GM wants to reach out and touch you, launches GMNext
In September 2008, GM celebrates its 100th birthday, but the Detroit automaker is going to use the entire year to build up its centennial. The General has kicked off the celebration with its GMNext website, which is an interactive tribute to Jimmy Durant's little auto company. The site doesn't look at the past, however, as it focuses its web PR power to tout GM's drive for tomorrow's tech. As of right now, the site has 42 videos covering design, green initiatives, future tech, and more. It also has links to podcasts, upcoming events, and of course the musings of one Maximum Bob. Visitors to the site can comment on articles, submit videos, share ideas, and participate in online chats with company execs. The site is kind of like the GM FastLane Blog on steroids, and as usual the folks at home keep it interesting with their comments.
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JUSBEEZ 8:33AM (1/04/2008)
They are re-doing the Ren Cen display area to with this 'Next' theme. Must be a big deal
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Mobius_1 8:44AM (1/04/2008)
Get ready for the Toyota vs GM fanboy wars!!!
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Mobius_1 8:45AM (1/04/2008)
Get ready for the Toyota vs GM fanboy wars!!!
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jgp 9:10AM (1/04/2008)
Who's Jimmy Durant? Aren't you thinking of Billy Durant?
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gormannarbor 2:15PM (1/04/2008)
Or was he thinking of Jimmy Durante? The founding father of GM was William Crapo ("Billy") Durant, by all the histories I have read...
Schmeltz 9:44AM (1/04/2008)
I've been to this site. Pretty cool idea in my opinion as it gives people from all over the world a forum to express their views on a myriad of automotive centered topics. I truly hope that they will use the benefit of these opinions people post and implement the best ideas into product plans. Hope they succeed with this.
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zamafir 10:24AM (1/04/2008)
"I truly hope that they will use the benefit of these opinions people post and implement the best ideas into product plans."
That's a fantastic altruistic notion but don't hold your breath. GM's not VAG, theirs is not a culture of just doing whatever, they have shareholders and now rather precarious finances (vs say Toyota, Honda, VAG, BMW, or any other car company with no issues making a profit). This reeks of moves Fords made, such as Sync, designed to offset substantial inequities in product offerings (yes, they're there, were they not, GM wouldn't be loosing market share and it wouldn't have any issues with profits) with marketing.
If anything major comes of this, I'll most likely have a heart attack out of shock. One of the most cumbersome disadvantages GM has is it's nostalgia and stubborn insistence to follow trends, not lead them. It's weird that other, unquestionably successful car makers don't need gimmicky forums like this to do well.
stang fan 12:07PM (1/04/2008)
"....Jimmy Durant's little company".
Does the writer mean WILLIAM Durant, who is often credited with founding General Motors? Or does/did the ENTERTAINER Jimmy Durante, have some kind of secret, second life?
What next? Harrison Ford is the real founder of the auto company with the same last name? I mean, he is kind of oldish.
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