AND 
LIVE Video: Detroit Auto Show GM Press Conference
I am here in Detroit about to get started out to the events. Below you will find a real-time live video stream so you can watch the press conference unfold at 10 AM EST. We expect to see a production version of the 50 mpg Chevy Beat (now called Spark), the high efficiency 7-seater microvan called Chevy Orlando, and the new E-Flex Cadillac. As well we should finally have confirmation that LG Chem/CPI got the Volt battery contract and that they will be building a Volt battery pack assembly plant in Michigan.
There has also been news that Ford has finally decided to jump into the electric car arena, and will be showing a 100 mile range pure electric Focus with production plans for 10,000 units in 2011. That’s of course at their press conference.
I’ll be getting more details from the executives involved as the day goes on. Enjoy and thanks for your questions.
Video feed can be found here .
56 Responses to “LIVE Video: Detroit Auto Show GM Press Conference”
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January 11th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Good work Lyle… You are entering the mothership…
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January 11th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Lyle, I think today or tomorrow you will get to drive the Volt. Hey, if you think of it, see if Bob Lutz will drive a Volt to my place for a “Solar Charge”
Thanks……Dick G.
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Lyle,
Can you get information on whether the Spark and the Orlando are planned for the US market and when they might be available?
Have fun at the show.
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Nice, but:
NPNS!!!!
Make them electric, and then I will look at them more!!!
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I suppose GM is holding the production version of the Volt for 2010’s Detroit Autoshow. That’s okay, but if production is pushed back, it looks like there will be lot’s on the market to choose from.
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:41 am
GM, is bankrupt, basically living on our taxpayer money, if they even want a slim chance at survival, they NEED to bring cars like the Beat, or Spark to market in the US. WHY do they not give us fuel effecient vehicles, when we beg, and beg for them? All we get is a 30mpg Cobalt?
I have a 19 year old Volkswagen that gets 30mpg, this is 2009, we need something better than 30mpg. Electric will be my next purchase simply because i refuse to settle for 30mpg as the best to expect, and I know in real world driving the Cruze will be like 35mpg.
Tell GM, that in order to survive, they need to sell cheap 50mpg cars in addition to the $40,000 Volt.
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Here’s a link to some new photos!
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f63/naias-09-2011-chevrolet-volt-73908/
PS: Make sure to check out page 2 for more chassis photos!
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January 11th, 2009 at 8:59 am
From the article:
As well we should finally have confirmation that LG Chem/CPI got the Volt battery contract and that they will be building a Volt battery pack assembly plant in Michigan.
—————–
I don’t understand this. How long does it take to build a factory and start getting batteries out? Is November 2010 still a reality? LG Chem/CPI has to build a factory and produce excellent batteries in 22 months if they start today. Is this enough time? They can’t just buy a plot of land and build it. They have to go through Planning and Zoning, Wetlands commission, etc. This takes time.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I agree with you # 6. I’m ready to buy but am still driving my 12 year old truck that gets 26 to 30 mpg. I’m waiting for an all electric vehicle for my next purchase. And I’ll keep on waiting.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:10 am
joe obrien Says:@6
January 11th, 2009 at 8:41 am
GM, is bankrupt, basically living on our taxpayer money, if they even want a slim chance at survival, they NEED to bring cars like the Beat, or Spark to market in the US. WHY do they not give us fuel effecient vehicles, when we beg, and beg for them? All we get is a 30mpg Cobalt?
I have a 19 year old Volkswagen that gets 30mpg, this is 2009, we need something better than 30mpg. Electric will be my next purchase simply because i refuse to settle for 30mpg as the best to expect, and I know in real world driving the Cruze will be like 35mpg.
Tell GM, that in order to survive, they need to sell cheap 50mpg cars in addition to the $40,000 Volt.
*******************************************************************************
Joe O.Brian, you are misinformed about GM. You use the Cobalt as an example, well, the Cobalt is the leader in it’s class and gets 37 MPG. The Cruze will get in the forty’s and I bet it also will be the leader in it’s class. The Beat will get in the fifty’s….. all these cars are not hybrids, either.
