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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
11.07.2005 ET
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GM Exceeds Environmental Goals, Sets Plant Safety Benchmark
2004/05 GM Corporate Responsibility Report Notes Progress in Several Areas
(CSRwire) DETROIT - General Motors made significant reductions in energy use
and C02 emissions last year, set the automotive industry benchmark for
plant safety, and continued to make major improvements in independent
rankings for vehicle quality and dependability, according to its latest
corporate responsibility report.
The 2004-05 report, titled "Finding the Balance," outlines the company's
global achievements and challenges in the key areas of product, economic,
environmental, and social responsibility. It documents the automaker's
performance by region and globally, based on 2004 data. It is available
online at www.gmresponsibility.com and
can be downloaded from the site.
"GM's commitment to responsible business practices extends around the
world and across our business," said Thomas Gottschalk, executive vice
president for law and public policy. "This report highlights GM's
challenges and achievements in managing the diverse elements of our
business so that GM can contribute not only to economic prosperity in the
communities in which we operate, but also to the quality of the
environment and the lives of the people we touch."
Following are several highlights of the 2004-05 report:
GM Cars & Trucks
GM is attaining industry leadership in many benchmarks of initial
vehicle quality and long-term vehicle dependability. The company's
performance in key independent quality studies in 2004 improved
significantly, and according to the current J.D. Power and Associates
Initial Quality Study, GM dominates the plant quality awards, capturing
the top three spots in North and South America out of 84 plants total.
Globally, GM has near-, mid- and long-term strategies aimed at
improving the fuel efficiency and environmental impact of our cars and
trucks. Those strategies include improvements to internal combustion
engine technology, expanding GM's hybrid vehicle portfolio, and ultimately
producing vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. For the 2005 model
year, GM in the United States offered more vehicle models that get 30
miles per gallon or better on the highway than any other automaker. In
addition, GM began sales of the world's first hybrid pickup truck in
2004.
Environmental Gains
GM exceeded its goal to reduce energy use in its global facilities
last year, reducing usage by 13.6 percent. GM also surpassed its goal to
cut CO2 emissions in its global facilities, achieving a 12.5 percent
reduction. Both goals were accomplished a year ahead of the target dates.
GM surpassed its global target for reducing water use, achieving a
23.3 percent reduction in 2004, a year ahead of schedule.
Social Progress
GM set an automotive industry benchmark for plant safety in 2004 by
reducing injuries in its global facilities by 14.6 percent, to a total of
less than three recordable injuries per 100 employees.
In 2004, GM strengthened requirements among its global suppliers for
ethical procurement practices within the terms and conditions of all GM
purchase agreements.
Economic Performance
GM's 2004 record revenue of $193.5 billion led the global auto
industry. The company's global retail vehicle sales totaled more than 8.9
million in 2004.
-GM's most significant impact on communities is through capital
investment, such as plant placement and investment, employment levels, and
through philanthropic contributions and employee volunteerism. In 2004, GM
and the GM Foundation contributed more than $68 million to charitable
organizations. This included approximately $4 million, plus products and
services, to support disaster relief efforts.
GM produced the corporate responsibility report in accordance with the
Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, and has issued similar reports
since 2000.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been
the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today
employs about 325,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing
operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries.
GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit.
More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
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