I Love Graff Durand: General Motors

Showing posts with label General Motors. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

GM Takes Lead in Solar Energy Use With Solar Array at Corvette Plant

DURAND, Mich. –– GM is taking the lead in solar energy use with a solar array at its Corvette plant, according to the Solar Means Business report put out by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

General Motors will continue to break ground in renewable energy use by investing in an 850-kilowatt array at the Bowling Green assembly, home of the Chevrolet Corvette, in Kentucky. This will be the largest installation by any automaker in Kentucky, and will generate enough energy to make 850 Corvettes annually. In turn, the Corvette features the greatest efficiency of any sports car on the market with an EPA-estimated 29 mpg highway.

Not only will GM break ground in Kentucky, but also at its Rochester Operations facility in New York with a 466-kilowatt array, and at its Warren Transmission plant in Michigan with a 800-kilowatt array in partnership with DTE Energy in the next several months.

The company will hold an industry-leading 11.4 megawatts of solar arrays throughout its 16 U.S. facilities, generating nearly 15 million kilowatt hours of energy instead of creating carbon emissions from burning 11 million pounds of coal.

Renewable energy is something important to GM, and that's clear as the automaker takes the lead in solar energy use with a solar array at its Corvette plant. You can make your own footprint smaller by investing in a fuel-efficient car from our used car or new car inventories. Stop by our dealership and we'd be happy to help you find the right one!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Monday, October 12, 2015

General Motors Debuts US Car-Sharing Program in NYC

DURAND, Mich. –– A U.S. debut of General Motors’ car-sharing program, "Let's Drive NYC," has been in the talks for a while now, alongside disclosures that the automaker plans to move forward with vehicle connectivity and autonomous vehicle technology.

“Customers want options on how to move from Point A to Point B that provide flexibility and personalization,” said GM President Dan Ammann. “Let’s Drive NYC is just one part of GM’s global urban mobility strategy. We view evolving consumer preferences, such as car-sharing, as real business opportunities, where we can quickly build on our existing capabilities such as OnStar connectivity to very effectively meet customer needs.”

GM’s “Let’s Drive NYC” car-sharing program will make an inaugural appearance in New York City for residents of The Ritz Plaza, a luxury apartment building at Times Square. These affluent residents will have an additional mode of transportation added to their list of options that include New York's subway system, taxis, biking, and walking.

“When GM approached us with their car-sharing program, we were excited to incorporate this innovative service to further enhance our residents’ lifestyle,” said Ofer Yardeni, chairman and CEO of Stonehenge, a leader in community-building events within the Manhattan residential market. “Owning a vehicle in New York City is expensive and inconvenient. GM’s Let’s Drive NYC car-sharing program delivers a valuable and sought-after amenity, and residents of The Ritz Plaza are taking full advantage of it.”

The aforementioned transportation choices are common in America’s large cities, chiefly New York, and for a good reason. Owning and driving a vehicle in a city of millions is expensive and nearly unfeasible due to frequent gridlock and pedestrians. However, the debut of GM’s car-sharing program could turn driving into a practical transportation option.

Sharing vehicles with other drivers is convenient for city dwellers because it allows them to take advantage of that transportation without having to worry about paying for garage space, which can be pricy in large cities where space is limited and valuable.

GM developed a mobile app that residents use to reserve a vehicle and find parking in one of the 200 garages in Manhattan managed by Icon Parking Systems. Right now the fleet consists of eight Chevrolet Trax small SUVs and two Chevrolet Equinox compact SUVs.

Residents are given electronic credits good for three hours of rental per month. When they use up their three hours they pay $10 per hour or $75 for a 24-hour reservation. The car-sharing programs prices might seem steep, but if you consider that residents won’t be driving every day “Let’s Drive NYC” should prove to save them money over time.

In the past, GM has used pilot programs similar to “Let’s Drive NYC,” including a partnership with Google in 2014 when it piloted a commuter ride-sharing service using Chevrolet Spark EVs and a car-sharing program in Toronto for university students. Now the automaker seems confident in its decision to offer this convenience to people living in dense urban places.

A major tenet of GM’s philosophy that we admire at our Chevrolet dealer near Flint, MI, is its careful reasoning. It may seem that GM has been slow to produce ideas concerning new connectivity and autonomous driving technology, or transportation options like car-sharing, but the reality is the automaker is ensuring it plays its cards right for the sake of its customers. You can see the amount of consideration GM has for its drivers simply by taking one of our new Chevy cars or new Chevy trucks for a test-drive. Stop by sometime to see for yourself.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Flint Engine Builds Millionth 1.4L Engine and Prepares Ecotec Engine Production

DURAND, Mich. – In August 2015, General Motors’ Flint Engine built its millionth 1.4L engine and is preparing for Ecotec engine production.