GM still has hundred of billions in assets with plants all over the world. If they can get over this recession, they will be in great shape.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I saw a report that Toyota will be placing about 500 Plug-in Priuses into the hands of fleet vehicle drivers (including about 150 in the USA) in 2009. These will have lithium batteries from Panasonic.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Have fun Lyle! We will live vicariously through your experiences there in Detroit! Keep us informed and Thanks!
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
#10, obviously you are uninformed, they Cobalt only gets 37mpg when using Enron like accounting figures combining City & Highway mpg into some corporate conglomerate style mpg calculation to fool people into thinking the car gets 37mpg, when in reality, it is around 30. If it is 37mpg, how come i can ask over 10 different people who were suckered in on the 37mpg claim, only to barley scrape by with 27-29 real world mpg? Because even 30mpg is an overstatement. Class leading??? What, does it lead the class of 30mpg junk that the auto industry hails as the best it can come up with, so live with it?
This is what I refuse to accept. A mpg statement that is fluffed to make people buy it, because cars don’t have return policies like the crap at Wal-Mart does, so people are stuck with them for the duration of their lease, or till they sell it to another sucker.
And if GM has billions all around the world, why were they on the brink of financial collapse last month, with no ability to pay their parts suppliers this month without an injection of our collective tax money?
All I’m ranting for is for them to pull their head out of their ass and stop the old mismanagement cycle that has GM circling the proverbial drain of bankruptcy. Stop settling for 30mpg, and making bullshit mileage statements to make it seem if you extropolate the mileage driven on the highway, and divide it my the city mileage, the real fromula makes it seem like 37mpg when displayed in a table, or colorful graph is done just right. Or moving the antenna to the rear of a vehicle, or streamlining the headlights, or grille is good to slap another 4mpg onto a vehicle without doing any real hard mechanical work. All fluff, and doesn’t really deliver.
I know I’m ranting at this point, but this needs to stop or GM will simply default on it’s government courtesy loans, followed, if not following chrysler. And then Ford as well. The Volt is a great thing, but such a limited vehicle can’t suppress 15 million units of sales for GM unless lots of their other lines come up to the plate and stop offering 22mpg & 30mpg as the best we can do, especially at $4.00 a gallon and beyond.
In order to break the bankruptcy cycle that GM and the other automakers are in, they need to stop doing the “same old routine” it is obviously NOT working. Do whatever necessary to start making vehicles that achieve a MINIMUM of 50mpg and go up from there. Guess it means we won’t all be driving land yachts, but the current sales figures show no one is buying those behemoths anymore.
GM, please evolve for the future, as it would be a shame for you to simply die out of sheer ignorance, and refusal to see what the market is asking for.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Quick shot:
Chrysler’s 4th electric entry is a Jeep Patroit. 40 miles electric/400 mile range.
No one was allowed to talk/publish about this who had access to the info from Chrysler, but some genius over at Time broke it early…so have at it.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1870822_1870815_1870805,00.html
Apparently, they are using some kind of fancy flat battery pack. Zero to sixty comes in about 8 secs. No pricing announced…no decision on which of the 4 will be made in 2010
More pics/specs at Jalopnik:
http://jalopnik.com/5128342/jeep-patriot-ev-a-conceptual-electric-missile-from-chrysler
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am
#10 joe
re:Cobalt gets 37MPG
===================
Other joe (Joe obrien) is right here. The Cobalt is at best 30 MPG. Your are tagging the highway only of the Cobalt XFE.
EPA/GOV official mileage for the Cobalt:
XFE–30 MPG (25 city/37 highway)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
Standard Cobalt — 29MPG (25 city/35 higway)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am
The Honda Civic I-CTDI gets 73 mpg but our goverment won’t let us buy them.
