General Motors Company

Company Description

General Motors (GM), one of the world’s largest automakers,was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. GM employs 209,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. The company sells its cars and trucks to dealers for consumer retail sales, as well as to fleet customers, including daily rental car companies, commercial fleet customers, leasing companies, and governments. GM and its strategic partners sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Russia. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. In addition, it provides automotive financing services through its subsidiary, General Motors Financial Company, Inc., which purchases automobile finance contracts for new and used vehicles purchased by consumers primarily from franchised and select independent dealerships. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009.

CEO: Daniel F. Akerson; Revenues: $152.46 Billion (2010); Employees: 287,000 (2010).

Statements on Climate Change

“GM has made great progress in reducing our environmental impact, but we know we can do more. [GM's] investment is an extension of the environmental initiatives we’ve been undertaking for years because the solution to global environmental challenges goes beyond just vehicles." ~CEO Daniel Akerson

Climate Change Targets

GM has a strong record of achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. From 2000 - 2009, GM's North American facilities reduced energy usage by 62 percent and CO2 emissions by 61 percent. During the same time period, GM's global facilities reduced energy usage by 48 percent and C02 emissions by 50 percent. GM also has set several GHG emission reduction targets:

• Reduce absolute tons of North American GHG emissions by 40 percent from 2000 to 2010. GM achieved its initial goal by reducing total North American GHG emissions by 23 percent from 2000 to 2005.
• Reduce energy use from global facilities 25 percent and C02 emissions from global facilities 21 percent from 2000 - 2010. In 2009, GM's global facilities achieved a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 2000.
• Reduce C02 emissions per vehicle produced 10 percent from 2002 levels by 2012.

Climate and Energy Strategies

• Energy Supply Solutions [1]
• Energy Demand Solutions [2]
• Process Improvements [3]
• Waste Management Solutions [4]
• Transportation Solutions [5]
• GHG Reduction Targets [6]

Technology Solutions (C2ES's Climate Techbook [7] Factsheets)

• Biodiesel (Company Factsheet [8])
• Cellulosic Ethanol (Company Factsheet [8])
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (Company Factsheet [9])
• Natural Gas (Company Factsheet [10])

Relevant Links: GM Company Web Site [11], GM Environment Web Site [12], GM Metrics for Sustainable Manufacturing [13], GM 2011 Emissions Requirements [14], GM Fuel Solution Facts [15]