When the facility ends production of the 1.4L engine at the beginning of September, workers will transition to manufacturing the all-new Ecotec small gas engine. The Ecotec will be used in the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, and full implementation is expected by year’s end.

GM began manufacturing the 1.4L engine for the Volt, Cruze, and Sonic in 2001, and Flint Engine became a key facility in that production after opening its doors in 2002. Now, GM is investing $200 million in upgrades to the plant in order to manufacture the new Ecotec.

GM will used eight engine plants, including Flint’s, in six countries to produce 2.5 million Ecotec engines a year by 2017. For now, Ecotec engines built at Flint Engine will go into the Volt and Cruze, but the engine is expected to become a global component eventually.

The launch of the Ecotec in 2013 catalyzed a team made of Flint Engine employees and GM engineers and employees from Michigan, Mexico, and Japan for the powertrain pre-production process. For months the team collaborated to develop the Ecotec engine that will begin production in early September 2015.

Throughout the development phase of the Ecotec engine, construction crews installed equipment and readied the plant to transition production from the 1.4L engine. The crew is in the final phase of equipment installation, just in time for Flint Engine to build its millionth 1.4L engine and prepare for Ecotec engine production.

By year’s end, the first shipment of Ecotec engines will head to GM’s Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant for the Chevrolet Cruze, and Volt production will begin later in 2016.

Despite ending 1.4L engine production, Flint Engine will continue to manufacture the 3.6L engine through its transition to the Ecotec engine. The facility builds the 3.6L engine for the Chevrolet Colorado and Traverse, GMC Canyon and Acadia, and Buick Enclave.

Once again, it’s great to see how much attention GM is paying to Flint. With a handful of engine facilities, the automaker could have gone anywhere else. But Flint seems to be the ideal location for GM, possibly for its layout, but perhaps also because the Vehicle City is home. All of the activity makes us proud to represent GM as a Flint area Chevy dealer with a variety of new Chevy cars and trucks.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Online Visualizer Lets You Customize Your 2016 Camaro and Get a Price

DURAND, Mich. – If you’ve been anticipating the release of the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, stay hyped – We have more news for you. Before you place an order for your Gen Six, an online visualizer lets you customize your 2016 Camaro and get a price.

Surprisingly, you can expect your Camaro to be pretty affordable, consider the type of vehicle it is, even with a multitude of updates and new standard features. The 1LT rolls in at a suggested retail price of $26,695, while the SS, Chevy’s most powerful Camaro ever, speeds things up a little to $37,295 for the 1SS.

While the new Camaro will hit dealer lots with a more straightforward lineup than before –as two models, LT and SS, and four trim levels, 1LT, 2LT, 1SS, and 2SS – you can expect more freedom in how you want the car to look with the online visualizer that lets you customize your 2016 Camaro and get a price.

You have a palette of features to sift through when it comes to customizing your 2016 Camaro, including five interior colors and different interior accents, 10 exterior colors, ground effects, wheels, and stripes. You can also pick and choose form accessories like:

Three aluminum wheel designs, in multiple finishes
Grille kits with six body-color inserts for LT and SS models; inserts are also available in chrome-appearance or primed versions for custom painting
A blade-style rear spoiler and a ground effects kit, each offered in 10 colors
Four exterior graphics packages, offered in multiple colors, including a body-side “spear” design; rally stripe design; front-fender “hash mark” design; and a racing stripe design
Interior trim kits, offered in multiple colors, including knee pads and door accent trim

Depending on the Gen Six model and trim you decide to go with, you can also choose alternate finishes for accessories like smoked taillamp lenses and blacked-out or LED-illuminated Chevrolet bowtie emblems.

If you’ve been waiting for the 2016 Camaro to hit the market, you’re probably even more excited knowing you can make your Gen Six completely personalized with the online visualizer. Giving customers exactly what they want is what Chevy does best, and we reflect that at our Clio area used car dealer, where we will have the 2016 Camaro in our inventory soon enough. We also have a large inventory of Certified Pre-Owned cars and trucks.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

GM Plans to Renovate Durant-Dort Factory One Near Downtown Flint

DURAND, Mich. –– Before his successful foray into a seminal automotive industry in 1908 –– an entrance that correspondingly altered the business to this day –– General Motors founder William Durant cut his teeth producing carriages under Durant-Dort Carriage Company with his business partner Josiah Dort. After years of disrepair and neglect, GM plans to renovate Durant-Dort Factory One near downtown Flint as an homage to the automaker's forefather, but also to continue stabilizing the future of Flint and its metropolitan area through urban rejuvenation.

GM will invest millions to restore and repurpose the high-bay area of the factory’s west wing as an archive for an impressive auto collection presently under supervision at Kettering University and other noteworthy Flint vestiges from the Durant era. The second floor of the factory’s east wing will be renovated as a GM executives meeting area, as well as a space for community and educational groups to hold STEM-related classes, seminars, and research.