The old management style of our government or the old management style of our car builders is to blame?. Don’t matter, I’m not buying untill i get what I want. NPNS.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:44 am
More hi-res pics here of Volt and Chassis,
http://media.gm.com/wieck/home/site/index.html
Click on most recent,
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:48 am
“… Cobalt only gets 37mpg when using Enron like accounting figures combining City & Highway mpg into some corporate conglomerate style mpg calculation to fool people into thinking the car gets 37mpg, when in reality, it is around 30.”
I own a 08 Cobalt XFE and I got 37.3 driving from KC to Cleveland last summer. I was doing nothing special, just driving. I get 31.5 overall mixed driving. Now you are informed #13.
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January 11th, 2009 at 9:51 am
#17 BillR
More hi-res pics here of Volt and Chassis,
http://media.gm.com/wieck/home/site/index.html
Click on most recent,
============================
I like the one with the flowers in the trunk the best!
http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/X11CH_VT041.jpg?download=050095
Thats exactly what I’m going to do in my Volt–flower transporter. I’m going to be the Jason Statham of the horticultural world!
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:11 am
There is no better example of where we are heading…
…than dead air
/irony
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Statik,
Thanks for the Jeep pics. I am a bit disappointed that I can’t buy a 4X4 yet, but this is a good start.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Statik #20
You are really too funny.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:13 am
# 18
I owned a 1990 Eclipse that got 42-44 hwy and 36 city. And I could put a sheet of plywood in it with the tailgate open. I wish I kept it. I got rid of it at 240,000 miles because I didn’t want to replace the clutch. I agree with joe, anyone can manufacture a car that gets above 40mpg so why not 50mpg? Why settle for 20 and 30 year old technology. Why do we have to send our kids to get killed for oil. We could become energy independant if we had the right leaders.
P.S. at 230,000 miles the eclipse was only getting 38 hwy /36 city maybe i should have cleaned the injectors or something.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Hey, did we miss our Volt due to the dead air? That would really stink.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:21 am
The Lacrosse is a pretty car.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:33 am
So where is the Volt?!!
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:34 am
E-Flex is now Voltec.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:35 am
The Caddy is pretty attractive!
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Perhaps the “Video on Demand” will have the Volt in it.
I’m curious to hear the audience’s reaction to it.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I love the Caddy as well. Wonder what it will look like after it gets “sliced and diced” into production?
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
So what did we learn?
Beat/Spark is confirmed for NA release in 2011 and that it fits just below the Aveo, and gets 40MPG on the highway.
The Orlando is on the way too.
…and I could be wrong, but it seems like all the GM employees are very excited about the future
Entertaining 15 minutes though. Caddy concept is very ‘twirlly’ and looks good. I wouldn’t want to guess a price tag on it, reminds me of the XLR a little…I think those wheels alone would set you back 7K.
Other random NAIAS things:
North American Truck of the Year: Ford F-150
North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Genesis
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I’m only mentioning this here because of eminent live press conference…not trying to threadjack:
Chrysler has their NAIAS live streaming conference as well at noon today, more EV ’schtuff:
http://72.32.208.177/webcast/tvs/chrysler/naias/chrysler_naias09.htm
New shots of the ‘Dodge Circuit’ and specs:
0-60: sub 5
Range: 150-200 miles
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-dodge-circuit-ev-now-with-cross-hairs/
—–
I hear through the grapevine, that apparently their employees are also excited about the future.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Everyone know the Beat as the Beat. Why change the name to the Spark? It doesn’t make sense to me to spend time and money building up the name, only to change the name later.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:04 am
#33 Rashid
I could hear people say my car is “Beat” or it’s a real “Beater”.
