General Motors is attempting to solve a vexing problem facing the car industry today – how to attract young consumers that seem to have a low interest in cars.  The five-year strategic vision is to infuse General Motors with the same insights that made MTV reality shows extremely popular with the younger generation.  Ross Martin, executive vice president of MTV Scratch, said, “How do you embed... 

General Motors announced that its profits for the year were larger than expected, meaning that the company’s hourly workers in the United States will receive profit-sharing checks of up to $7,000 next month.  GM earned $7.6 billion in 2011, 62% higher than the $4.7 billion earned a year ago.  A formula in the United Automobile Workers union’s new contract with GM will give payments of up to $7,000... 

G.M. has been confirmed as the world’s biggest automaker for 2011, after three years at second place behind Toyota.  G.M. is only two years past its government rescue and bankruptcy and the company’s ability to reach the number one spot is sure to increase morale within the company.  Van E. Conway, chief executive of consulting firm Conway MacKenzie, said, “Two years ago, nobody would have... 

President Barack Obama has set a goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on the nation’s roads by 2015, but U.S. auto-safety regulators are questioning the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used to power plug-in electric vehicles after a General Motors Chevrolet Volt caught fire.  The Volt caught fire while parked at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing center in Wisconsin... 

A new four-year contract has been approved by factory workers at General Motors.  The new contract promises thousands of new jobs and includes profit-sharing benefits instead of raises for most workers.  The United Auto Workers union said that 65 percent of production workers and 63 percent of skilled-trades workers, such as electricians, voted for the deal. The new contract was the first one approved...