Before tackling the interior project, GM will work with architects from SmithGroupJJR, based in Ann Arbor, who have experience overhauling historic buildings and constructing contemporary archives.

GM purchased the factory in 2013 and has since invested $3 million to restore the exterior with new windows and doors, plus the installation of a fence around a GM-owned parking lot across Water Street. GM plans to renovate the interior of Durant-Dort Factory One near downtown Flint in early 2016, and expects a completion date to appear sometime in 2017.

GM's investment in the factory dovetails with a series of investments around Flint, including $2 million into Kettering University to develop a powertrain laboratory, $2 million into Kettering by 2018 for an automotive proving ground for students, and $877 million into Flint Assembly for a new body shop. It will also renovate the Durant-Dort Carriage Company office building across the street from the factory.

With the uproar of activity occurring in and around Flint, we truly believe this community is on the cusp of serious revitalization. We absolutely love being a Flint area Chevy dealer with an awesome inventory of new Chevy cars and trucks, and we can't wait to see what GM does for its hometown.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Back to the Bricks to Cruise into Downtown Flint

Photo Credit: WNEM.com

DURAND, Mich.– If you love automotive history, classic cars and simply having a good time, then it’s time for you to get ready for Back to the Bricks to cruise into downtown Flint, Mich. With all of the fun things planned, this year’s Back to the Bricks is going to be one for the books. You don’t want to miss all of the action, so we put together a little itinerary for you to go off.

Tuesday, August 11

Back to the Bricks starts things off an open house at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a free showing of “Smokey and the Bandit” at the US-23 Drive-In Theater at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, August 12

You can see the Opening Ceremony for the Cruise downtown at 4 p.m., then watch the Rolling Cruise that will move from downtown Flint to Grand Blanc from 5-9 p.m. During the Rolling Cruise, take your kids to participate in the GM-sponsored Pinewood Derby in Grand Blanc and wait for the Rolling Cruise to arrive. After the pinewood derby, check out the Miniature Toy Car Tournament at First Baptist Church of Grand Blanc, where cars will be provided.

Thursday, August 13

Thursday looks about the same as Wednesday with another Rolling Cruise, Pinewood Derby and Miniature Toy Car Tournament, but you can never go wrong with doing all three 2 days in a row!

Friday, August 14

This is when Back to the Bricks really revs up the excitement. There will be a free hot dog lunch for cruisers at Duke’s Car Stereo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and then another Rolling Cruise from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. But from 2-8:30 p.m., you can sing your heart out at the Back to the Bricks Cruise ‘n’ Concert, featuring the Motown hits cover band The Heartbeats at 5 p.m. and musician Dave Bennet at 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 15

The last day of Back to the Bricks will contain the entrée of events you’ll have waited all week for. Things will kick off bright and early at 6:30 a.m. with a Hillbilly Breakfast Buffet. When Back to the Bricks cruises into downtown Flint during the day, you’ll have the opportunity to check out a number of different car displays at the Car Show, including the All-Buick Car Show and Drag Racing Cars Display among others. Other fun activities include:

Unveiling of the Albert Champion statue
Livernois Chassis Dyno
Coloring wall, face painting, ballon art
Automotive Art and church tours at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Genwood Cemetery Walking Tours with antique hearses, actors portraying automobile greats and Civil War reenactments

As you can see, Back to the Bricks is a pretty comprehensive week-long event. You might not make it to every event every day, but you can rest assured that there will definitely be multiple enjoyable things for you, your family and your friends to do all week long. Be sure to check out Back to the Bricks to see an even more detailed schedule with specific times and locations! When we think about how special Back to the Bricks is to this community, it makes us very proud to be a Flint area Chevy dealer where you can find the best New Chevy Cars and New Chevy Trucks!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Chevrolet Invests $5 Billion into New Vehicle Development

DURAND, Mich.– Since its inception, the auto industry has been in perpetual motion to accommodate the influx of new technology and changes in consumer preferences. General Motors brands have always adjusted well to these demands, and the latest example is how Chevrolet will invest $5 billion into new vehicle development for global growth markets. It's a step GM and Chevy will take to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak, and ensure consumers in these markets that Chevy is the brand they can rely on for design, technology and performance.

Chevy will develop an entirely new vehicle family for these markets that will take the place of multiple current vehicles. Chevy anticipates the new vehicle family will sharpen its competitive edge and increase profitability.

Along with Chevrolet investing $5 billion into new vehicle development, GM will deepen its partnership with SAIC Motor and the two will collaborate on the new vehicle family’s core architecture and engine design. The closer relationship will add to GM’s architecture consolidation plan, and save them money in development and total vehicle costs.

By using a team of multinational designers, the new Chevy vehicle family will be extremely comprehensive in its market appeal. In short, the vehicles will be very cosmopolitan with rich influences from a variety of cultures and interests deriving from multiple nationalities.

