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The new company, now called General Motors Company after being majority owned by the United States government, replacing the old General Motors Corporation, promises to be lighter, smaller, quicker and more responsive to customer needs.
Chief among the changes is a new buying structure that is modelled along the likes of auction site eBay, with a new "buy it now" pricing. "Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'buy it now' price," said GM CEO Fritz Henderson. A partnership with eBay is in the works.
Other changes include further downsizing, with plans to reduce its plants to 34 by the end of 2010, and a further cutting of jobs to around 64,000 by the end of 2009.
Better communication channels, including direct employee interaction with customers, is also a core element of GM's new plan. CEO Henderson will lead the charge, launching his own blog and ramping up use of social media tools like Twitter.
"In August, we'll begin regular visits with customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and others - in the U.S. and abroad - who impact our relationships with customers. We'll be listening to their ideas, and acting on the ones that will improve our ability to serve our customers better," said Henderson. "And of course, other executives and I will continue to reach out to customers through our ongoing web and Twitter chats."
