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GM Extends Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility in China in 2011

Introduced Green Technologies, Promoted Road Safety, Supported Public Health

2012-02-02

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Shanghai – General Motors extended its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in China in 2011. It maintained its focus on introducing green technologies, promoting road safety and supporting public health as part of its strategy of working in China, with China and for China.

“GM is exploring new models for building CSR partnerships on our own and with our joint ventures for the long term in China,” said GM China Vice President of Government Relations Roger Xu. “As a good corporate citizen, we aim to help create a greener, safer and healthier community.”

Creating a Green Future

In 2011, GM introduced some of the industry’s most environmentally friendly products and processes in China. In August, Shanghai GM launched the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist. The newest member of the LaCrosse family features a 2.4-liter SIDI intelligent direct injection engine along with advanced eAssist intelligent technology, which work together to reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent compared with the standard LaCrosse model.

At Auto Guangzhou 2011 in November, GM announced that the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle will go on sale at 13 Shanghai GM dealerships in eight cities. The Volt provides the perfect combination of gas-free, zero-emission electric driving along with the added peace of mind provided via its range-extending engine. The Volt's advanced lithium-ion battery system is fully capable of reaching a top speed of 160 km/h and offers pure electric range of up to 80 kilometers. A 1.4-liter gasoline-powered engine extends the range up to an additional 490 kilometers on a full tank of fuel by operating the vehicle’s electric drive system until the car can be plugged in and recharged or refueled. The Volt is the only electric vehicle that isn't limited by range alone; it can meet diverse driving needs, from commuting to work to traveling to the countryside.

In March, the Volt became the first electric vehicle to complete a long-distance drive in China without recharging, travelling 248 kilometers from Shanghai to Hangzhou. As 2011 came to a close, GM brought to China a 10-vehicle demonstration fleet of Volts that will be deployed in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai to help GM better understand how to meet consumer needs for electric vehicles in China and provide consumers with hands-on experience driving an extended-range electric vehicle.

GM China organized the three-city Consumer Fuel Saving Challenge to demonstrate the excellent fuel economy of its popular Buick products. The activity began in Beijing in September, visiting Shanghai in October and Guangzhou in December. It attracted the participation of nearly 100 car owners and their families, who came to compete on a designated route to see who could achieve the top fuel economy.  The best fuel economy recorded was 5.5 liters/100 kilometers for the Buick LaCrosse 2.4L, 5.0 liters/100 kilometers for the Buick New Regal 1.6T and 4.7 liters/100 kilometers for the Buick Excelle GT 1.6L.

Looking to the future, GM is exploring the integration of electric vehicles in a new urban infrastructure using its next-generation EN-Vs (Electric Networked-Vehicle) in test fleets at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. The EN-V made its global debut at World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The Eco-City will test new “green” personal urban mobility concepts such as electric shared-use vehicles, car-free areas, and charging infrastructures. GM also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE to work together to accelerate the development and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in China.

In addition to making its vehicles more efficient, GM is committed to cutting waste and pollutants, conserving resources and recycling materials at the facilities that produce them. Ten GM manufacturing facilities in China have been certified as landfill-free factories, including Shanghai GM’s production bases in Shanghai and Yantai, and SAIC-GM-Wuling’s production base in Qingdao. 

GM has extended its environmental philosophy and technological innovation to its supply chain. In March, the World Environment Center, GM China and SAIC-GM-Wuling jointly launched the SAIC-GM-Wuling Green Supply Chain Pilot Program to provide environmental protection and energy-saving training and guidance for five parts suppliers. The program is benefiting the environment while driving technology progress and reducing production costs among suppliers.

Keeping Road Users Safe

In addition to keeping the users of its vehicles safe, GM is also focused on keeping the people who use the roads safe. In June, GM China and Hudong.com launched the GM Safe Road Project, leveraging GM’s global expertise to promote proper road safety behavior via the Internet. The project’s website, www.gmanxin.baike.com, is the first platform that enables the public to share useful tips on road safety and safe driving. Visitors can search for the latest information and participate in online discussions. They can also upload photos on road conditions to share with their fellow netizens. As of mid-December, the website had generated 260,000 page views, 3,060 registered users, 12,911 postings and 2,488 uploaded safe sites.

Supporting a Healthy Community

GM continued to support a healthy community in China in 2011. It joined SAIC-GM-Wuling in funding construction of the Naman Rural Hospital. The 1,100-square-meter facility opened on June 17, 2011 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Naman township. It is providing improved health care to the rural community and surrounding areas. In addition, doctors at the hospital are receiving further training to ensure the best service for those in need.  

As a result of their contributions, GM and its joint ventures received several important CSR awards in 2011. Shanghai GM received the 10-Year Charity Achievement Award at the Most Respected Enterprise in China Awards. The GM Child Family Road Safety Education Program received China’s 10-Year Top 10 Auto CSR Programs Award and GM’s Low-Carbon Spring Festival Program received the Individual CSR Project Award at the Corporate Social Responsibility Awards, which honored programs carried out through 2010. GM China’s CSR activities received the Outstanding Best Practice Award from the Shanghai Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment. Most recently, GM took home the CSR Best Practice Award presented by China Philanthropy Times.

General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 11 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 35,000 employees in China. GM and its joint ventures offer the broadest lineup of vehicles and brands among automakers in China. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles are sold under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands. In 2011, GM sold a record 2.54 million vehicles in China. More information on General Motors in China can be found at GM Media Online.

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