Don’t know if that had anything to do with the decision, but sometimes you have to be careful with names
Remember the GMC slogan “It’s a truck you can live with”. They also had the slogan “it’s a truck you can work with”, and that made sense, but the complementary “live with” slogan made it sound like something you could tolerate if you had to. Poor marketing.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Statik #32:
New shots of the ‘Dodge Circuit’ and specs:
0-60: sub 5
Range: 150-200 miles
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-dodge-circuit-ev-now-with-cross-hairs/
————————————————————————————
Now that’s what I’m talking about!! That’s an EV! An improvement over last years and I think it looks better than the Tesla. I want it, I want it, I want it!! However, IF it gets built at all, I’ll going to hazard to guess a $80,000 price tag and limited production, which will mean true out the door cost of about $120,000.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:36 am
A zillion pictures of the Cadillac ‘Converj’ are out. Jalopnik has ‘computer friendly’ sized pictures taken down off of the GM media site:
http://jalopnik.com/5128642/cadillac-converj-concept-a-volt-for-cadillac
Blistering hig-res here @ GM-media source:
http://media.gm.com/wieck/home/site/index.html
=====================
Also, now that the Lexus HS 250h has debuted (the rebadged next gen Prius), you can find it littering Lexus site: http://www.lexus.com/
(Or direct jump here)
http://www.lexus.com/fcv/HSHybrid.html
I find the exterior kinda bland, especially for the Lexus banner…but the interior is definitely a step up.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:36 am
BillR # 34.
I concede. I get your point and it is good one IMO.
Thanks.
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January 11th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
#18
kcchevyguy
Did I SAY Cobalt XFE? NO, I did not. Read before you open your mouth and sound like a retard. The majority of Cobalt owners don’t have the XFE model.\
Pay attention.
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January 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Lets hope the security is sufficient at the show to keep out the Protesters, Hecklers, Rant and Ravers.
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January 11th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
#8 Rashiid Amul asks: “How long does it take to build a factory and start getting batteries out? Is November 2010 still a reality? LG Chem/CPI has to build a factory and produce excellent batteries in 22 months if they start today. Is this enough time? They can’t just buy a plot of land and build it. They have to go through Planning and Zoning, Wetlands commission, etc. This takes time.”
————————————————————————————–
Battery cell manufacturing does take a while to ramp up. But remember that the battery cells for the Volt will be manufactured using existing LG Chem Li/Ion plants in South Korea, so this is not a problem for the November 2010 date.
Integrating the 500 individual Li/Ion cells into a Volt battery pack is a challenging design, but actually comparatively easy in terms of manufacturing. CPI can ramp this up pretty fast by just buying or leasing existing vacant manufacturing space in the Detroit area.
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January 11th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
#36 statik Says: “Also, now that the Lexus HS 250h has debuted (the rebadged next gen Prius), you can find it littering Lexus site: http://www.lexus.com/
I find the exterior kinda bland, especially for the Lexus banner…but the interior is definitely a step up.”
————————————————————————————–
At least Toyota got wise and went with a regular speedometer on this one. Hopefully GM will get wise and offer a regular speedometer configuration on the Volt as well. Even the Tesla Roadster has a regular speedometer.
Most people don’t like digital speedometers. Hey GM marketing – are you listening?
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January 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
#33 look at this http://www.chevyspark.in/
They sell dewoo matiz as spark in India. May be making it a global brand and adding some more features.
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January 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
#3 nuclearboy Says:
Can you get information on whether the Spark and the Orlando are planned for the US market and when they might be available?
———
According to the video they will be availble in the US 2011
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January 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
#41 Dave G
Most people don’t like digital speedometers. Hey GM marketing – are you listening?
————–
I’m guessing at the touch of a button you can switch between analog and digital. That’s just my guess, because its not very hard to program.
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January 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I hope the Chevy Volt will come in the same Charcoal Gray color of that Cadillac Converj. Are those solar cells on top of the Converj?
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January 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
#44 kdawg Says: “I’m guessing at the touch of a button you can switch between analog and digital. That’s just my guess, because its not very hard to program.”
————————————————————————————–
Yes, well said. That’s what I’m asking for. Not that hard to do with an LCD screen behind the steering wheel.
But will the Volt have this configuration option? Have the Volt marketing guys requested this? If not, I hope they’re listening…
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January 11th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
It’s quite obvious GM is not a video production company.
