General Motors Heritage Center Gains Swedish Treasures

FOR RELEASE: 2005-06-01 DETROIT - Saab cars have long been known for their individuality and technical innovation. The stunning examples of the Swedish brand's history recently added to GM's Heritage Center collection proudly reflect that fact. "Saab brings its own unique brand of automotive passion to the GM Heritage Center, which showcases the long history of advanced design and technology of all of our brands," said Scot Keller, director of GM Corporate Communications. "With the integration of their historic cars into the GM collection, Saab's position in the GM family tree becomes fully realized. Beginning with one of the first Saabs imported to the States, a rare 1950 Model 92, the collection is enriched by one of six 1956 Sonnet SS roadsters ever built and a remarkable Formula "S" Quantum single seat racer powered by a Saab three-cylinder, two stroke engine. A 1959 750 GT, a sporty 1967 Sonett II coupe and an Eric Carlsson-driven World Rally Championship Model 96 join other significant Saabs that won the Pikes Peak hill climb or set International records at Talladega where, in 1986, a Saab 9000 averaged over 132 mph for 100,000 kilometers, proving the durability of the water-cooled turbo technology that Saab introduced to the market. Further supporting Saab's history, the GM Heritage Center has also acquired comprehensive film and print archives that serve to further demonstrate the technical innovation, unique style and robust dependability which define Saab. These same characteristics can be found in today's Saabs. From all-wheel-drive entries like the nimble 9.2X five-door or the refined 9.7X SUV to sporting sedans and wagons found in the 9.3 and 9.5 model line-ups, Saabs express a state of independence. That spirit of independence is clearly demonstrated in the 55 years of Saab history now at the GM Heritage Center. Established in 2004, the General Motors Heritage Center, located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, brings together vehicles, artifacts and archives that reflect and project the Corporation's passion and excellence in its products and the pride and passion of its people. The 81,000 square-foot Heritage Center provides an inspiring environment for business meetings and special events. General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.      FOR RELEASE: 2005-05-27 GM Provides E85-Capable Chevrolet Tahoe for Use in Wisconsin Partnership with Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board Promotes Ethanol as Alternative, Renewable Fuel MILWAUKEE – General Motors today provided an E85-capable Chevrolet Tahoe to the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board for use in the state as part of a campaign to promote ethanol and E85-capable vehicles in the state. The presentation was made during a family day event presided over by Governor Jim Doyle at the Landmark Services Cooperative of Cottage Grove, the site of Wisconsin’s eleventh and newest E85 fueling pump. The Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board will showcase the E85-capable Chevrolet Tahoe by allowing Wisconsin ’s agricultural ambassador, Alice in Dairyland, to drive the vehicle to hundreds of promotional and educational events around the state over the next year. About 20% of Wisconsin 's corn crop, or 1 out of every 5 rows of corn, is used to make ethanol. Wisconsin produces 350 million bushels of corn a year, providing the basis for millions of gallons of ethanol to be produced in the future. The three operating ethanol plants in Wisconsin contribute over 56 million dollars annually into each of their local economies. Currently 45% of the fuel sold in the state contains ethanol, with most of that being sold in the southeastern corner of the state because of clean air requirements. "My Administration is committed to promoting economic growth and energy security in both rural and urban areas of Wisconsin by using both bio-based products and bio energy in environmentally sound ways," said Governor Doyle.  "I'm pleased that GM is providing an E85 vehicle to help us increase awareness about ethanol fuel and the importance of decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.  When it comes to our energy future, we should rely on the Midwest, not the Mideast." “Ethanol production has incredible growth potential in Wisconsin, and we are excited to work to further promote E85 capable vehicles across the state,” said Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. “We appreciate GM’s support of cleaner-burning alternative fuels like ethanol and its promotion of E85, which helps reduce tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting the economy and increasing our nation’s energy independence.” The announcement is part of a campaign by GM and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition (GEC), a bipartisan group of governors devoted to the promotion and increased use of ethanol. This collaborative effort is designed to increase awareness of ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles, and to promote the increased use of E85 as a renewable, alternative transportation fuel that is able to meet the demands of today’s drivers. GM is currently the largest producer of E85 flexible fuel vehicles in the United States, with over 1.1 million vehicles on the road and with vehicles available for sale in all 50 states. GM approved the use of 10 percent ethanol blended gasoline in all GM products more than 20 years ago, and produces almost five million E10 capable vehicles annually. “We are delighted to work with the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board and the GEC on this important campaign and we commend Wisconsin on the continued growth of ethanol production in the state,” said Doug Dittrich, Regional Sales Manager, Government and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales for GM. “No manufacturer has done more to promote the use of ethanol than GM and today’s announcement is the latest demonstration of our commitment to extend GM’s leadership in manufacturing ethanol-capable vehicles. GM will continue to work with organizations like Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board today and tomorrow, to promote the use of E85 and the many available benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers.” In addition to Wisconsin, GM has provided E85-capable vehicles for use in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. GM will also provide vehicles to the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Ethanol delivers similar performance as regular gasoline and is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that reduces sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons for improved exhaust emissions performance. E85, a blend of 85 percent ethyl alcohol and 15 percent gasoline, is produced from the starch in agricultural products, primarily domestically produced corn. Growing corn actually removes CO2 from the atmosphere so that the total effect of using ethanol made from corn is a significant reduction in greenhouse emissions when compared to the use of petroleum-based fuels. GM’s E85 vehicles are capable of operating on either gasoline or 85 percent ethanol without any additional modifications, aftermarket conversions, or cumbersome switches for vehicle users. Currently, there are over 300 public E85 fueling sites in operation across the nation. GM has joined a growing partnership of states and organizations that support the increased use of ethanol that includes the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. FOR RELEASE: 2005-05-13 Fiat and GM Sign Separation Agreement   Amsterdam, Detroit, Turin, May 13th, 2005 – Fiat S.p.A. (NYSE: FIA) and General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) today signed in Amsterdam a separation agreement which dissolves the purchasing and powertrain joint venture companies formed in 2000. The formal unwinding of Fiat-GM Powertrain and GM-Fiat Worldwide Purchasing was executed as scheduled by Fiat and GM in an earlier agreement. According to the Termination Agreement, signed in New York City on February 13th, 2005, GM has completed the payment to Fiat as provided in the earlier agreement. Fiat and GM regain ownership of all assets they respectively contributed to the powertrain joint venture when it was formed. Fiat and GM have also signed cross-supply agreements for engines and transmissions both in Europe and Latin America. The companies also agreed to establish procedures aimed at enhancing the savings on jointly developed vehicle architectures. Other ancillary agreements address the joint ownership of intellectual property, for example, the joint ownership of 1.9 liter diesel engine technology. Fiat and GM each maintain a 50 percent interest in the powertrain manufacturing plant in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, which currently produces the 1.3 diesel engine and under a new joint venture agreement the companies will continue to operate the facility as a 50/50 joint venture.

Saab 9-5, 9-3 Hatchback Rated as "Safest Cars" in Swedish Road Accident Study

-July 7, Thursday, Minnesota SAAB Club meeting at the Backyard Bar and Grill. Located at the south end of the Har-Mar Mall in Roseville, MN, at 7:30 P.M.