Category: News

Encouraging customers to self-isolate, GM extends warranty and roadside assistance in effort to postpone non-vital servicing trips

Dubai, UAE – To postpone any non-vital servicing trips for its customers, General Motors is taking proactive measures alongside Al Ghandi, official Cadillac dealer across the UAE and official, Chevrolet and GMC dealer in Dubai and Sharjah, and Bin Hamoodah, official Chevrolet and GMC dealer in Abu Dhabi, to better serve the UAE community during these uncertain times.

Aligning with government directives to stay home and stay safe in light of the ongoing situation, General Motors has teamed up with Al Ghandi and Bin Hamoodah to alleviate any additional worries from its customers, by extending warranties on all Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. Any customer who has a GM vehicle with warranty expiring between March 1st and May 31st will have their warranty extended by two months. Holding safety as its number one priority, General Motors is encouraging all customers to self-isolate and delay non-vital servicing.

Ensuring no customer is left stranded while on a vital trip, General Motors, Al Ghandi and Bin Hamoodah are also extending their 24/7 roadside assistance to further improve road safety and reduce vehicle breakdown concerns. Regardless of a customers’ warranty validity, 24/7 roadside assistance is extended by 3 months, from April 1st until June 30th, 2020. General Motors and its dealers commitment is that no matter the issue, customers will receive the urgent assistance they require, with agents able to tow their vehicle to a customers’ residence if the service centers are closed.

General Motors is available to address all vehicle concerns. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or feedback.

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Taking time to maintain your vehicle can help ensure that you have a healthy vehicle waiting for you, when it’s time to get back behind the wheel and to life outside your home.

Here are some tips on how to maintain your vehicle’s health, even if you aren’t driving it daily:

Know the Essentials

Even though you’re not driving your vehicle, you can still run into some issues, like a drained battery. Even at home, start your car regularly and let it run for a few minutes to avoid problems.

• Battery – it’s necessary to start the engine for 15 minutes every week and make sure that the vehicle is parked in a well ventilated or open area.

• Brakes – vehicles should be moved within your parking area, and brakes applied every week. Leave the parking brake in “OFF” position when parked on a relatively level surface. This will prevent the build-up of rust on the rotors.

• Windshield wipers – during extended outdoor storage, dirt/debris/dried soap can build up on the blade. Clean wiper blades with a lint free cloth or paper towel soaked with windshield washer fluid.

• Fuel – allowing a vehicle to run out of fuel while idling may cause damage to the fuel pump. You should maintain a half tank of fuel in your vehicle.

Check Your Tires

• All tires are susceptible to flat spots if the vehicle is not moved or driven for an extended period of time. Flat spots can cause vibration concerns. To avoid flat spots, check the tire pressure regularly and rotate the tires at least 90 degrees.

• Check the condition of your tires – to check the tread, look at the treadwear indicator bar that’s molded into most tires. The bars are located at the bottom of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire. When these bars become visibly flush with the adjacent ribs of the tire then this is an indication that it’s time to replace your tires.

• Don’t forget to also check your spare tire or inflator kit.

Clean Your Exterior

• This is a great time to give your vehicle some love. If you haven’t washed it in a while, give your vehicle a hand wash with soap specially formulated for automotive paint.

• Avoid dish soap as it removes your vehicle’s protective layer of wax.

• Avoid any scented wipes and wipes containing bleach as they have proven to damage screens and leather.

Clean Your Interior

• The interior of your vehicle goes through a lot. Make sure that you are cleaning and wiping down the interior of your vehicle like you would your home.

• Give the interior a good vacuum and use a soft bristle brush (like a soft toothbrush) to remove dust from knobs and crevices on your instrument cluster.

It’s important to remember that every time you enter your vehicle, chances are new bacteria and germs are being introduced.

Coronavirus and other germs can live on some of the surfaces of your car, so it’s important to periodically sterilize surfaces that you touch often, such as the steering wheel, window controls, HVAC and infotainment system and door handles.

Washing hands and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces are two of the best ways to defend against spreading the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Some cleaners can damage the surfaces and materials in your car, so it’s important to use the proper cleaning products.

Here are some tips for cleaning and sterilising the interior of your vehicle:

What Surfaces Need Cleaning?

