With Chevrolet recently revealing the new 2013 Trailblazer for global markets speculation has begun that GM could be considering a new Envoy for GMC based on the same platform.

It actually makes sense, considering that Chevrolet reportedly has no plans to bring the Trailblazer to North America as of today. Instead, building a new Envoy and letting GMC sell it exclusively would add another formidable midsize SUV to the truck brand. In the recent years, GMC has launched the new Terrain and some revised HD trucks, but that’s about it. Bringing back the Envoy could give GMC some attention and a unique product that fits into their truck brand.

GALLERY: 2013 Chevy Trailblazer Concept

[Source: GM Inside News]

GM has issued a recall on Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pick-up trucks produced between September 9th, 2011 to October 19th, 2011 for a faulty driver’s side seatbelt buckle. An electrical connector on the buckle might not have fit snugly with the connector pins which will cause the seat belt warning light to not illuminate when the belt is not fastened.

It’s not exactly the most disastrous of recalls, though NHTSA wanted to remind everyone that the lack of an audible or visual warning that the driver’s seatbelt isn’t fastened could increase the risk of injury during an accident. Either way, GM will rectify the issue by installing a new electric connector terminal with the recall beginning on November 30th.

[Source: LeftLane News]

If you own a new GMC or Chevrolet van, there’s a chance the airbags might not be safe.

The notice comes after General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that airbags in 1,798 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans manufactured between June 2, 2011 and October 17, 2011 have faulty airbag systems that fail in their second stage during a severe frontal crash.

This isn’t the first time this year that GM issued recalls related to their airbag systems. Earlier this month we reported on an airbag recall for the Pontiac G8 after it came to light that many of the vehicles had issues with late deployment.

Owners can expect a call later this month when the recall begins if they own a qualifying vehicle.

[Source: Left Lane News]

There may still be two months to go, but General Motors is all but certain to reclaim the title of World’s Largest Automaker for 2011. GM last held claim to producing the most vehicles back in 2007, and for the 76 years before that, before being ousted by Toyota in 2008. Toyota has since retained that position for two more years, with Volkswagen emerging onto the scene to be a major player.

In fact, success by VW and GM, along with faltering sales by Toyota (with a number of factors including this year’s earthquake and tsunami) will mean Volkswagen will most likely finish second, with Toyota slipping to third.

So far this year, GM’s sales total 6.79 million, a million ahead of Toyota’s 5.77 million units, with VW selling 6.17 million units.

Further down the list in fourth place is the combined totals of Nissan and Renault with 4.93 units, while the growing Korean juggernaut of Hyundai and Kia has amassed 4.73 million. In sixth place is Ford at 4.27 million units.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Between 250 and 300 engineering jobs in Australia may disappear in the next two years if Holden stops producing its Commodore at home.

If the decision becomes final, it means a big change considering the company has designed, engineered and built the Commodore on Australian shores for 64 years.

In an interview with OptusZoo News, the chief engineers behind the Commodore confirmed that 2014 may be the last year the line is made in Australia. The decision likely came from owner General Motors in an effort to increase cost efficiency.

Australian Senator Kim Carr couldn’t confirm to Left Lane News what will happen to the jobs that will dissolve as a result of the change, but said the Australian government is discussing possible investment by GM in the country.

[Source: Left Lane News]

You’ve probably heard of Costco members getting  incentives to buy new vehicles  at dealers on your local radio. However, one automaker; General Motors is taking things a step further, teaming up with the wholesale giant to sell select Chevy/GMC pickups and SUVs through a number of authorized retailers for a no haggle “preferred price.”

In addition, eligible buyers will also receive a $500 Costco Cash Card for further savings on the price of a new truck. As part of the program, GM will display vehicles at Costco outlets across the country, which according to a company spokesman for the General; Jim Cain, enables the automaker to “reach people in a unique setting outside of a dealership.”

The “preferred” price actually varies from vehicle to vehicle, though according to Cain, will be similar to incentives  offered to employees of GM suppliers, who currently receive discounts on new cars and trucks.

Eligible vehicles in the Costco program include  the 2011/2012 Chevy Silverado, Tahoe and Surburan as well as the Traverse, plus their GMC equivalents, Sierra; Yukon, Yukon XL and Acadia.

In order to participate, Costco members have to register online with the Costco Auto Program or call a special phone number. They must also complete surveys and redemption forms after purchasing a vehicle in order to receive the $500 Cash Card.

