of the Most Innovative Business Leaders of Our Time is a 2003 management book by Robert A. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, Product Development

A self-described "maverick", Lutz organizes the book around his "8 Immutable Laws of Business" which he poses as strawmen to demonstrate that even the best principles can be harmful if taken too far. Lutz draws extensively from his personal experience to illustrate the business principles in the book.

• Law 1 - The Customer Isn't Always Right
• Law 2 - The Primary Purpose of Business Is Not to Make Money
• Law 3 - When Everybody Else Is Doing It, Don't!
• Law 4 - Too Much Quality Can Ruin You
• Law 5 - Financial Controls Are Bad
• Law 6 - Disruptive People Are an Asset
• Law 7 - Teamwork Isn't Always Good
• Law 8 – When You Inherit a Really Big Rat’s Nest, Don’t Try to Lure Them Out with Food. Use a Flamethrower!
• Leadership Corollaries

Interview with Bob Lutz...

Artikel dari milis zafira@yahoogroups.com

Hi..rekan2 Zafiers lainnya,

Terdorong oleh rasa ingin menyumbang saran, kalo boleh saya bantu menjawab pertanyaan 2 anda :

1.Harga semua mobil saat ini terjun bebas, apalagi yang cc nya gede, mitsubisahi galant th 2000, harga baru(pd saat itu) 390 jt, sekarang 125 jt, Honda Accord th 98 ( bekas ) pd th 2000 harganya 275 juta sekarang 120jt, Suzuki Escudo 2,0 th 2001 wkt barunya 186 jt, sekarang 95 jt an. Yang penting kalo beli seken, harga jualnya stabil, kayak mobilnya hehhhee

2.Harga spare parts relatif, kalo dibanding dengan ....

The full article...

Belle affluence au Mondial de Paris

Vu la morosité ambiante, on aurait pu craindre que le Mondial de Paris ne soit moins fréquenté en 2006 qu'en 2004. Pas du tout, ce sont 1 431 883 personnes qui s'y sont rendues, dont 11072 lors des journées presse (dont quelques blogueurs scotchés devant les belles hôtesses...). Si les organisateurs sont contents, les constructeurs aussi : le chiffre des prises de contact est parti à la hausse, avec un total de 100000. Peugeot en a enregistré 10000, Toyota 24000 (!) et Renault 13000. D'ailleurs, le groupe au losange a enregistré 600 commandes de Logan MCV, pourtant livrable en 2007 seulement. Par ailleurs, BMW a enregistré 150 commandes, Fiat 177, et Citroën près de 600, dont 30% de C4 Picasso. En outre, on compte 45000 essais.
(Raphael Caplan, Le Blog Auto)

Lire la suite (...)

KAMPANYE GENCAR SI PINTAR

Bocoran desain masih dalam sketsa

muncul di tengah-tengah kejuaraan gambarnya pun hanya dalam bola voli pantai di Timmendorfer sketsa. Penasaran ya? Jadi, untuk sementara mau tahu mengapa mobil imut ini smart (pintar)? Isu kian pa­datnya lahan parkir ru­panya jadi awal perhatian utama smart GmbH. Produk perusahaan yang bernaung dalam grup DaimlerChrysler ini pun enggak jauh dari urusan efisiensi lahan parkir.

Setelah sukses dengan beberapa varian smart, seperti fortwo, roadster dan forfour, ki­ni pabrikan yang bermarkas di Boblingen, Jerman ini meluncurkan model anyar fortwo.

Selanjutnya...

The Best Used Cars

JULY 5, 2006

Autos

By Matt Vella

Certified pre-owned programs offer as-good-as-new cars for less. No wonder they now account for 41% of all used-car sales

Used car salesmen may have a bad reputation, but that sure doesn't seem to keep U.S. consumers from buying used cars. In 2004, we bought 13.6 million new cars and light trucks and leased 3.3 million new cars and light trucks—but went home with 42.5 million used cars and light trucks, an increase of just under 12% from 1990, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

But these days, used cars are better than ever, thanks to certified preowned, or CPO, programs, which were created by auto makers to resell cars coming off lease. The manufacturer cleans and inspects each car, slaps on a warranty comparable to one found on a new car, and sells it at a premium—although still for much less than the cost of a new car.

Best of all, for the manufacturer and dealer at least, these CPO cars can only be sold, not leased, so they put no drag on inventory.

Introduced in the 1980s, CPO programs have proved so popular that a study by J.D. Power & Associates stated that, by 2005, they accounted for 41% of all used-car dealership sales, an increase of 4% over the previous year.

