Can GM Win in China?

2017-12-26 17:11
中国经贸聚焦·英文版 2017年12期

Gr e e n S u p p l y Chain Project

G M C h i n a launched the 2017 Green Supply Chain project in last year. The yearlong initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions at 16 China-based parts and components suppliers that provide parts to GMs operations around the world.

Building on the success of the 2016 program, GM China is offering the new group of suppliers training, energy audits and other support. The focus is on reducing energy consumption and increasing the recycling of materials.

The 2016 program involved eight suppliers, which implemented 64 energy-saving proposals. By decreasing their consumption of electricity and natural gas, the suppliers collectively reduced carbon dioxide by over 5.5 million kg and saved more than RMB 9.3 million.

Chinas First V2X Application Layer Standard Released

The first standard designed for the Vehicle to Everything (V2X) application layer in China was officially released in last year. It was developed by a working group led by GM, together with Tsinghua University and Changan Auto, with the support of the China Industry Innovation Alliance for Intelligent and Connected Vehicles.

As one of the group standards under SAE-China, the new standard provides a framework that is independent of basic communication protocols, enabling different automakers to develop interoperable V2X applications for data interaction. It offers a mechanism for automakers to use a single communication technology for the development and commercialization of all V2X applications.

The standard has already been par- tially adopted in China, paving the way for its nationwide use. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT) has included the standard in the LTE-V Wireless Transmission Technology Standardization and Prototype Development and Testing project. Being part of the project will open the door for the standard to make improvements and quickly gain ground in China.

Receives Sustainability Best Practice Award 2017

GM received the Sustainability Best Practice Award 2017 on September 8 last year at the Heading Toward 2040: Corporate Innovation and Urban Sustainability Excellence Awards. The program encourages sustainable urban development and showcases how local and global companies are supporting Shanghais goal of becoming an innovative, green and people-oriented city.

GM is a leader in addressing the sustainable development of the automotive industry. It is making both its products and its facilities cleaner and greener. It has also gotten its employees involved in many volunteer activities such as protecting the Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve and creating wildlife habitats at its facilities in Shanghai and across the country.

Next-Generation Cadillac User Experience

Cadillac announced the next-generation Cadillac user experience, which offers a more open, personalized and intuitive interface. The system debuts in the Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, which was launched in China at the end of last year.

The next-generation Cadillac user experience is a dynamic platform that can be adjusted over time to meet a customers evolving connectivity needs. It provides an all-new interface, updates, audio services, personalized profiles, connected navigation and audio recognition.

Cadillac was the first car brand to bring to customers infotainment features like proximity-sensing and haptic feedback. This next-generation Cadillac user experience continues to mark the path of leadership. It is simpler and easier to operate, it is more responsive, and it adds new features such as personalized profiles, cloud-connected naviga- tion and enhanced voice recognition technology.

Multi-account driver preferences are personalized, cloud-based profiles. They allow users to customize the infotainment system to match individual preferences and take that same customized experience with them into any new Cadillac user experience-equipped vehicle.

Features such as vehicle and display settings, contact favorites, navigation route preferences and recent destinations can be customized and follow a users profile.

Each driver can create an individual account and personalize their preferences for the Cadillac user experience. They can also set up their own customized experience for the radio, navigation, phone and other vehicle settings.

The next-generation Cadillac user experience features an available all-new navigation app with an intuitive interface and access to destination information via available cloud-based services. This includes updated points of interest, live traffic information, fuel prices and parking information.

Through simple input methods, such as enhanced voice recognition and an improved onscreen search func-tion, users have access to more relevant search results. Over time, this opt-in subscription-based system can learn a users preferred routes and destinations, offering predictive suggestions based upon traffic and frequent destinations.

The built-in OnStar 4G LTE enables an active connection to the vehicle that, with customer consent, will allow Cadillac to remotely update features such as navigation and the newly launched Collection app store after vehicle purchase.

The available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot allows passengers to connect up to seven compatible mobile devices, smartphones and tablets to the highspeed wireless internet. The new system supports the use of two compatible phones concurrently via Bluetooth. (It can memorize information for 10 cell phones through Bluetooth connection.)

Users can access Apple CarPlay through the Home screen. This requires a compatible smartphone. Owners can also manage their vehicles remotely with the industry-leading MyCadillac mobile app via compatible smartphones.

Income of $0.1 Billion and EBIT-adjusted of $2.5 Billion From Continuing Operations

General Motors Co. announced solid third-quarter performance in all operating segments driven by robust results in North America and China, solid improvement in South America, continued growth of GM Financial and an intense focus on costs.

Income from continuing operations impacted by $2.3 billion non-cash charge related to deferred tax assets no longer realizable due to Opel/Vauxhall sale

General Motors Co., its subsidiaries and joint venture entities produce and sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. GM has leadership positions in several of the worlds most significant automotive markets and is committed to lead the future of personal mobility.

Income from continuing operations to common stockholders includes a net loss from special items of $0.7 billion before tax, or $0.29 per diluted share for the quarter. Special items included $0.5 billion related to GM International Operations restructuring, $0.1 billion due to Venezuela deconsolidation and approximately $0.1 billion for legal matters related to the ignition switch recall.

Restructures International Markets to Strengthen Global Business Performance

General Motors announced key restructuring actions in its GM International operations to drive stronger financial performance and focus its capital and resources on business opportunities expected to deliver higher returns.

The company will focus its GM India manufacturing operations on producing vehicles for export only and will transition GM South Africa manufacturing to Isuzu Motors. GMs Chevrolet brand will be phased out of both markets by the end of 2017.

“As the industry continues to change, we are transforming our business, establishing GM as a more focused and disciplined company,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.“We are committed to deploying capital to higher return initiatives that will en- able us to lead in our core business and in the future of personal mobility.

“Globally, we are now in the right markets to drive profitability, strengthen our business performance and capitalize on growth opportunities for the long term. We will continue to optimize our operations market by market to further improve our competitiveness and cost base.”

These decisions were made following an extensive review of operations in GM International markets and reflect a series of actions taken to improve global business performance that began in late 2013.

“These actions will further allow us to focus our resources on winning in the markets where we have strong franchises and see greater opportunity,” said GM President Dan Ammann. “We have compelling plans for growth in both the top line and the bottom line as we invest for the future.”

GM Executive Vice President and President, GM International, Stefan Jacoby said the company is running its GM International markets with an en- terprise approach and making decisions that are best for the global business.

“In India, our exports have tripled over the past year, and this will remain our focus going forward,” he said. “We determined that the increased investment required for an extensive and flexible product portfolio would not deliver a leadership position or long-term profitability in the domestic market.”

In South Africa, Isuzu will acquire GMs light commercial vehicle manufacturing and GM will cease manufacturing and sales of Chevrolet in the domestic market, subject to local regulatory requirements.

“After a thorough assessment of our South African operations, we believe it is best for Isuzu to integrate our light commercial vehicle manufacturing operations into its African business,”said Jacoby. “We determined that continued or increased investment in manufacturing in South Africa would not provide GM the expected returns of other global investment opportunities.”