[Source: Automotive News]

34,000 units of GM’s 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers are recalled due too improperly calibrated tire pressure monitoring systems.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, requires all tire pressure monitoring systems to illuminate a warning signal when the tires are below 25 percent of the vehicle’s recommended psi. However, the sensors fitted into the 2012 Equinox and Terrain may not illuminate until it is even lower than that.

Improperly inflated tires will result to various unsafe situations including an overloaded and overheating tire that may blowout at speed, increasing the possibilities of a crash. Inconveniences such as irregular and premature wear, poor handling, as well as poor fuel economy can be a result of underinflated tires as well.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain

It might be a scary thought to some, but according to Alan Taub, vice president of Global Research and Development at General Motors, the self-driving car is less than a decade away.

Advances in technologies such as sensors, portable communications devices, radars, GPS systems and cameras, collectively make the idea more feasible now than ever before.

During a speech at the Transport Systems World Congress in Orlando, Florida yesterday, Taub declared that, “the technologies [GM is] developing will provide an added convenience by partially or even completely taking over the driving duties. The primary goal, though, is safety. Future generation safety systems will eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation.”

In fact, some of the technologies Taub talked about can already be found on current GM production vehicles, such as a lane departure warning and crash avoidance system via a front mounted camera which is standard on the 2012 GMC Terrain crossover. A blindspot alert system is also fitted to a number of the General’s SUVs, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, as well as the Buick LaCrosse sedan.

In addition, GM is working on more advanced systems, such as vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communication setups, where sensors gather information from other vehicles, pedestrians, buildings, obstructions, roadways, even traffic signals to warn drivers of potential hazards ahead, such as slippery road conditions, stalled or crashed vehicles or busy or dangerous intersections. Such systems can be added as apps to portable devices such as smart phones which wirelessly connect to the car, or are embedded in the vehicle itself.

In addition, GM is working on its next generation EN-V urban concept vehicle which combines GPS with vehicle to vehicle communications and distance sensing technology. This latest EN-V is designed to enable fully autonomous driving, incorporating such features as collision avoidance, platooning even automated parking and retrieval.

The idea is that one day, city dwellers will have a personal transportation device that will be able drop off its driver, park itself and then be summoned when needed, simply via a command on the driver’s smart phone.

If you’ve got a GM vehicle and OnStar, you’ll be able to rent out your idle car and make some extra cash through the RelayRides marketplace.

General Motors has teamed up with RelayRides, a peer-to-peer carsharing marketplace, that’s targeted to owners of a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle. This innovative program puts the vehicle owner in control – you can choose the rates and availability of your car.  Done through RelayRides online marketplace, there’s a $1 million insurance policy to make the transaction safe and convenient.

Using the OnStar system, RelayRides lets borrowers unlock GM cars with their mobile phones – no additional hardware is needed. If you don’t have OnStar but want to take part in the program, you’ll have to install a small device in your car so borrowers can access it.

“We’re using technology to make both our older and newest models carshare ready and available for those owners who choose to participate in carsharing,” said Stephen Girsky, GM vice chairman. “Our goal is to find ways to broaden our customer reach, reduce traffic congestion in America’s largest cities and address urban mobility concerns.”

This RelayRides mobile application is planned for early 2012, so we’ll pass along the information once we hear about it.

General Motors is preparing to take more steps to add hybrids to its different vehicle lineups, adding it’s eAssist technology to both the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain.

According to GMInsideNews the plan to hybridize the two crossovers was initially scheduled to be included in the 2014 model change, but has now been pushed up, meaning we’ll see the high-mpg versions before then.

The reason for the about-face is reportedly due to a desire to keep eAssist production healthy. With the Malibu Eco (the eAssist model) launching first, GM fears the introduction of a cheaper non-hybrid 2.5-liter 4-cylinder version will drastically reduce demand for the eAssist-equipped model. In order to avoid any lull in production, the eAssist-equipped Equinox and Terrain will be set into production early.

In the Malibu Eco, the eAssist system uses a 15-hp electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack mated to a 180-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine to deliver 26-mpg in the city and 38-mpg on the highway. A similar system fitted to either crossover could produce numbers that are close.

Expected to arrive in 2013 as 2014 model year vehicles, look for the eAssist-equipped Equinox to wear the Equinox ‘Eco’ badge.

[Source: GMI]