WEAK ECONOMY HELPS. To get an idea of the numbers: As of last month, year-to-date CPO sales were up 2% at General Motors (GM), where slowdowns at Saturn and Saab were offset by growth at Cadillac and Hummer. Sales also rose 7.8% at Mercedes-Benz, 14% at Chrysler Group, 23% at BMW, and 105.6% at Toyota (TM), exclusive of Lexus.

Read the full story...

Ali Aydin Pandir : tepati janjimu!

SATU-SATUNYA ORANG TURKI YANG 'PUNYA JABATAN' DI GENERAL MOTORS. TUGASNYA : MEMBUAT NAMA CHEVROLET KEMBALI BERSINAR DI INDONESIA.
(Motor Trend Indonesia - Oktober 2006)

PUNDAKNYA MEMIKUL tanggungjawabberat kelangsungan hidup pabrikan mobil terbesar di dunia, General Motors, di Indonesia. Pria kelahiran Istanbul, 50 tahun silam ini baru menggawangi GM Indonesia sejak akhir tahun lalu. Tapi, is sudah siap dengan sederet program untuk mendongkrak posisi Chevrolet di pasar otomotif nasional. Mulai peluncuran model-model terbaru seperti Estate dan Kalos, hingga program spin-off untuk mendorong merek Chevrolet menggantikan nama GM yang kurang populer di sini. Ia juga siap meneruskan euforia Blazer yang sempat kondang di segmen SUV di sini dengan Chevy Captiva, dan akan menawarkan sensasi big American pick-up melalui Colorado. Dialah Ali Aydin Pandir, President Director PT GM Indonesia.

Pemegang gelar MSc dalam bidang Mechanical Engineering dari Technical University of Istanbul ini juga mengemukakan rencana GM untuk membuat mobil kelas entry level seharga Rp60jutaan bagi mereka yang ingin naik kelas dari sepeda motor. Kepada kami, pria penyuka seafood dan penggemar olahraga bersepeda ini meluangkan waktunya secara khusus.

Baca lanjutanya...

Cadillac is going to South Africa

GM's Cadillac brand will open for business in South Africa early next year, the company announced on Wednesday. The launch of the brand will begin with three vehicles-the European-bred BLS sedan (based on the Saab 9-3), the SRX crossover, and the STS sedan. GM says it's heading to the country because "South Africa is one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world, and with our distinct portfolio of luxury vehicles, Cadillac is ready to further its expansion on the African continent." Cadillac is trying to expand its brand name globally and is pushing big sales increases in places like Europe and China.

www.thecarconnection.com
GM fastlane BLOG

The Hummer H3 is going Global

I’m writing from Port Elizabeth, the heartland of South Africa’s motor industry, where we’ve just launched production of the Hummer H3, to be exported around the world.

Until now, the H3 has only been available in North America. This launch will bring the H3 to Europe, Asia and Latin America before the end of 2006, and to South Africa and right-hand drive countries like Britain next year.

Continue reading "H3 Goes Global"...

By Ed Welburn
GM Vice President, Global Design

Chevy WTCC Concept at the Paris Scow

General Motors' Chevrolet brand is one of Europe's fastest-growing nameplates, targeting Europe's younger, more price-sensitive buyers. The WTCC Concept suggests they don't have to settle for econoboxes. Short for World Touring Car Concept, this bold 4x4 "signals our intent to add more emotional design to Chevrolet in Europe," explained Dave Lyons. He's GM's head of design in Asia, where the WTCC originated - though Chevy may be the classic American brand, European Chevrolets are from Korea . Lean and muscular, the goal is to give a new interpretation to the classic rally car proportions. There are no immediate plans to produce a version of the WTCC.

GM quality ?

Here's another problem. GM's quality is much better. In some cases it’s better than the Japanese companies like Nissan and Subaru that coast on a great reputation even when their cars turn up glitches. But GM has, at best, reached parity in quality with chief rivals Toyota and Honda. And in long-term testing, which measures cars made three to five years ago, GM still isn’t on par with those two vaunted carmakers.

GM has been climbing up J.D. Power's initial quality rankings for about five years. Warranty costs have fallen 40% during that time, says sales GM sales boss Mark LaNeve. But consumer surveys show that buyers still think GM ranks near the bottom in quality. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said at the press conference that the perception gap is still a big challenge.

Read the full story...

