KANSAS CITY, Kan., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Fairfax
Assembly team today celebrated their successful performance in the J.D. Power
and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study(TM) (IQS). The facility manufactures
the Chevrolet Malibu and the Saturn Aura midsize sedans.
The all-new, 2008 Chevrolet Malibu earned a segment award in the very
competitive Midsize Car Segment by achieving exceptionally high levels of
quality. Additionally, the Fairfax Assembly facility was awarded the Bronze
Plant Quality Award, for the least manufacturing defects and malfunctions,
ranking the facility third out of 67 assembly facilities located in North and
South America. GM senior leadership were on hand for the celebration and
presented J.D. Power initial quality awards to Plant Manager Michael Dulaney
and UAW Local 31 Shop Chairman John Melton.
"Our research shows that midsize car shoppers want a number of things --
fuel economy, value and, yes, top-notch quality. That is what the Fairfax team
continues to deliver," said Troy Clarke, GM North America president. "The
great products built at Fairfax are really making a difference as we
transition GM to not only being known as a great truck company but also being
recognized for our great cars as well."
"The Fairfax Plant & UAW Local 31 members have consistently produced high
quality products. They are a fine example of how UAW employees have answered
the challenge and build award winning vehicles for the global market place,"
said Cal Rapson, UAW vice president.
"The J.D. Power award is one of the most coveted awards in the automotive
industry, and for our plant to receive two in 2008 only highlights the
excellence of the Malibu product, the employees who build it, our engineers
who designed it and our suppliers," said Michael Dulaney, Fairfax plant
manager. "It should also be recognized that we achieved these results in our
launch year and beat both of our major competitors -- Toyota Camry and Honda
Accord."
To date, the Malibu has captured 30 awards including: 2008 North American
Car of the Year, Car and Driver 10 Best, Automobile magazine All-Star award,
Kelly Blue Book's 2008 Best Redesigned Car, Urban Wheels' Urban Car of The
Year, and the Top Sedan for Families award from MotherProof.com .
"We're proud of our employees and UAW Local 31 for giving us a home run by
earning a quality award for the Chevrolet Malibu in one of the industry's most
competitive vehicle segments," said Jamie Hresko, GM vice president of
Quality. "This award is confirmation from our customers that we got it
right."
"These awards are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication by
the members of UAW Local 31 and the entire Fairfax Team. The result is great
vehicles built by great people," said John Melton, UAW Local 31 shop chairman.
The all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu delivers great performance, fuel economy
and refinement, wrapped in a clean, tailored design that carries the global
face of Chevrolet. A broad range of detailed, well-appointed and efficient
models are offered, including the fuel-saving, Malibu LTZ that combines a
six-speed transmission and 2.4L four-cylinder engine that achieves an EPA
estimated 32 mpg highway.
The Malibu is based on GM's global midsize platform, which serves as the
foundation for a strong body structure, precise build quality and refined
driving dynamics. It is more than three inches (76 mm) longer than the current
model, with a six-inch-longer (162 mm) wheelbase. The Malibu is offered in
several well-equipped trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ -- all with standard
head-curtain side air bags and front-seat thorax air bags, OnStar Gen 7 with
remote diagnostics and XM Satellite Radio. StabiliTrak stability control is
standard on LT and LTZ models.
Performance comes from a family of powerful dual-overhead cam four- and
six-cylinder engines, including a 169-horsepower (126 kW) 2.4L Ecotec DOHC
four-cylinder engine and a 252-horsepower 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable valve
timing. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the V-6 and, since
April, available on the 2.4L LTZ -- a segment first.
For 2009, new features and product enhancements for the Chevrolet Malibu
include: an expanded offering of the fuel-saving 2.4L/six-speed automatic
powertrain combination, new exterior colors choices and the addition of
Bluetooth wireless connectivity with the new OnStar 8.0 system.
The 2.4L four-cylinder with six-speed automatic transmission will be
standard on '09 LTZ models; the V-6/six-speed powertrain is available. The
six-speed automatic transmission is also standard on 2LT and available on 1LT.
Additionally, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with brake assist and
traction control is standard on all models for '09.
The '09 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is the most affordable hybrid midsize
sedan. It achieves EPA estimated rating of 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
General Motors has been part of the Kansas City economy and community
since 1928. The GM Fairfax Assembly facility is located in Kansas City,
Kansas. The 3.2-million sq.-ft. plant employs 2,700 hourly and salaried
employees.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been
the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM
today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters
in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007,
nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally. More information
on GM can be found at www.gm.com .
SOURCE General Motors Corporation
Ben B. Ippolito, GM Fairfax Communications, +1-913-573-7575,
ben.ippolito@gm.com
