Chevrolet and UAW-GM Leadership Ramp Up for 2006 Auto Show

GM Division looks to maintain its sales leadership position in northern Ohio

Chevy to announce pricing on the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban

CLEVELAND - Feb. 23,2006: More than 60 United Auto Workers- General Motors (UAW-GM) senior staff and shop committee members from GM's Lordstown Complex and Mansfield Metal Center will see the fruits of their labor at the 2006 Greater Cleveland International Auto Show at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24.

The show, which opens to the public on Saturday, Feb. 25, kicks off the spring selling season in northern Ohio. In all, 38 automakers will display more than 800 new vehicles spread out over 900,000 sq. ft. at the I-X Center. The show runs through Sunday, March 5. Parking is free.

"The Cleveland Auto Show serves as a frontline in the battle for customers," says Gary S. Adams, president of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA), which produces the show. "It is a notable consumer show. It's where consumers will be won and lost."

New car and truck sales in a 19-county region of northern Ohio are significant. According to GCADA statistics, sales in the region have accounted for more than 1.4 percent of total U.S. auto sales over several recent years. In 2005, sales of new Chevrolet vehicles in the 19-county region topped all competitors, with Ford Division sales placing second.

In calendar year 2005, the Lordstown Complex, which employs about 6,200 workers, produced 300,994 cars. About 280,000 were Chevrolet Cobalts. GM recently announced that the 2007 Pontiac G5 will be built at Lordstown. It will be based on the Cobalt.

"The Chevrolet Cobalt is among the industry's top selling cars," said John Donahoe, Lordstown plant manager. "We're excited about the opportunity to build the Pontiac G5 that will launch in June."

"The tradition and attractions at the Cleveland Auto Show are second to none and our Lordstown Team looks forward to this outstanding showcase of our industry each year," added officials from UAW Local 1112 and 1714.

GM's Mansfield Metal Center, which employs about 2,500 workers, manufactures door 'inners' and 'outers' for the GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade. The facility also produces the floor pan for the Pontiac G6 and the door inners for the Buick Lucerne along with numerous reinforcements, rails and subassemblies.

"As a stamping plant we take pride in producing quality parts and provide over 200,000 pieces a day to GM assembly plants," said Mansfield Plant Manager Don Wine. More than 70 percent of the Mansfield plant's volume is associated with SUV's and full size trucks.

During media days at the 2006 Cleveland Auto Show, Chevrolet officials plan to showcase its full-size trucks and E85 flex fuel efforts. In addition, Chevy be announcing pricing on the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban.

Carl Hillenbrand, Chevy full-size truck product manager, will discuss Chevrolet's new products as well as how flexible fuel impacts the lineup on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006 from 10 - 11 a.m. in the Chevrolet display at the 2006 Cleveland Auto Show. Parking is free.

TIME & DATE: 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 24
LOCATION: I-X Center