Because We Can

September 06, 2006

Because We Can

By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman

As I hinted last week, we have a major consumer initiative coming to light this afternoon. GM Chairman/CEO Rick Wagoner today is announcing that GM, beginning with the 2007 model year, is expanding its powertrain warranty in the United States and Canada to five years or 100,000 miles.

The warranty is completely transferable...

Read the complete article...

"Hotwheels"-style concept from Chevrolet : WTCC Ultra

The latest Chevy concept to be presented at the Paris Motor Show

The trend is "toys". Following the Barbie Beetle from VW, now the Hotwheels Chevy. This is a concept prepared for the Paris Auto Show.

Read the full article at leblogauto.com...

Next stop... Cadillac masuk Indonesia ?

GM Exporting Caddy to South Africa

General Motors Corp. will begin exporting Cadillacs to South Africa in the fourth quarter, along with a small number of Cadillac models to Australia in late 2007. The vehicles exported to South Africa will hail from the GM assembly plant in Lansing, Mich., and will be outfitted with right-hand drive to comply with South African regulations.

Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager, said the push comes as part of Cadillac's continuing effort to build up its sales in markets in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere in the world. The effort will require patience, he said. Nevertheless, Cadillac sales in China, where GM started selling its luxury brand in 2005, have more than doubled this year. Taylor added Cadillac sales in Russia also have picked up significantly this year.

Taylor said GM is making a concerted effort to re-establish Cadillac as a global brand. European luxury brands are now all over the world and Japanese luxury brands, such as Lexus and Infiniti, also have been expanding into new markets. Cadillac's expansion into South Africa is being helped by GM's decision to build a South African assembly plant for right-hand versions of the HUMMER H3, he said. New Cadillac dealerships in South Africa have showrooms for selling HUMMERs as part of GM's strategy to sell both Cadillacs and HUMMERs in the same dealerships outside of North America, Taylor said.

Joe Szczesny (the carconnection.com)

Chevy launches 2007 Aveo sedan in the US (Kalos in Indonesia)

During a webcast that will begin shortly, Chevy GM Ed Peper will officially launch the new 2007 Chevy Aveo sedan for the US market. (The car's page is already up at the Chevy website, if you're interested in checking out the specs in detail.)

The new Aveo gets a dose of panache with a restyle that bestows some chunky good looks on Chevy's low-priced econocruiser. The beefy nose, with it's raised, V-shaped center section is very evocative of the VW/Audi look out there today -- this is not a bad thing at all. The lower fascia gives the car a mildly aggressive appearance, with nicely integrated foglights available as an option.

Read the full article...

Getting Juicy with Fallon and Senn

The Fallon Worldwide ad agency founders talk about their new book, Juicing the Orange, and how to jump-start creativity
Juicing the Orange is all about advertising strategies. But they seem like strategies that execs could apply to any number of business problems.
Fallon: When Fred and I started this project, we didn't want it to just be relevant for the ad community. The goal was to present ways to attack ideas and think about creativity.

We were in Seattle recently and gave readings at both Microsoft (MSFT) and Starbucks (SBUX). We were surprised pleasantly when people came up to us from their HR and production departments and said: "we can apply your principles to our disciplines right now."

The full article...

Suzuki Plots Expansion

Suzuki Motor Corp. is planning to build a new $500 million factory in Japan and expand production in places such as Hungary and India to cash in on the rising demand for fuel-efficient, small cars created by soaring global gasoline prices.

"Strong sales of Swift, SX4 and Grand Vitara in Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, etc. has caused significant backorders, and thus constant request for increasing production from all over the world,'' Suzuki said in statement announcing the plans.

The company also said it expects sales to top 3 trillion yen or about $26.1 billion in the coming fiscal year.

The new plant, the first the company has built in Japan in 25 years, is expected to start operations in late 2008 with a capacity of about 240,000 vehicles a year. The project will boost Suzuki's production capacity to about 3 million units annually. Demand for small cars is being fueled not only by high gasoline prices but also by Suzuki's broadened alliance with Nissan Motor Co. Suzuki supplies Nissan with minicars with engines of less than one liter, which are popular in Japan because they get tax breaks.

Suzuki also said it is planning to increase production in Hungary, India and Pakistan. Output at the Hungary plant will rise to 300,000 units a year by 2008, from 160,000 now, while production in India is seen climbing to 960,000 vehicles by 2009, from 630,000. In Pakistan, Suzuki plans to raise output to 170,000 units by 2009, from 110,000 now.