• The main areas to tend to are the steering wheel, wiper and turn signal stalks, passenger and driver door armrests, grab handles, seat adjusters, ignition button, shift lever and any buttons or touch screens.
• When it comes to sanitizing your vehicle, almost all the surfaces can be cleaned with alcohol-based cleaners to kill germs and protect the interior. This safely includes plastic trims, painted chrome, imitation leather and even cloth upholstery can be rubbed with alcohol to clean it. Use a microfiber cloth with the alcohol-based cleaner for the safest and most effective cleaning of interior vehicle surfaces.
• When it comes to genuine leather interiors, rubbing the leather gently with soap and water is recommended, rather than an alcohol-based cleaner, which can crack and discolour leather over time. After cleaning leather, it is recommended that you use a leather conditioner to maintain the material.
• Avoid any scented wipes and wipes containing bleach as they have proven to damage screens and leather.

The Most Effective Cleaning Supplies

• According to WHO, alcohol-based cleaners with at least 70% alcohol are effective in killing the coronavirus.
• Alcohol-based cleaners are safe to use on almost every surface in a vehicle interior and will effectively wipe away most germs and fingerprints. In fact, most auto manufacturers use alcohol-based cleaners to clean vehicles before shipping them to customers.
• If you don’t have an alcohol-based cleaner, soap and water will also work on most vehicle surfaces.
• Never use bleach, peroxide or ammonia-based cleaners because these can break down some materials in your vehicle, causing permanent damage.
• Your owner’s manual should have information on the type of materials that are used throughout the vehicle, such as whether you have imitation or genuine leather. If you still aren’t sure, contact your dealer, who can provide you with the information.

Most of us have been social distancing and isolating for a while now. It seems like it should be a great opportunity to bond with your family, spend more time with your spouse and catch up on all the hobbies and DIY projects you want to do at home. But let’s be honest – quarantine is starting to feel never-ending. What we all thought would be a couple of weeks has turned into months and we aren’t sure how much longer we will have to quarantine.

So, here are a few fun family activities that you can do in your car, right in your driveway.

Have a car wash –  washing the car doesn’t have to be a chore. Get the whole family involved, assign everyone a task, turn the hose on your loved ones and have a blast!

Car karaoke –  use the infotainment system and a tablet to stream some family-friendly tunes, with lyrics, so everyone can sing along. Take turns and judge each other’s performance to add a little family-friendly competition to the fun. For memories that will last a lifetime, film each performance.

Create a home photo or video booth – take your Instagram, GIF, meme and Tik Tok game to the next level by turning your car into a family photo or video booth. Bring along some props, costumes and backdrops to create some epic images. And if you are creating videos, use the infotainment system to play your favorite songs to pair perfectly with your home videos. You can even use this opportunity to create some photo and video memories to document this unprecedented time in your lives and keep them to look back on later.

Have a game night – there are dozens of classic car games. Whilst they are traditionally used to pass the time on long family road trips, these car games can be fun even while in park.

• I Spy –  one player is a spy who chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…”, naming the first letter of the object. Other players attempt to guess this object.
• Name that Tune –  someone picks a song and starts humming or singing it. Then the other players try to guess which song it is. Instead of singing or humming, you can play songs from the radio or infotainment system for the players to guess.
• Who Am I? –  bring along some post-its and some pens. Pick one name for each player – it can be a celebrity, cartoon or historical figure, etc. and stick the name on each person’s forehead or back. Don’t let the person see the name they are given. Every player gets 20 “yes” or “no” questions to guess who they are.
• Mix & Match stories / Pass the Story –  bring a ball and give it to one player to start. The person with the ball begins to tell a story, sharing one sentence. Then they pass the ball and story to the next person who continues it. Each player must leave the story on a cliffhanger for the next player to build on until the story feels complete.
• 20 questions –  a player starts the game by choosing a “person”, “place” or “thing” and telling the other players the category. The other players then have 20 questions (total) to guess what the starting player is thinking of.
• Memory Game –  the first player starts by saying, “I’m going out on a picnic and I’m bringing…” and then names an item that comes to mind. Then the next player has to remember that item and add something else to the story. Get a part of the story wrong and you’re out.

