General Motors Debuts US Car-Sharing Program in NYC

© General Motors

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!

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Boo! 5 Creepy but Appropriate Halloween Decoration Ideas

DURAND, Mich. –– Once upon a time, there was a quiet house with a single, yellow porch light suffusing its lawn in a suburban neighborhood. No kid in their right mind would go near it, especially when it came time for trick-or-treating. Legend has it that the house was haunted! But in reality its owners simply didn’t understand the importance of decorating for Halloween, which kept every kid at bay.

This fall, don’t be the owner of the boring house. Instead, check out these 5 creepy but appropriate Halloween decoration ideas that will make your house the spookiest on the block.

DIY Floating Witch Hat Luminaires

DIY Halloween Window Décor

Jack-o-Lanterns and Painted Pumpkins

Eerie Lawn Graves

DIY Halloween Wreath

You don’t have to dig yourself a grave over Halloween decorations –– like some neighbors –– but there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun and showing the kids around the block you do have some Halloween spirit –– no exorcism-pun intended. Up your spookiness and use these 5 creepy but appropriate Halloween decoration ideas to kill it on the on the scale of how autumn-festive you are. We’re betting you'll jump from a ghostly zero to a freaky 10! And don't forget to stop by our Chevrolet dealer near Flint, MI, for a scary-good deal on new Chevy cars and new Chevy trucks –– we promise none of our vehicles are haunted. 

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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Chevrolet Invests $5 Billion into New Vehicle Development

© Copyright General Motors

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.

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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New Chevrolet Silverado Ads Poke Fun at the Aluminum Ford F-150

© Copyright General Motors

DURAND, Mich.– The American economy is ruled by competition, and the auto industry is one facet of the market that is chock full of it, which is why Ford shouldn’t get too upset as the new Chevrolet Silverado ads poke fun at the aluminum Ford F-150– it’s just an extension of their healthy rivalry!

In all seriousness, Ford’s aluminum body idea sounds good in theory, but wouldn’t you feel safer driving a machine made of aluminum’s stronger older brother, Steel? If you think like us, you’d go with the 2015 Chevy Silverado made of steel over the 2015 Ford F-150 made of aluminum, and Chevy did a great job of representing the differences between these two designs through two hilarious ads that appeared online.

The first ad shows real people in materials testing facility where they are asked to examine the durability of two cages, one made of steel and the other of aluminum. After briefly analyzing and comparing the strength of the cages to each other, a 700-pound grizzly bear is released into the facility and the participants are told they’d better pick a cage for protection. Can you guess which cage they chose before being shown a 2015 Chevy Silverado built with steel?

The second ad is more lighthearted, but still gets to the core of the aluminum design issue. Chevy had a handful of comic book fanatics come out to give their opinions on a superhero named Almighty Aluminum Man that they created for a hypothetical movie. It’s a huge joke Chevy uses to allude to Ford’s aluminum truck design, and the comic book lovers don’t hold back their criticism of Almighty Aluminum Man’s weak aluminum design either.

The new Chevrolet Silverado ads poke fun at the aluminum Ford F-150 not because Chevy wants to be the mean neighborhood bully, but because they want you to drive a durable, high strength steel vehicle that will keep you safe on the road. We feel the same way, and that’s why you can get non-aluminum vehicles like New Chevy Trucks and New Chevy Cars at our Clio Area Chevrolet Dealer! Of course, if you’re looking for something made of high strength steel, we feel obligated to mention the 2015 Chevy Silverado is the way to go!

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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