Joe Szczesny (www.thecarconnection.com)

GM : Latest Models

Most Satisfying Cars 2006

Vehicles Feature Forbes, Dan Lienert, 08.08.06, 12:01 AM ET

Mini Cooper drivers like to name their cars. If a buyer enters his or her car's name in the "Owners' Lounge" section of Mini's Web site, both owner and car will be addressed by name when they come into the dealership--but that's not the cause of the naming craze. "Customers treat their Minis like their pets,"

Read the full article...

Robert Manurung : Jatropha Curcas oil as biodiesel

Robert Manurung: Inventor of renewable green fuel

T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta

There is good news and bad news about research development in Indonesia. First, the bad news is that Indonesia often lags behind other countries. And now, the good news: An Indonesian researcher has applied pure jatropha oil as an alternative bio-diesel fuel.

The oil, which is produced from castor oil plants or Jatropha curcas, locally known as jarak pagar, is environmentally friendly and cheaper than fossil fuel, thanks to the hard work of Robert Manurung and his team at the Biotechnology Research Center, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Read the Story at the Jakarta Post

General Motors Hadirkan Chevrolet Kalos

Jakarta, KCM - Beberapa hari menjelang berlangsungnya International Motor Show 2006, PT General Motors Indonesia mengungkap produk unggulan yang akan dipasarkan pada pameran otomotif terbesar tanah air itu.

Bertempat di Hotel FourSeasons Jakarta, Selasa (18/7), GMI memperkenalkan kendaraan small sedan bernama Chevrolet Kalos kepada para wartawan media cetak dan elektronik Ibukota.

Kalos sebenarnya sudah pernah diluncurkan di Shanghai Motor Show 2005, namun sedan kompak yang diimpor dari Thailand itu baru masuk ke Indonesia pada tahun ini.

Baca Lengkap...

custom products and customizable experiences

"Nike's Riley on the World of "Custom" Today: As consumers start to expect custom products and customizable experiences how should product design evolve to provide relevant executions that engage consumers' desires? Everything from design flexibility, one-off manufacturing, streamlined distribution and consumer interaction will need to be analyzed and revolutionized. We are approaching the era where the consumer truly decides what form, what features and what aesthetic their individual product will embody—not the designer, not the brand planners, not the marketing team and definitely not the focus group. The Microsoft/IDSA Designer Spotlight Series presents Ray Riley, IDSA, senior director of advanced innovation for Nike's Global Footwear Division, Wednesday, July 19, at 1:00 pm ET. This session will be an open ended exploration of the world of custom today, the possibilities for tomorrow and the rules that will need to be broken to get there.



Co-authoring at Philips

According to Green, the conventional industrial model is under increasing pressure and will ultimately no longer be able to sustain itself. This creates a whole new set of challenges for companies like Philips. People are becoming more empowered, and want to 'co-author' by demanding a greater say in the products and services they choose. How do you cater for this sea of change?

Philips does so by regarding people not as consumers of technology, but rather as living side-by-side with it. "Our focus is to understand people's everyday lives rather than letting technological roadmaps dominate the direction of future developments," says Stefanie Un, Senior Research Consultant at Philips Design in Eindhoven.

Design control : Companies that "get it"

As customers become producers and take more and more control of the design of their products and services, the revolution (and make no mistake, it is a serious change in power and that is a revolution) they are generating is bound to unnerve those on the losing end. Companies that "get it" and begin to integrate consumer input into the actual making of stuff and experiences will find enormous opportunites. Those that don't will lose and get mad.

Check out some of the Blogs :
Buzzmachine Blog
Businessweek design : Crowdsourcing
Philips : Making the future more tangible

Quoted from :
Businessweek : Nussbaum on design, July 19 2006

GM to enter alliance talks with Renault and Nissan

GM to enter alliance talks with Renault and Nissan

(Monday, July 10, 2006) General Motors will enter "exploratory discussions" with Renault-Nissan on a potential alliance, the U.S. automaker said Friday following a board meeting. GM cautioned the discussions were preliminary and non-binding and that implementing its massive restructuring program remained the automaker’s "top priority" French car maker Renault welcomed GM's decision to discuss the possible alliance first proposed last week by the U.S. automaker's largest private shareholder, Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp.