Chevy plans to manufacture and sell the vehicles in Brazil, China, India and Mexico, and export to several other growth markets. However, you won’t see these vehicles anywhere in the United States, which is already a mature market and has no need for a completely new vehicle family.

But don’t feel left out– consider all of the New Chevy Cars and New Chevy Trucks you have to choose from in each model year! We promise you, the Chevy vehicles available at our Corunna area Chevrolet dealer are the best offerings from the automaker.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Story of the First Chevrolet Corvette

DURAND, Mich. –– There's no question Americans have an affinity for anything automotive, and many of the country’s top enthusiasts would agree that one particular classic performance car will never desist as a force to be reckoned with: the Chevrolet Corvette. In celebration of this monumental automobile that first rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953, it's worth taking a look at the story of the first Chevrolet Corvette's arduous road to success.

The idea for the Corvette emerged in 1951 after General Motors designer Harley J. Earl pondered the production of an affordable American sports car able to compete with European monoliths such as MG, Jaguar, and Ferrari. Although it took nearly two years for the concept to reach fruition, the first two-seater production Corvette finally entered the automotive pool and today we’re still seeing ripples from its impact.

Before beginning production, Chevrolet kindled the story of the first Corvette when they debuted a concept model in January 1953 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. According to GM, a “trim, fleet naval vessel that performed heroic escort and patrol duties during World War II” was the eponymous influence for the fiberglass-body, six-cylinder Corvette that piqued the interest of everyone in attendance.

Like its ornate name, the first Corvette was one flashy son-of-an-automobile that exhibited an ostentatious Polo White exterior and red interior, a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a wraparound windshield, whitewall tires, and removable plastic curtains in lieu of windows.

Unprecedented innovation also bolstered the 1953 Corvette as America’s new sports car, including features like a clock, cigarette lighter, and red warning light that turned on when the driver applied the parking brake. While the 1953 Corvette only showed average speed performance, going from zero to 60 in 11 to 12 seconds, its unique style and features helped value it at $3,490.

Despite the Corvette's popularity today, it struggled to gain recognition from the automotive world during the first two years of its life. To the chagrin of GM and Chevrolet, the 1953 Corvette received curious glances but failed to steal the hearts of American motorists.

By 1954, when Chevrolet began full-scale mass production of the car at one of their plants in St. Louis, the Corvette’s ho-hum start in the automotive world hadn't ceased spiraling downward since inception, and GM considered abandoning production for good. That is, until a certain rival automotive manufacturer introduced their two-seater Thunderbird.

This competitive threat pushed GM to improve the Corvette. In 1955 they stuck a V8 engine underneath the sports car's hood and never looked back. From then on the Corvette garnered the nickname “America’s sports car” and steadily became pop culture symbol perpetually revered and referenced by motorists and the media alike.

The Corvette’s impressive history and its comeback story are an example of what it took for Chevrolet to become the automaker it is today. Chevy’s drive, passion and the guts to do what others haven’t are what make us proud to sell New Chevy Cars and New Chevy Trucks at our Flint Area Chevy Dealership. Stop in sometime and see for yourself.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

Friday, June 12, 2015

2017 Chevy Bolt Spotted

DURAND, Mich.– It’s not everyday that someone’s camera captures a crisp image of lightning, but the images of the 2017 Chevy Bolt spotted in a test-drive are electric.

The 2017 Chevy Bolt spotted was donning black and white camouflage that automakers typically use to disguise their prototypes. Regardless of the camouflage, the vehicle’s shape and creases stand out and ensure that the new EV will be just as stylish as Chevy’s other models.

Aside from its assumed looks, what makes the 2017 Bolt so intriguing is the astonishing claim that the EV can endure 200 miles on one electric charge. How exactly the hatchback is capable of such distance as an EV is uncertain, but we’re expecting to see something marvelous under the hood once Chevy brings the 2017 Bolt to market, as you can tell in this video:

By keeping the cost of purchase down at $30,000, Chevy plans to broaden its EV consumer segment with the 2017 Bolt, which will be manufactured at General Motors’ factory in Lake Orion, Mich. That’s not a bad price considering the technology behind the 2017 Bolt! There’s a reason why people love buying vehicles from Chevy. The 2017 Bolt is one example, but the New Chevy Cars and New Chevy Trucks at our New Lothrup Area Chevy Dealership also explain why.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand

At Hank Graff Chevrolet, we are revolutionizing the car buying experience. We are doing this by providing all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun. After all, we believe getting behind the wheel of a new car should be exciting!

When you visit our dealership, you’ll find that our team members enjoy being here. You will hear a lot of laughter, jokes, and genuine enjoyment echo throughout our dealership’s lobby. This fun atmosphere is what keeps customers coming back to our dealership time and time again!