Super-size Hummers, classic Cadillacs and environmentally-friendly Saturns have helped GM hold rank as the world's largest auto company in sales volume for 76 consecutive years. But with Toyota's 2007 sales hitting the 9.36 million vehicle mark, GM's estimated 9.26 million units may signal the end of its multi-decade reign.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:48:39 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35842/arab-investors-interested-in-gms-hummer-brand.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThere may soon be more Hummers heading to the Persian Gulf, this time as two Gulf Arab investors signal interest in buying GM's troubled brand of SUV—modeled on the military vehicle. Analysts have expected the gas-guzzler to be tough to unload, but low fuel prices, economic prosperity, and Hummer’s position as a status symbol in the Gulf have made it quite popular.http://www.newser.com/story/35842/arab-investors-interested-in-gms-hummer-brand.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 26 Aug 2008 9:26:05 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/35489/gm-plans-new-chevy-compact.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGeneral Motors will invest $500 million to build its new compact car in the US, the Detroit News reports. The Chevrolet Cruze, expected to get about 45mpg, will go into production in 2010 in Lordstown, Ohio. The ailing automaker, once heavily reliant on SUVs, continues to alter its production line to meet demand for small, fuel-efficient cars. GM's US sales are down 18% this year, led by a 23% decline in truck sales.http://www.newser.com/story/35489/gm-plans-new-chevy-compact.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 21 Aug 2008 16:07:16 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33936/gm-loses-155b-stuns-street.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGeneral Motors stunned Wall Street today, reporting a $15.5-billion second-quarter loss—a figure far worse than anything analysts had predicted—as sales collapsed on the company's most profitable products, trucks and SUVs. Prognosticators had estimated the automaker would lose $2.62 per share, excluding items; instead the loss came in at $11.21 a share, and with items that figure ballooned to $27.33, the Wall Street Journal reports.http://www.newser.com/story/33936/gm-loses-155b-stuns-street.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 01 Aug 2008 8:05:28 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33729/gm-ford-join-chrysler-in-retreat-from-leasing.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFord and GM are joining Chrysler in moving away from auto leasing, the Wall Street Journal reports, signalling the end of an era in which leases allowed many Americans to drive more expensive cars than they could afford to buy. The move is prompted by falling prices for used SUVs and trucks, which has led to steep losses for the automakers when they resell the vehicles at the end of the lease period.http://www.newser.com/story/33729/gm-ford-join-chrysler-in-retreat-from-leasing.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 30 Jul 2008 6:27:47 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33463/haters-gas-fail-to-crush-hummer-pride.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSure, the Hummer may be going the way of the dinosaur: Sales are down 40% this year on soaring gas and an eco-image problem, and GM is looking to ditch its troubled brand. But for owners, the AP reports, outsized pride remains part of the package. "It definitely sparks some intense reaction from people on both sides," says one Hummer owner, whose baby was attacked last year by baseball-bat-wielding vandals. But to sell? "I love this car," he says.http://www.newser.com/story/33463/haters-gas-fail-to-crush-hummer-pride.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 27 Jul 2008 8:58:22 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33040/gm-utilities-join-to-speed-plug-ins.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGeneral Motors and three dozen electric utilities in nearly 40 states have agreed to work together on the transition to plug-in electric vehicles that are expected to begin rolling out within 2 years, the Wall Street Journal reports. With GM’s Chevy Volt and Saturn Vue  expected to hit the market first, cooperation is needed to make sure recharging cars don't overwhelm the power grid.http://www.newser.com/story/33040/gm-utilities-join-to-speed-plug-ins.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 22 Jul 2008 6:47:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32844/in-need-of-big-ideas-ford-thinks-small.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFord Motor Company will be repurposing some of its US plants to manufacture smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, the Wall Street Journal reports. As rising gas prices drive falling sales of behemoths like the F-150, insiders say the company will move toward making more of the passenger cars, like the Mondeo, that are mainly sold in Europe.http://www.newser.com/story/32844/in-need-of-big-ideas-ford-thinks-small.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 19 Jul 2008 12:09:22 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32510/dow-sinks-below-11k.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe markets ended mixed today after a seesaw session. An $8 decline in crude encouraged investors, but concerns about the fate of the mortgage GSEs and regional banks persisted, MarketWatch reports. The Dow ended down 93.39 at 10,961.80, the first time in over 2 years the average has closed below 11,000. The Nasdaq gained 2.84 to close at 2,215.71, and the S&P 500 fell 13.39 to 1,214.91.http://www.newser.com/story/32510/dow-sinks-below-11k.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 15 Jul 2008 15:32:19 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/32491/gm-will-cut-salaried-jobs-benefits-to-survive-slump.html?refid=rss_all_defaultGeneral Motors will cut salaried jobs, accelerate factory closings, and eliminate health care coverage for many salaried retirees in order to raise $15 billion to survive the industry's deep downturn, the Wall Street Journal reports. GM will also suspend dividends, sell some assets, lower capital spending, and cut production of pickup trucks and SUVs.http://www.newser.com/story/32491/gm-will-cut-salaried-jobs-benefits-to-survive-slump.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 15 Jul 2008 8:33:30 CDT