"Following GM's board decision, we look forward to starting the discussion process soon," Renault said in a statement issued in Paris. GM chief executive officer Rick Wagoner will lead the discussions and has already arranged to meet with Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive officer of Renault-Nissan, the American automaker said. 'We periodically receive interesting proposals and we owe it to the company and its shareholders to explore how they might work, and to objectively weigh the potential benefits and issues that each might present.' Wagoner said in a statement. "That is exactly what we recommended to the GM board in this specific case, and exactly what it has agreed we should do" Wagoner contacted Ghosn before the proposed alliance was made public June 30, a GM spokeswoman told AFP. although she would not confirm reports that a meeting was set for July 14. Reports have circulated in Detroit that Wagoner and other GM top executives are opposed to the idea of a merger, despite the interest expressed by Renault-Nissan and the warm welcome issued by the stock market.

Hints of caution were evident in Wagoner's statement. "Given the complexity of any potential relationship, it has to be carefully considered on its merits before coming to any conclusion. We are committed to an objective and thorough review of that potential," he said. "We will enter into discussions with the managements of Renault and Nissan with an open mind - eager to hear their ideas of how an alliance between our companies might work to our mutual benefit." Tracinda issued a statement which belied some doubts as to Wagoner's openness to the deal. These talks are "a good first step," Tracinda said in a statement. "but a full and objective evaluation of this unique opportunity will require establishment of a board committee that receives independent financial and legal advice."

While news of the potential alliance has given GM shares a massive boost last week, some analysts said it may not result in long-term gains. Dennis Virag, head of the Automotive Consulting Group in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said GM's decision to study the proposal was prudent. "They have a fiduciary duty to look at the proposal," he said. "But in the end I don’t see those two getting together They're both troubled companies in a way. They both have significant internal problems they have to address before they take on outside issues" General Motors remains focused on implementing a massive restructuring program that involves the shuttering of 12 plants and the elimination of 30,000 jobs. Wagoner is battling to restructure the U.S. car giant following its loss of US$10.6 billion last year.

Joseph Szczesny, Agence France-Presse (Detroit, Michigan)

Chevrolet Europe : results 1st Half 2006 (Fr)

Chevrolet Europe: bilan semestriel

Par Patrick Garcia le 9 juillet 2006 | (2) Commentaires | Permalink

Chevrolet Europe dont tout le monde sait (ou devrait savoir) que les productions proviennent de feue Daewoo (constructeur coréen moribond repris par General Motors) continue sa progression en inscrivant un record de ventes sur les 6 premiers mois de l'année. Avec une hausse de 11.2% par rapport à la même période 2005, Chevrolet vient d'atteindre les 1.42 % de parts de marché (1.33 en 2005) en Europe. Une progression qui s'explique par la multiplication des points de vente (2000 à ce jour) et une politique tarifaire agressive bien dans la continuité du précédent logo. la nouvelle génération de voitures débarquant à peine, les records devraient s'aligner sur les feuilles comptables encore quelques années.

Ce sont 160.732 véhicules qui ont été vendus de Janvier à Juin 2006. Dans ce chiffre est inclus 19.548 automobiles produites par Avtovaz GM pour le marché russe (le marché européen incluant la Russie) et aussi 546 véhicules issus des lignes de production américaines.

Il faut noter que ce pays, paradoxalement avide de logos américains, réalise des scores importants. 44.760 Chevrolet y ont trouvé preneurs durant les 6 premiers mois de l'année, le tout représentant 4.9 % du marché local.

Les autres pays adeptes du Chevrolet coréen sont l'Italie (20.487 autos: +23.3 %), l'Espagne (15.028 autos: +10.6 %) et la Grèce où la marque occupe 2.2 % du parc de voitures neuves.

Etonnament, la France résiste malgré l'engouement latin manifeste. Les Chevrolet Captiva et Epica Diesel devraient inverser la tendance assez rapidement.

Chevy Captiva Test : Part 4 - Each market its catalogue

Essai Chevrolet Captiva (4) : à chaque marché son catalogue

Par Olivier Duquesne le 4 juillet 2006

Link :
http://www.leblogauto.com/2006/07/essai_chevrolet.html#more

GM Daewo Tuntut Chery Auto

GM Daewo Tuntut Chery Auto
Jumat, 13 Mei 2005

PERUSAHAAN mobil raksasa AS, GM (General Motor) pemilik GM Daewo (Korea) secara resmi awal pekan ini (9/5) mengajukan tuntutan pada perusahaan industri mobil Cina, Chery Automobile di pengadilan Beijing, ibu kota RRC atas tuduhan penjiplakan mobil Daewo Matiz dan Chevrolet Spark oleh Chery Automobile dengan nama Chery QQ yang dilakukan tahun 2004 lalu. GM Daewo menurut Fox News menuntut Chery Auto membayar ganti rugi sebesar 6 juta dolar AS (50.000 yuan) atas penjiplakan secara keseluruhan bentuk luar dan dalam Chery QQ yang ibarat fotokopi Daewo Matiz dan Chevrolet Spark. Menurut Jubir GM Daewo, hampir 80% komponen Chery QQ bisa dipasang di Daewo Matiz.

