DETROIT – General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly today began shipping 2014 Cadillac ELR electric luxury vehicles to dealerships.

The ELR luxury coupe is the first application of Extended Range Electric Vehicle technology by a full-line luxury automotive brand. It blends dramatic design and industry-leading extended-range technology to deliver a driving experience that is sporty and environmentally friendly.

The ELR’s driving range, which combines battery-only electric power with a range-extending gasoline-powered electric generator provides total driving range exceeding 300 miles (480 km). The extended range technology is uniquely tuned for Cadillac in the ELR. Most daily commutes will require no gasoline and emit no tailpipe emissions.

Today’s event marked the return of Cadillac production at Detroit-Hamtramck after a two-year hiatus. Employees last built the Cadillac DTS large sedan from 2006 to 2011.

Detroit-Hamtramck, which opened in 1985, is represented by UAW Local 22. In addition to the ELR, employees build the all-new Chevrolet Impala, Malibu and Volt; and Opel Ampera extended-range electric vehicle.

The plant has built some of GM’s best-selling and most important cars. The first vehicle produced for sale at Detroit-Hamtramck was a Cadillac Eldorado, which came off the end of the line on Feb. 4, 1985. Since then, more than 3.5 million Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet cars have been built there.

 

GM FOCUSES ON LOGISTICS TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

DETROIT – General Motors is joining the voluntary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Partnership, which will drive benchmarking of fuel consumption and reduction of emissions by its freight shippers and carriers with the goal of further shrinking the company’s carbon footprint.

“Our environmental impact extends from our supply chain to the use of our products,” said Mike Robinson, vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. “This EPA SmartWay Partnership provides a useful tool to help our company and carriers – who already share our environmental commitment – to reduce emissions and save fuel and money.  It’s a significant win-win situation.”

GM will collect its shipping activity data, including which carriers the company uses to ship freight, the number of miles traveled and freight weight. Combining this information with carrier data, including equipment and service type, GM and its SmartWay partner carriers can develop plans to further reduce carbon emissions.

GM will encourage its logistics carriers that are not part of the SmartWay partnership to become members and take advantage of tips and training to help save fuel and money, and reduce air pollution and emissions that contribute to climate change.

According to the EPA, 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by the transportation sector. Of that percentage, approximately 30 percent is freight related.

“By joining SmartWay, GM is on the road to improve the environmental performance of goods movement and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain,” said Christopher Grundler, director for EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

In its 2012 Sustainability Report, GM identified its supply chain as one of 10 material issues facing the company with respect to its economic, environmental and social impacts. In 2012, the company engaged its logistics suppliers to make the most of routing, reducing greenhouse gases by 62,000 tons. This is the equivalent of the CO₂ emissions from the annual electricity use of 8,530 homes.

GM is committed to localizing its supply chain and sharing best practices through forums such as Suppliers’ Partnership for the Environment, the Automotive Industry Action Group and the EPA ENERGY STAR® program.