L to R: Jeff Bleustein, Chairman and CEO, Harley-Davidson, Gurminder Bedi, vice president, Ford Motor Company, and Willie G. Davidson, vice president, Harley-Davidson Styling, today revealed the 2000 Harley-Davidson F-150 at Sturgis, South Dakota.

Photo: Ford

The new business group will put a wide range of GM products and integrated services closer to customers by using electronic malls that deliver on the promise of real-time, interactive and customized relationships. For example, the group will leverage innovative initiatives such as GM BuyPower™, OnStar®, GMAC's e-commerce services, and GM Service Parts Operations (SPO) to create a new class of applications for vehicles and related services. Beyond leveraging the existing activities, the new business group will lay the groundwork to transform GM's traditional automotive operations into a global e-business enterprise.

The new GM global business group will leverage its expertise throughout General Motors and integrate e-commerce throughout the company's traditional business divisions. e-GM will serve as a catalyst to enhance the customer experience, improve efficiency and cut costs. The new operation will effectively reshape the way GM does business by combining business development, strategic e-marketing, e-sales, e-product management, and technology and operations departments under one worldwide leader.

It will take advantage of the already strong performance of its existing groups. GM has more than 100 consumer Web sites around the globe with 3.8 million unique visits in June. GM BuyPower, our U.S.-based shopping service, voted the best manufacturer's Web site by independent groups, had more than 650,000 visitors shopping for new vehicles in June, as well.

OnStar - GM's critically acclaimed advanced communication system capable of performing such diverse tasks as alerting emergency rescue teams when an airbag deploys to giving directions to the local ice cream store - will launch a Web vehicle later this model year. The company completed its first phase pilot applications of virtual advisor voice connectivity to the Internet in June. OnStar has such potential with customers that GM announced OnStar will be included on nearly one million General Motors cars and trucks within the next eighteen months - one example of technology providing a direct customer relationship.

Photo: GM

2001 Dodge Intrepid

Photo: Daimler Chrysler

The campaign, created by advertising agency BBDO Detroit, a part of BBDO Worldwide, will begin in earnest on September 1 with a series of introductory print ads. Outdoor and television advertising begins on September 7. The new signature will accompany the largest and most comprehensive print and television campaign in the division's 85-year history.

The commitment to being 'different' at Dodge means offering unique products that appeal to a wide audience. Each Dodge product offers a combination of features that make it special in its segment. This includes uncharacteristically large interior room, sporty ride-and-handling, best-in-class capability and dynamic performance. And it's always presented in a stunning exterior design package. The evidence of this approach runs through the entire product line. As the creators of the original minivan, Dodge Caravan has been the best-selling minivan in the world for 15 years running. By anticipating customers' needs, Dodge Caravan remains the industry benchmark among minivans.

After four successful years as the boldest truck on the market, Dodge introduced the Quad Cab version of its Ram full-size pickup in 1998. As the first full-size pickup to offer four doors, Quad Cab is now the most popular Ram model and part of a yearly Ram sales total that exceeds 400,000 units, making it the highest volume line in the entire Company. Dodge Durango burst on the scene in 1998 with a unique combination of full-size sport-utility capability in a manageable compact package. This "right-size" SUV is producing over 175,000 sales a year for Dodge.

The cutting-edge design, overall performance and state-of-the-art technology of Dodge Intrepid make it the perfect choice for customers who demand both personal driving enjoyment and the interior space of a sedan for everyday driving.

Dodge Viper stands out on its own because there's truly no other car in its class -- not in performance or price range. Viper was born of the passion to produce a sports car for the true driving enthusiast.

The future looks just as bright for Dodge, as it continues to find new opportunities within its existing product lines. The 2000 Dakota Quad Cab, based on the highly successful Dakota compact pickup, will be the most versatile pickup in its segment, offering four full-size doors, six-passenger capacity and the most power and capability in the compact pickup class.

Dodge will expand on its "brand within a brand" concept with two new R/T products next year. The Neon R/T, based on the all-new 2000 Neon, is a compact sport sedan without compromise, while Intrepid R/T will offer sports car performance and handling in a five-passenger sedan.