(bk/fox news) ***


Foto

MENCOBA BAHAN BAKAR PENGUNDANG LAPAR

Preview Jatropha Expedition
(Majalah "Otomotif")

Kok, seperti bau gorengan? Wah, kalau begini sih, seperti bau ikan asin! Begitulah komentar orang-orang yang sempat mencium asap yang keluar dari knalpot Mitsubishi L200 Strada yang berbahan bakar minyak dari biji Jarak (Jatropha Curcas), pada Inter­city Trial, Jakarta-Bandung-Jakarta hari Kamis, (22/6) lalu. OTOMOTIF menjajal kendaraan berbahan bakar pengundang lapar ini.

TES AKSELERASI

Sebenarnya Intercity Trial ini me­rupakan langkah awal dari ekspedisi yang akan dilakukan pada tanggal pada mesin diesel stasioner (generator) dan traktor (low speed engine), kali ini akan dicoba pada mesin mobil yang putarannya cukup tinggi. Langsung pada tunggangan dengan bahan bakar 100% minyak jarak, OTOMOTIF sempat melakukan pengujian 'kecil-kecilan' dengan membejek pedal gas di lintasan tol Cipularang. Terasa, ada perbedaan pada putaran menengahnya, tarikan lebih enteng ketika putaran mesin berada di kisaran 2.500-3.200 rpm. Ternyata memang, hal ini juga dibuktikan dengan hasil uji di dynamometer yang menghasilkan grafik dengan bandwidth tenaga maupun torsi lebih besar di putaran segitu. Padahal, mesin tak perlu dilakukan perubahan, kecuali menamBAHKAN bahkan tangki untuk Jatropha serta konverter dan mikrokomputer

Tak ada perbedaan dengan diesel biasa

12-20 Juli nanti. Melalui rute Atambua, Nusa Tenggara Timur, hingga berakhir di Jakarta. Rencananya, be­berapa mobil akan diuji dengan menggunakan komposisi bahan bakar 100% minyak jarak, 50:50 (minyak jarak:solar) dan 100% solar.

Nah, dengan jarak tempuh 325 km, bolak-balik Jakarta-Bandung, merupakan 'simulasi' akan proses pe­ngujian nantinya. Jadi, semua pengu­jian, baik kecepatan serta performa pada mobil akan diukur. Termasuk konsumsi bahan bakar hingga peng­ujian kebisingan suara yang dihasilkan oleh mesin dengan bahan bakar yang berbeda tadi. Menurut DR Robert Manurung dari Institut Teknologi Bandung yang me­nemukan membran untuk memeras biji jarak menjadi minyak mengatakan, minyak jarak ini sudah pernah dipakai ­untuk mengubah aliran bahan bakar dari solar ke minyak jarak. Maklum, ketika mobil pertama kali dinyalakan mesin perlu 'dipancing' mengguna­kan solar terlebih dulu.

Begitu mesin menyala, sirkulasi pendingin mesin (ra­diator) digunakan sebagai pemanas untuk minyak jarak yang akan digunakan berikutnya. Begitu sudah panas, minyak jarak pun mengganti­kan solar sebagai 'minuman' mesin. Selain speed test di jalan tol, ada juga uji coba yang melibatkan peralatan khusus. Kali ini Vericom VC3000 dipa­kai untuk mengukur akse­lerasi. Baik mobil dengan ba­han bakar murni minyak jarak, 50 persen solar maupun full solar. Tentunya, hasil lebih lengkap bakal dimuat di tab­loid kesayangan Anda ini setelah Jatropha Expedition dilakukan nanti. Wuzz...,

jangan heran kalau setelah disalip Anda pengin makan!

• Ben Otomotif benny@gramedia-majalah.com

Chevy Captiva : Geneva or Jakarta Motor Show ????

Is this possible...? An image already from the Jakarta International Auto Show...?

We will have to see at the end of July, won't we?








Chevy Captiva : Specifications (UK)

Captiva Testdrive with Seven on board

We could have brought the bicycles with us to do a bit of cycling along the way. But we had preferred it more traditional, a picnic. this choice was made to enable us to evaluate the cars flexibility with respect to the use of the rear seating as a dining area . we did not do this purely from professional considerations but also due to the somber weather forecast which caused us to cancel previous plans.

