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