Automaker promotes 'clean' summer driving with $1,000 fuel card in Chicago and MinneapolisCHICAGO, IL (2006-05-02)– General Motors Corp. today announced it will offer a $1,000 fuel card with the purchase of any new 2006 or 2007 Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with FlexFuel technology in the Chicago-Rockford and Minneapolis-St. Paul markets between May 2 and July 31, 2006, to encourage the use of E85 ethanol, a renewable fuel containing a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The promotion applies to the purchase of the new FlexFuel GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and Sierra as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, Silverado, Impala and Monte Carlo.The card offers customers the choice of purchasing E85 ethanol or gasoline at participating retail chains including Gas City and Road Ranger in the Chicago-Rockford market and the Holiday Station Stores, Kwik Trip, Cenex and Freedom locations in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Customers will be able to use the card for one year after the initial issue date or until the $1,000 limit is reached. “With increasing gasoline prices, we see that consumers are looking for alternative fuels,” said Elizabeth A. Lowery, vice president of environment and energy, General Motors Corp. “By offering an E85 fuel card with GM’s industry-leading number of flexible-fuel vehicles, we are pr oviding our customers with the choice to operate their vehicles on a fuel that burns cleaner, supports the domestic agriculture industry and reduces our nation’s dependence on petroleum.” The E85 fuel card promotion will be available at more than 130 GMC and Chevrolet dealerships in Chicago-Rockford, and 88 dealerships in Minneapolis-St.Paul. GM is the leader in flexible-fuel vehicle production and sales and currently has nine models available that are E85 ethanol capable with plans to add more than 400,000 E85 ethanol-capable vehicles to the fleet in 2006. To aid consumer awareness, in mid-2006 GM’s FlexFuel vehicles will be equipped with yellow gas caps and FlexFuel badges. In addition to raising awareness and acceptance of alternative fuels with consumers, GM continues its partnerships with government, fuel providers and fuel retailers across the nation to help grow the E85 ethanol fueling station infrastructure. General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world's leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com and its environmental initiatives at www.GMAbility.com. |