As GM concludes its first 100 years with a legacy of iconic brands and technological breakthroughs, the company is embarking on a new century as a global leader in design and innovation. To help commemorate its Centennial, GM began its second century with GMnext Day to affirm the company's vision for the future of personal transportation. GMnext Day kicked off with a live Global Broadcast from GM's headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, where General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner revealed the production model of the Chevrolet Volt, a revolutionary extended-range electric vehicle that will deliver 40 miles of gasoline and emissions- free driving, with the extended-range capability of driving hundreds of additional miles. Founded on Sept. 16, 1908 by William C. (Billy) Durant, General Motors has sold more than 450 million cars and trucks worldwide in the past 100 years. With manufacturing operations in 33 countries and nearly 24,000 dealerships worldwide, GM is the world's largest automaker. During the last century, GM has been responsible for many innovations that have helped shape the automobile and personal transportation, such as: q The electric self-starter q The fully automatic transmission q The catalytic converter q Shatter-proof safety glass and the energy-absorbing steering column GM's efforts go beyond building cars and trucks. The automaker built the world's first mechanical heart pump, designed and manufactured the Lunar Roving Vehicle used by the astronauts on Apollo 15 and helped develop the world's first computer operating system. Today GM is a leader in alternative fuels technology, with cutting-edge developments in hydrogen fuel cells, Flex-Fuel vehicles and, plug-in hybrids. These technologies have been spotlighted through GMnext, the company's Centennial initiative designed to encourage feedback and public conversation.
