2005 Chicago Auto Show: GM Jobs Program to Place Bilingual Sales Consultants in Chicago-Area Dealerships

Program Will Recruit and Train Spanish Speakers for 200 Sales Jobs to Better Serve Hispanic Customers

CHICAGO February 9, 2005; General Motors Corp. today announced the creation of a new jobs program intended to help GM dealers employ at least 200 bilingual sales consultants in the Chicago area, the third-largest Hispanic market in the United States. Through the Bilingual Employment Sales Training (B.E.S.T.) Program, GM hopes to better serve the 1.8 million Hispanics living in the Chicago region.

"GM wants Hispanics to feel welcome in our showrooms by providing more sales consultants who speak Spanish and understand the community's culture, needs and preferences,'' said Gary Cowger, President, GM North America. "We hope to improve the car-buying experience for our Hispanic customers by giving them the assistance they need to better understand all the details of this major purchase."

Chicago-area GM dealers are committed to hiring more bilingual employees. Through the B.E.S.T. program, GM will partner with the dealers to attract, recruit and train qualified bilingual sales personnel who can open the door to the burgeoning market, which makes up 16 percent of Chicago's population.

"The Hispanic market is expected to continue growing in the coming years. GM has a great opportunity to grow with it, but we also have a responsibility to provide job opportunities so that the Hispanic community can prosper with us,'' said Dora Ann Sanchez-Mead, GM training manager.

GM will recruit candidates for the program through TV, radio and print advertising as well as direct marketing and a B.E.S.T. jobs booth at the Chicago Auto Show. GM will host three informational meetings throughout Chicago in March so that interested applicants can learn more about working in auto sales. Qualified candidates will interview with dealers and attend training seminars.

The B.E.S.T. program will provide job candidates with extensive career training and counseling designed to ensure long-term success as sales associates at GM dealerships throughout the Chicago area.

"This latest initiative reinforces GM's strong commitment to the Hispanic community. GM has made Latinos an integral part of its employee, supplier, dealer and consumer families,'' said U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Armando Ojeda. "As a company, GM supports Hispanic education, economic empowerment and business development."

The B.E.S.T. jobs program is part of a broader effort at GM to better serve Hispanic consumers nationwide. GM understands the importance of the Latino community and is committed to developing the programs necessary to become their company of choice. From developing relevant advertising and promotional events, to aligning with organizations such as the National Council de la Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which promote issues of importance to Hispanics, GM's approach is based on what is good for business as well as what is best for the Latino community.