GM Adds Shift-And Jobs-To Meet HD Pickup Demand

How popular are the completely redesigned 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups? General Motors recently announced it would add a third shift at its Flint (Mich.) Assembly plant just to keep up with demand. And not only will this boost availability for two of the toughest trucks on the market, but it also means an additional 750 jobs for the state of Michigan.

“Adding a third shift is a response to customer demand for heavy-duty pickups, which most people use to tow, haul and plow,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, and customers can do plenty of each with GM’s HD trucks. The heavy-duty Silverado (Motor Trend’s 2011 Truck of the Year) and Sierra offer:

*A new 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel, delivering a robust 397 hp and 765 lb.-ft. of torque
*Towing capability of 21,700 lbs.
*Payload capability of 6,635 lbs.
*The segment’s best conventional trailer tow rating—17,000 lbs.
*Fifth-wheel trailer rating of 21,700 lbs.
*Confidence/control features like trailer sway control, integrated trailer brake control, hill start assist, automatic grade braking and intelligent brake assist
*A new exhaust brake system that reduces brake-pad wear
*Bold, aggressive exterior designs
*Available GM technologies like WiFi, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar and navigation

It’s further good news for Flint Assembly and follows a GM decision late last year to turn to the facility for added production of the light-duty Silverado. All told, the plant produced 115,000 trucks for GM in 2010.

“I’m very proud of the Flint Assembly team and what we have accomplished in the past year to launch the light- and heavy-duty pickups,” added Flint Assembly Plant Manager Amy Farmer. “The support of the UAW, its members and leaders was instrumental in making the heavy-duty truck the critical favorite when compared to trucks offered by our competitors.”

What Does Your Car Color Say About Your Personality?

Do people with red cars really get more speeding tickets than those with blue cars? Do car insurance companies use the color of your car to determine your rates? Do certain colors increase your chance of an accident? What does the color of your car SAY about your personality?

How Fast IS that Red Car?


According to the web site Colormatters.com there may be some truth to the urban legends surrounding car color and speeding tickets…at least anecdotally.

Visitors to that site say when they drive red cars they seem to get more speeding tickets. Although there seems to be no official statistics kept for such things, and the police aren’t talking about it, the stories reinforce the urban legend that many have heard.

In general, driving the speed limit is always a good idea no matter what color car you drive. If you keep your red car at or near the limit, the chances you will get a ticket are much smaller. In fact, they are probably exactly the same as the guy next to you driving the speed limit in his purple car.

Color and Personality

In Great Britain there was actually some research done that suggested the color of your car says something about your personality type. And accordingly, based on your personality type, your likeliness to be involved in an accident (in the U.K. at least). The research shows that black cars are twice as likely to be involved in crashes as cream-colored cars. Whether this is true in the United States is unclear.

Just for fun, here is what the research implied about certain car colors (listed in order of most dangerous to least)

Black denotes aggressive personality or someone who’s an outsider or rebel.

Silver cars someone who’s cool, calm and slightly aloof.

Green cars can often be chosen by people with hysterical tendencies.

Yellow cars signify someone who is idealistic and novelty loving.

Blue cars are chosen by the more introspective, reflective and cautious driver.

Gray cars represent those who are calm, sober and dedicated to their work.

Red cars denote those who are full of zest, energy and drive, who think, move and talk quickly.

Pink cars are chosen by gentle, loving and affectionate drivers.

White cars represent status-seeking extrovert drivers.

Cream cars are the least likely to be involved in accidents and denote self-contained and controlled owners.

The Color of Money

What about the car insurance rates question? Does your car insurance company use color to determine your premium? The answer is…no.


Some people have suggested that insurers use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to determine the car color and use that information, in part, to set the rate for each car. But the fact is car color is not one of the details encoded into a VIN number. So technically, unless they ASK you the color of your car when you buy your car insurance policy, they really have no idea what color it is. And thus has no affect on your rate.

Additionally, according to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times in 2005, despite the mistaken belief by 25% of drivers that color affects your car insurance rates, it really has no effect on your insurance at all. Factors like year, make, model, body type (of the car, not YOU), and engine size are taken into consideration along with the driver’s personal information.

So, if you want that little red sports car, go right ahead and get it. Does it mean you are full of zest, energy and drive and think, move and talk quickly? Only you can answer that.

The fact is, if you keep the speed of that little red number somewhere around the posted limit, stop at red lights, yield to oncoming traffic, and make your cell phone calls when you are stopped, you will probably do a lot more for your car insurance rates than any color ever could.

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Nearly Two-Thirds of Equinox and Traverse Buyers New to Chevrolet

Brand Capturing Owners of Discontinued GM Marques and Non-GM Products


DETROIT - Nearly two out of three buyers for the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse have traded in non-Chevrolet vehicles so far this year. In addition, nearly half of buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle.

Cadillac, Buick, and GMC trade-ins account for only 9 percent of purchases for both vehicles. The crossovers are helping Chevrolet retain owners of discontinued GM brands, which were offered in 11 percent of Equinox trade-ins and 9 percent of Traverse trade-ins.