But the Cadillac Converj…so sexy. I’d love to have one of them. Let’s hope GM learned their lesson with the VOLT and makes the production model looks very similar.
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January 11th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
FYI – Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz said the battery supplier for GM’s much-hyped Volt would be announced Jan. 12.
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January 11th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I think the new Buick LaCrosse looks pretty good.
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January 11th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Oh, That Caddy is beautiful…
I liked how they started and ended the show with Voltec. I think GM gets it.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
obrien,
yes you are ranting, because if you know how to drive you can get 35 mpg with a cobalt easily. So the problem is perception, not product. Blaming GM for what’s happened to the auto industry is pure foolishness. GM cars are competitive with the industry at large, and have been for the last 10 years. The legacy costs are a result of decisions made in the 60’s and 70’s. If you think that is unique to GM wait a few years to see what effect legacy costs will have on your Govt provided Social Security. Saying it’s easy to build 50 mpg auto is goofy. If it’s so easy you build one, warrant it and set up a dealer network to sell it. And then be ready to pay lawyer fees up the wazoo to settle the inevitable suits that result when the Obrienmobile doesn’t perform exactly the way you said it would. And believe it or not, not everyone wants to pack a family of five/six into Prius like vehicles. Large vehicles are necessary, just like pick-ups and large vans. I’m all for the electric revolution, and will buy one of the first that GM has to sell. But I recognize this is a challenging undertaking and not the afterthought you suggest.
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January 12th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Biiir #7 and 17,
,
thanks for the pictures, for one moment I thought I would fall for the Converj but it seems as Statik remarked too that the practicality of the Volt is far better than for the Converj. try to transport so many flowers in it
Thanks for the links and fo rkeeping me a fan of the Volt (BTW perhaps I could have the Converj as my second car).
Regards,
JC
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January 12th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Off topic but I just thought people would be interested in this.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article5483422.ece
Top Gear seem to have it in for Tesla and EVs I reckon.
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January 12th, 2009 at 11:21 am
GM made a good presentation of new and renewed automobiles. And not an SUV or pickup in the lot. Now they have to deliver. I hope they can do so. Good job Lyle.
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January 12th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
#53 Arthur
I am sure Tesla choose the battery manufacture they did for the same reasons GM choose theirs. Energy level and heat dissipation.
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January 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Transcript of the 2nd press conference: (took me 2 damned hours
The chairman and CEO of General Motors, Rick Wagoner:
Hey, good morning and welcome back everyone, appreciate you joining us again today. Yesterday we offered a rolling review of today’s General Motors, 17 cars, crossovers and concepts that mark the start of GM’s second century. We started with a production version of the Chevy volt and ended with the Cadillac Converge concept, two vehicles that really symbolize a new General Motors, and the kind of technology and innovation to which we are committed. The volt is powered by our exclusive Volttech electric propulsion system. When running off its battery the Volt operates as a traditional battery electric vehicle with a driving of up to 40 miles which is more than the average daily commute for 3/4 of Americans. And when the driver of a volt needs to go beyond the 40 miles, a small engine generator kicks in to generate enough electricity to keep the car going for hundreds of additional miles. Now the key to getting the Chevy Volt, our plugged in Saturn Vue, a concept like the Converge, and other electrically driven vehicles, in to the hands of consumers, is advanced lithium ion battery technology. Two years ago we set ourselves a tough challenge to develop a battery that some people said at the time couldn’t be built. Well we went to work with some of the best battery cell manufacturers, and battery pack integrators from around the world and just over a year ago we began testing two different battery solutions for the Volt, since then we’ve run prototype packs through countless tests and our confidence in their ability to deliver the required power, range, safety and durability has grown dramatically. In the process we’ve determined that the design, development and production of advanced batteries must be a core competency for general motors and we’ve been rapidly building our own capability and resources to support this important strategic direction. What you see here is the full size model of a lithium ion battery pack, the one that will actually power the Chevy Volt beginnig late next year. And this morning I’m pleased to announce that GM will manufacture the battery pack, right hear in the United States. Yes [applause], thank you. Yes General Motors is getting back in the battery business. Our facility will be the first lithium ion battery manufacturing plant, operated by a major auto maker in the US. And of course it will create new green jobs. This is a further demonstration of our commitment to the electrification of the automobile and the Chevy Volt. A commitment which now totals over 1bn$.
