General Motors' May Corporate Responsibility Newsletter

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

GM Builds Sustainable Plant in Brazil
General Motors is pioneering several environmental practices in its construction of a new engine plant in Joinville in southern Brazil. These sustainable features are expected to accredit the plant for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.  The sustainable initiatives include the first solar energy system in the Brazilian automotive industry. The facility will be the first to introduce a water recycling process using reverse osmosis and employ a new way of treating sewage and wastewater by a wetland process. It will also be the first GM landfill-free plant in the country.
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GREENER VEHICLES

Volt Generates First Time Interest in Chevrolet
The Chevrolet Volt is winning new customers to the brand from the competition with the Toyota Prius topping the list of most traded-in vehicle, followed by the Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and BMW 3 Series. 
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Chevrolet Volt Saves Supertanker of Gas
Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have saved a supertanker of gasoline since the electric car with extended range went on sale, compiling 40 million miles on electricity and avoiding the use of more than 2.1 million gallons of gasoline.
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Smart Driving Could Save $100 a Month at the Pump
With the official start of the summer driving season fast approaching, Chevrolet is reminding consumers of some easy ways to maintain their vehicles and drive smarter to help improve fuel economy and save money at the pump. OnStar data shows mileage of drivers in identical cars can vary by 75 percent.
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Global Automakers to Demo EV Fast Charging at EVS26
Global automakers from the United States and Germany demonstrated fast-charging technology that will enable the recharging of most electrified vehicles with compatible systems in as little as 15-20 minutes. Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support a harmonized single-port fast charging approach - called DC Fast Charging with a Combined Charging System - for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States.
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WASTE REDUCTION

GM’s Bat House Project Draws Cartoonist’s Attention
GM converts scrap Chevrolet Volt battery covers into wildlife habitats - from wood duck nesting boxes to bat houses. Instead of sending that material to a landfill, it reuses it to benefit wildlife. So far, GM has created and installed more than 150 of them at designated wildlife habitat areas surrounding its facilities, as well as various locations across the United States.
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Michigan State Student Channels GM Ingenuity for Sorority Recycling Program
Michigan State University student Haley Brewster - daughter of Russ Brewster, the director of procurement and contracts for General Motors - implemented a recycling program at the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house she shared with her sisters.
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General Motors Helps Frito-Lay Reduce Waste
John Bradburn, GM’s manager of waste-reduction efforts, provided Pete Silva, Frito Lay’s senior Director of Indirect and Fleet procurement, with General Motors’ insight and best practices in reducing waste and successfully managing the company’s landfill-free initiatives.
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SAFETY

GM Promotes Buckling Up for Safety 
General Motors is partnering with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning through its “Click It or Ticket” campaign to encourage safety belt use in vehicles. The awareness program, which runs through June 3, strives to increase safety belt use rates through publicized enforcement zones.
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RESOURCE PRESERVATION

GM Donates Chevrolet Volt to Colorado Conservation Trust
General Motors will donate a Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range to the nonprofit Colorado Conservation Trust. The vehicle will be presented June 21 to the winner of a silent auction at the annual “Q for Conservation” event that generates revenue for conservation projects throughout the state.
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General Motors Lansing Marks its 20th Year Supporting GREEN Program
Lisa Parks’ journey from a Grand Ledge student to GM senior environmental engineer began around the same time GM got involved helping the GREEN program in Lansing - so both are passing an important milestone this year. GM facilities in the Lansing area celebrate their 20th consecutive year supporting GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) in 2012.
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PHILANTHROPY

GM Foundation and Lordstown Complex Present Plant City Grant
On behalf of the GM Foundation, the joint leadership team of the Lordstown Complex, home of the Chevrolet Cruze, recently presented a $15,000 Plant City grant to the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way’s Success by 6 program.

United Way Honors GM with Top National Award
The United Way Worldwide on Thursday honored General Motors and the GM Foundation with its Summit Award for creating measurable, sustainable change in Metro Detroit and in communities across the nation. The award specifically noted the GM Foundation’s five-year $27.1 million grant to United Way of Southeastern Michigan to create a “Network of Excellence” within seven Metro Detroit high schools designed to increase graduation rates from 50 percent to 80 percent over five years. In addition to the grant, GM employees contributed more than $6 million through the company’s United Way campaign.
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DIVERSITY

GM Teams Support United Negro College Fund
GM employees from around the country are coming together to support the United Negro College Fund. The activity culminates with the UNCF’s 24th Annual Walk for Education in Detroit, Mich., this summer.

Time to Get WISE
More than 100 young women decided to “Get WISE” last week as they took part in a GM Defiance Casting Operations program to help educate female students in career opportunities in science, technology and engineering. Participants took part in a plant tour, engineering competition, technical challenge, giveaways and more. Students came from all over the region to take part in the program.

FEATURE ARTICLES

GM to Expand Design Operations in Korea
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GM CEO Serves Breakfast to Homeless
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Motor City Moms Make Their Marks on the Malibu
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