The remaining 45 percent of Traverse buyers and 44 percent of Equinox buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle.

"Equinox and Traverse are attracting owners of competitive vehicles, including Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas to Chevrolet showrooms," said Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. "For these buyers, Equinox and Traverse offer the flexibility and fuel efficiency they have been looking for in a crossover, as well as the design, performance and value that define Chevrolet."

Combined, Chevrolet sold more than 120,000 Equinox and Traverse models during the first six months of 2010 - an increase of approximately 80 percent calendar-year-to-date.

Introduced in late 2008 as an all-new model for 2009, Traverse is equipped with a 3.6L V-6 with direct injection and variable valve timing and six-speed automatic transmission. For front-wheel-drive models, Traverse delivers an EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway - more than any eight-passenger crossover.

Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com named Traverse one of the Top 10 Best New Family Vehicles for 2009, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named Traverse a 2009 Top Safety Pick, and Consumer's Digest named Traverse a Best Buy for 2009 and 2010.

The 2010 Equinox was introduced as an all-new model in the summer of 2009. Equipped with the standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine and six-speed automatic, the front-wheel-drive Equinox delivers a segment-best 32 mpg highway, according to EPA estimates.

Consumer's Digest named Equinox a 2010 Best Buy, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named Equinox a 2010 Top Safety Pick. Since 2009, Chevrolet has announced three production increases for the Equinox to meet consumer demand.

The growth of Traverse and Equinox sales also solidified General Motors' position as the leading automaker for crossover sales. Combined crossover sales for Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC increased 81 percent calendar-year-to-date, and have increased more than 30 percent for nine consecutive months.



Brand Capturing Owners of Discontinued GM Marques and Non-GM Products


DETROIT - Nearly two out of three buyers for the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse have traded in non-Chevrolet vehicles so far this year. In addition, nearly half of buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle.

Cadillac, Buick, and GMC trade-ins account for only 9 percent of purchases for both vehicles. The crossovers are helping Chevrolet retain owners of discontinued GM brands, which were offered in 11 percent of Equinox trade-ins and 9 percent of Traverse trade-ins.

The remaining 45 percent of Traverse buyers and 44 percent of Equinox buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle.

"Equinox and Traverse are attracting owners of competitive vehicles, including Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas to Chevrolet showrooms," said Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. "For these buyers, Equinox and Traverse offer the flexibility and fuel efficiency they have been looking for in a crossover, as well as the design, performance and value that define Chevrolet."

Combined, Chevrolet sold more than 120,000 Equinox and Traverse models during the first six months of 2010 - an increase of approximately 80 percent calendar-year-to-date.

Introduced in late 2008 as an all-new model for 2009, Traverse is equipped with a 3.6L V-6 with direct injection and variable valve timing and six-speed automatic transmission. For front-wheel-drive models, Traverse delivers an EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway - more than any eight-passenger crossover.

Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com named Traverse one of the Top 10 Best New Family Vehicles for 2009, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named Traverse a 2009 Top Safety Pick, and Consumer's Digest named Traverse a Best Buy for 2009 and 2010.

The 2010 Equinox was introduced as an all-new model in the summer of 2009. Equipped with the standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine and six-speed automatic, the front-wheel-drive Equinox delivers a segment-best 32 mpg highway, according to EPA estimates.

Consumer's Digest named Equinox a 2010 Best Buy, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named Equinox a 2010 Top Safety Pick. Since 2009, Chevrolet has announced three production increases for the Equinox to meet consumer demand.

The growth of Traverse and Equinox sales also solidified General Motors' position as the leading automaker for crossover sales. Combined crossover sales for Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC increased 81 percent calendar-year-to-date, and have increased more than 30 percent for nine consecutive months.

Are Arguing Kids in the Car More Dangerous Than Drunk Drivers?

Could fights between your brood be causing you to be more likely to have an accident?

EBPY9TJQSEQW An article on British car Web site Whatcar is citing a report by the Transport Research Laboratory for insurance company Direct Line that suggests arguing children can be such a distraction for drivers, that it's almost as bad as driving while drunk.

The study found that reaction times of drivers fell by 13 percent when fighting children were in the car. That's the same number as that of drivers who are the British legal limit for alcohol consumption (1ooml). That could add four meters--about 12 feet--to a highway stop.

Other findings? Instances of hard braking increased by around 40 percent when kids were going at it with each other. Stress levels also increased by a third, and previous research showed that increasing stress levels could lead to more accidents.

Distracted driving is a real concern, but most of the focus has been on cell-phone use while driving and other distractions. Not much attention has been given to the problems caused by other distractions, such as little Johnny placing his hand on little Suzie's side of the back seat, thus initiating World War III in an SUV.

The best thing for parents to do is keep the little ones entertained. Whether it's the license plate game, "I spy", or a sing-a-long, it's better the kids be distracted than you.

No wonder the market for rear-seat entertainment centers is so strong !

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