Subject to final negotiation with state and local authorities we are planning to locate the battery manufacturing site right here in michigan [applause]. we’ll provide more details as we move through the process but let me take this opportunity to recognize michigan governor jennifer granhole, and the michigan house and senate leadership for their key roles in passing new legislation that provides state insentives for battery development in michigan. I’d like to recognize michigan senate majority leader mike biship, speaker of the house of rep Andy Dylan, and Jim Appolito of Michigan Economic Development Corporation all of which are here with us today. Thank you very much for your leadership, we wouldn’t be here without you. I’m also pleased to announce today that after literally thousands of hours of evaluation and testing we’ve selected LG chem to supply the lithium ion cells for the volt battery pack. Our selection of LG chem was based on their demonstrated track record of performance, production readiness, efficiency, durability and exceptional quality. the CEO of LG chem Peter Kim is here with us, Mr . Kim will you please stand? [applause.] Really appreciate your support and great to have you with us for today’s announcement. Our announcements this morning are part of our comprehensive advanced battery strategy for GM, that is expanding along two primary pathways. First we’re identifying core competencies, such as battery research, development and manufacturing and integrating these fundamental into our General Motors product development and manufacturing operations. we believe over time this will become a significant competitive advantage for us in this important new technology. second we are building a roster our battery suppliers and academic experts around the world. and leveraging their specialized abilities to develop battery chemistries and cell designs. in support of these two pathways and our overall battery strategy, we’re also pleased to make several additional announcements this morning. First GM will open the largest automotive battery laboratory in the us later this year, with a footprint of about 31.000 square feet, roughly the size of the Chevy display area that you see here at this year?s show. This new lab will accelerate our development of advanced battery technology and leave GM’s network of existing battery labs in the US and Germany. Our intention, again subject to negotiation with state and local government authorities, is to locate this new lab in the state of Michigan. We’ll provide more details as we move through that process. Second we’ll continue to ramp up our in-house battery development capability. By adding this year, further to our roster of hybrid electric vehicles and advanced battery engineers, researchers and technicians including more than 200 dedicated to advanced battery technologies alone. Third, in addition to our partnership with LG chem, we will continue to grow and establish a robust line-up of battery suppliers for cell development and manufacturing, including companies such as A123systems and Hitachi as well as for battery integration with Compact Power and Cobasys. And finally this morning I’d like to announce that GM will form a partnership with the university of Michigan to establish a new advanced battery lab at its Ann Arbor campus, including the creation of a specialized curriculum to develop future automotive battery engineers within the university’s prestigious college of engineering. With us today is the director of the university of Michigan’s energy systems engineering program, and a huge proponent of advanced battery development, Dr. Anne Marie Sastri. Dr. Sastri will you please stand? [applause]. Really great to have you and your leadership as part of our dynamic battery team. Dr. Sastri will be available to answer questions immediately following our press conference. So taken together today’s announcements are a next important step in GM’s commitment to the electrification of the automobile. The fact they involve close collaboration with all the key players, governments, suppliers and universities is an example of the kind of team work that we believe is necessary for the advancement of this important technology. we look forward to working closely with the new administration as well as other partners to accelerate the electrification of the automobile. With that I’d like to invite GM vice chairman Bob Lutz, LG Chem CEO Peter Kim and university of Michigan professor Ann Marie Sastri to join me on stage, I’d also like to invite our friends from the media to join us, we’ll be happy to answer your questions about GM’s advanced battery strategy. Thank you very much.
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