'Autoline Detroit': GM's e-Commerce to Grow $250mm to $500mm in 2000
7 November 1999
DETROIT -- General Motors could see its e-commerce business grow by nearly half a billion dollars next year. On the television program "Autoline Detroit," Mark Hogan, the head of e-GM, said the company will offer OnStar, its electronic communications service, across the board on all products made in North America next year. He said GM currently has 100,000 subscribers, but that will grow to 1,000,000 subscribers paying $20 to $40 a month. The interview airs on Sunday, November 7, 1999 at 10:30 AM on Detroit Public Television and on The Auto Channel Internetwork at http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/autoline/index. Hogan said GM investors will see a benefit from e-GM as it adopts a subscription-based revenue model. "It's important to make the vehicle ownership experience seamless between the home and the office," Hogan said. "And there's a whole variety of goods and services that we can deliver to the customer while they're in their vehicle to make their life easier. And that's where we think we can provide goods and services to our customers via subscription." e-GM is also looking for business opportunities outside the auto industry, Hogan said. There are no limits on what it will pursue as long as it makes the customer's life more convenient and exciting. He cited XM satellite radio, in-car banking, and downloading software to boost a car's performance as some of the opportunities e-GM is exploring. Hogan said e-GM will triple or quadruple GM's hiring from the Harvard business school this year alone. He says e-GM is not having any problems recruiting top-notch people to join the organization. Autoline Detroit with John McElroy airs each Sunday morning at 10:30am on Detroit Public Television. The program can also be seen in its entirety on The Auto Channel Internetwork at http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/autoline/index.html. In addition, previous episodes of Autoline Detroit are always available for continuous on-demand viewing on The Auto Channel.