Producing hybrid vehicles is one piece of GM’s strategy to improve fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions, along with improving the traditional internal-combustion engine and developing hydrogen fuel cells. GM has three distinct hybrid systems, and is targeting high-volume and high-fuel-consuming vehicles first to save as many gallons of fuel as possible. In keeping with this strategy, GM first introduced hybrid technology on transit buses in North America in 2003. Today there are over 550 buses in over 42 cities around the U.S. and Canada. The GM Allison Two-mode Hybrid system on these buses allows for many benefits including significant fuel economy improvements, reductions in certain emissions by up to 90 percent, and a 50-percent improvement in acceleration. In 2004, GM introduced the world’s first hybrid pickup truck when it launched hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. These trucks, equipped with GM’s Light Hybrid system, deliver the highest estimated city fuel economy of any full-size truck.

In the U.S., GM has plans to continue rolling out a very diverse hybrid program, designed to meet American driving patterns and needs. The systems vary in fuel economy savings and cost, providing an opportunity for more consumers to own a hybrid vehicle and benefit from increased fuel economy savings. Ultimately, GM plans to build 12 different hybrid models on its highest volume car and truck platforms, and will deliver these vehicles with the level of performance our customers have come to expect.

Continuing with the rollout of hybrid vehicles in late summer of 2006, GM launched the new 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid.

The vehicle provides a substantial fuel economy improvement over the conventional Vue and the highest highway fuel economy of any SUV on the road today. Starting at just under $23,000, the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid is designed to bring affordable fuel-saving technology to the greatest number of consumers.

Following the introduction of the Vue Green Line, in 2007 GM will debut its new Two-mode Hybrid system for passenger cars on the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2008 GMC Yukon.

The system uses two electrically variable transmission modes for city and highway driving and, coupled with GM’s Active Fuel Management system, will provide a composite fuel-economy improvement of up to 25 percent. GM is developing the light-duty Two-mode Hybrid system in partnership with DaimlerChrysler and the BMW Group to combine the companies’ expertise, thereby reducing development costs, while delivering a superior product.

For the 2008 model year, Saturn will also utilize this Two-mode Hybrid technology on the 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line. It will be the industry’s first application of the technology to a front-wheel-drive vehicle.

Another exciting hybrid technology that GM will make available in the future is plug-in hybrid technology. In November 2006, we announced intentions to produce a plug-in hybrid version of the Saturn Vue. This vehicle will have the potential to achieve double the fuel efficiency of any current SUV. A production date is dependent upon the availability of necessary battery technology, but this is a top priority for the company.

Other hybrid vehicles that GM has announced it plans to introduce include:

• 2008 Saturn Aura
• 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2009 Cadillac Escalade
• 2009 Chevrolet Silverado (crew cab) – Two-mode Hybrid
• 2009 GMC Sierra (crew cab) – Two-mode Hybrid

For more information on GM’s hybrid vehicles,
http://www.gm.com//explore/fuel_economy/hybrids.jsp