Sitting in the back seat of the car, we had the opportunity to better check out the possibilities offered to the occupants of the second row. After the weather cleared we tried out all the different seating arrangements possible.



Read the full story (in French)

GM Daewoo Boosts Production

South Korea's third-largest automaker GM Daewoo has started two-shift operations at its second plant in Bupyong near Seoul to meet rising demand for its first sport-utility vehicle, the Winstorm, and its mid-size Tosca passenger car.

The two-shift operations, coming after the rehiring of the automaker's fired workers, signals that the automaker is on the right track now following GM's takeover of then-bankrupt Daewoo Motor in October 2002.

The daily production capacity of Bupyong's second plant will rise to 620 units from 310 units as the automaker is trying to meet rising sales in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific countries and the Middle East.

The SUV will be sold overseas as the "Captiva" by Chevrolet and Holden. With CKDs to ChinaMiddle East counted, GM Daewoo exports more than 90 percent of its vehicles. and the

This year, GM Daewoo expects to sell a total of 1.5 million vehicles from last year's 1.15 million in 2005.

Bupyong's second plant has been on one-shift operations since August 1999 while other plants, including those in Gunsan, Changwon and Bupyong's number-one plant in South Korea, have been on two-shift operations.

- Peter Chang at www.thecarconnection.com -

Testing the Chevy Captiva : Diesel's latest Glory

We have been waiting for it, and here it finally is :
A diesel engine in a Chevrolet. Everything comes to those that wait. But it certainly was about time.

GM developed a totally new engine for this Korean. It exists of a second generation, 4-cylinder, common rail diesel of the same generation as the second generation variable geometry turbo. Production started in March this year in Gunsan, South-Korea.

Original text (French)...
If you are interested in a further translation of the original text, don't hesitate to leave me a comment.

The 24hrs of Lemans : The Corvette myth

Sunday 18 june 2006 - 17h28
2004, 2005, 2006... Corvette doesn't stop to decisively conquer the laurels at the 24 Hours of LeMans.

To read the full article ...

Chevy Captiva telah tiba (Bahasa Perancis)

Atterrissage à Poprad, en Slovaquie, pour découvrir la Chevrolet Captiva en mettant le cap sur Zakopane en Pologne. La grande nouveauté avec cette voiture, ce n’est pas tant l’arrivée d’un SUV dans la gamme, mais plutôt celle du premier moteur Diesel pour le constructeur. Enfin ! Il s’agit d’un moteur à injection directe par rampe commune d’une cylindrée de 2.0 litres avec une puissance de 150 chevaux. Ceci dit, en présentant un véhicule de loisirs, Chevrolet s'attaque à une clientèle qui n'aurait jamais poussé les portes d'un showroom Daewoo.

Continue...

Chevy Concept : Outdoing Aston?

Chevrolet Indonesia





Is this in answer to the Aston Martin or the Maserati Quattroporte?
One thing is sure, this baby could most definitely get people excited.

Captiva : Some more pics

indofastlane
The Chevy Captiva :
When you open the bonnet,its diesel engine would look like this :

Chevrolet Captiva : List Price (Holland)

indofastlane


Chevrolet Captiva: Listprice (Europe)


Quoted from Patrick Garcia (Translated by SV) , 22 May2006



Reading certain comments following the long-awaited appearance of the Chevrolet Captiva gives the impression that the excitement generated is real. This is even more emphasized since the unveiling of its close relative the Opel Antara caused far less of a stirr. For everyone who already started drooling at the presentation of the Korea-American SUV, following are tthe quoted listprices for Europe :

In both 2 and 4-wheel drive the Captiva is available in 2 engine configurations. A 150HP diesel engine (A 4-cylinder 2.0L Turbo-diesel) and a 230HP V6 gasoline-powered alternative. two different finishing styles are available : The LS, the base model and the luxury model, the LT. Note the 7-seat configuration of the Comfort Pack as well as automatic transmission and parking sensors.


-Captiva 2.0 VCDI LS : 25 900 €

-Captiva 2.0 VCDI LS Pack : 28 900 € (LS+4WD, ESP, 17" wheels)

-Captiva 2.0 VCDI LT : 30 750 € (LS Pack+Automatic windshield wipers and foglights, On-board computer…)

-Captiva 2.0 VCDI LT Pack : 33 900 € (LT+ 6-disc CD changer, Electric heated leather seats…)

-Captiva 3.2 V6 LT Pack : 36 900 €

http://www.leblogauto.com/2006/05/chevrolet_capti.html#more

Drifting Aveo !?!

indofastlane

Drifting -– the art of defying a car’s traction into a controlled slide sideways around corners at breakneck speeds -– is still below the radar for a lot of Americans, but the sport continues to grow nonetheless. Sound confusing? Take a look at this.

Tracing its origins back to underground races on Japan’s winding mountain roads in the 1960s, drifting was a full-fledged and heavily funded motorsport in Japan by the 1980s. It arrived in the United States in the late 1990s, and has been gaining in popularity ever since, boosted by the cult following of the Japanese Manga/Anime series Initial D. This summer, American movie-going audiences will get hit with a full dose of the drifting phenomenon with the third installment of The Fast and The Furious trilogy, subtitled Tokyo Drift.

Continue reading "Drifting Champ’s Hot New Ride? The Pontiac Solstice GXP"

Quoted from "fastlane", GM Vice-President Bob Lutz's Blog

World Keeps Getting Bigger for Chevrolet

By Dee Allen
Chevrolet Indonesia
indofastlane

Staff Director Global Product & Brand Communications Integration

Say “Chevrolet” in the United States, and people think of everything from a turquoise and white 1957 Bel Air to a 2006 Corvette Z06; from a heavy duty Silverado to an Aveo. What most people don’t think of is Chevrolet’s global expansion: in China (up 180 percent in first-quarter 2006), Venezuela (up 57 percent), Italy (up 33 percent) and Brazil (up 26.8 percent).

How is Chevrolet doing it? With great cars and trucks designed and manufactured around the world – in Canada, Brazil, Thailand, Russia, Mexico, the United States and elsewhere. An especially big boost has come from Chevrolets manufactured in South Korea at GM Daewoo. There, Chevrolets such as the Aveo, Matiz and Epica have made GM Daewoo the second-largest Korean auto manufacturer in April and contributed to a 27 percent increase in production in 2005.

Continue reading "World Keeps Getting Bigger for Chevrolet"

Quoted from the GM-Blog "Fastlane" : http://fastlane.gmblogs.com

In the US Nissan Dealers Still Getting REDI (Retail Environment Initiative)

In the US, Nissan Dealers Still Getting REDI

Nissan's initiative to bring a fresh image to its dealerships - to correspond with the brand's resurgence - is coming along, report Nissan

North America officials. Nationally, about half of Nissan's 1100 dealerships have decided to participate in the NREDI (Nissan Retail Environment Design Initiative) program; more than 300 of those facilities are complete, while another 250 are in the design stage. NREDI began in 2001, when brand-strategy and design experts at Lippincott Mercer were hired to help develop Nissan's global brand image. One of the main aims of the program was to give the dealership the same brand identity that was being projected through marketing and promotions. But it calls for a whole new layout for dealerships, not just cosmetic details. Under the new plan, the sales, service, and parts departments are fully integrated, with parts and service no longer out in back. Many dealers have opted to build new stores; an example is Cool Springs Nissan, an NREDI-completed dealership that will be less than two miles from Nissan's new national headquarters in Tennessee. Windows and open floor space are an important part of this initiative - customers can now see the service check-in area from the showroom, and the parts department is directly adjacent to the showroom. The program remains optional for dealers, with some money available from NNA, though most of the bill is footed by the dealerships themselves. Nissan says that NREDI dealerships are showing evidence that the formula works, though: in 2004, NREDI-completed dealerships showed an average 57 percent sales growth, versus 33 percent nationwide for the entire sales force.
-Bengt Halvorson (The carconnection)

Chevy reality show in Indonesia ?

Could a reality show be accomplished for Chevy in Indonesia?

The below-mentioned excerpt from "The carconnection" made me wonder if it would be possible to use the following idea to increase awareness of the Chevrolet brand in Indonesia. What if Chevy participated in a TV reality show in which participants work on developing concepts for modifying their favorite Chevy?

Capitalizing on a trend of not only reality TV, but also a practice becoming more common where advertisers offer to produce a program that is as much brand advertising as entertainment content and assume most of the production costs.

/The Fairway Gourmet/, which runs on PBS, will in its second season be produced by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, and all the golf courses in next season's series of program will be in Hawaii. Unilever put together two specials built around its AXE Shower body wash: /The Gamekillers/ on MTV and /Exposing the Order of the Serpentine/ on SpikeTV. Going back further, Bob Vila's/Home Again/ series was produced by Sears and ad agency Ogilvy & Mather, and featured Sears Craftsman tools.