Electrifying Engineering offers hands-on educational activities, introduces students to electric vehicle technology. Schools may be winding down the remote-learning programs put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic, but parents, teachers and students everywhere are seeking new ways to keep minds active and inspired outside the classroom during the summer months. General Motors is lending support by releasing Electrifying Engineering, a free educational video series designed to foster ingenuity through hands-on activities, while educating kids about electric vehicle technology.

Electrifying Engineering episodes will be released on YouTube every Sunday through July 2020. Episodes are hosted by different members of the GM team and touch on a wide range of topics, including electric car charging, electric car motors, autonomous vehicle sensors and more. Episodes will feature an interactive engineering project designed for viewers to conduct in the comfort of their own homes, with everyday household items.

When the project is complete, viewers are encouraged to share a picture on social media using the hashtag #ElectrifyingEngineering.

As G20 leaders prepare to meet virtually, the premier business community forum advising G20 governments has formally adopted General Motors’ call for greater electric vehicle (EV) adoption as a critical tool in the fight against climate change. GM used its leading role on the Business 20 (B20’s) Trade and Investment task force to highlight the beneficial role that EVs will play in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions as they become more prevalent on the world’s roads.

Building on General Motors’ global commitment to an all-electric future with zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion, Everett Eissenstat, SVP Global Public Policy at General Motors, drove the initiative through a series of discussions with other business leaders throughout 2020.

The B20 is the private sector’s channel to the G20 heads of state, providing the international business community with a direct engagement forum to influence future economic and trade policies under consideration by the world’s leaders at the G20 Summit – which is now set to be hosted by Saudi Arabia virtually on November 21-222021.

As the only American automotive industry leader present on the B20’s Trade and Investment Task Force panel, Eissenstat led talks on how policies that promote EV manufacturing and consumer adoption can drive a future that is greener and more sustainable. Such policies will require international cooperation on harmonization of standards, infrastructure development, and incentives.

In addition, GM encouraged the G20 economies to explore the use of cleaner fuels to power the electrical grids used to charge EVs globally. As a result of the yearlong discussions, the Sustainable Trade and Investment Policy set of business community recommendations to be delivered to leaders at the G20 Summit now specifically includes greater e-vehicle adoption, in addition to other climate-friendly steps such as innovative waste management and recycling approaches.

General Motors and its brands, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac, are committed to driving change in mobility in Saudi Arabia and across the region. Consumers in the region are known as early adopters of technology, providing the company with even greater opportunities to further its vision of a future with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion. This vision continues to guide the development of General Motors’ business in the Middle East and internationally.

Over the last few years, General Motors has rolled out some truly exceptional vehicles and cutting-edge technology that set the automotive giant apart as the leader in future mobility.

GM brought its first electric vehicle to the region in 2017 with the Chevrolet Bolt EV. More recent product reveals include the Cadillac LYRIQ – to be built on GM’s next-generation, modular electric vehicle platform and driven by GM’s own Ultium propulsion system – and the groundbreaking GMC HUMMER EV truck, which is the first electric addition to GMC’s lineup of bold, capable and precisely crafted premium trucks and SUVs. The all-new, all-electric HUMMER will be available in the Middle East starting from Autumn 2022.

In addition to its innovations in alternative propulsion, General Motors will in early 2021 launch its industry-leading OnStar in-vehicle safety and security service in some Gulf Cooperation Council countries, elevating its customer experience through connectivity backed by a local, human connection.

This week, General Motors welcomed H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri UAE Minister of Economy, and his team to their headquarters in Dubai, UAE to celebrate their longstanding collaboration and discuss ways to further strengthen the prosperous relationship. Luay Al Shurafa, President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East led H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri on the tour, followed by a detailed presentation of GM’s ambitious future mobility agenda.

General Motors has been in the region for over 90 years and specifically in the UAE since 1987, growing and building with the country and its people. By creating purpose-built vehicles for the region and employing over 250 people through GM’s direct operations and another 1,200 through GM’s 22 dealer network in the UAE, GM has been positively contributing to the economy and acting as a strategic partner as the UAE grows. Serving as a global hub for the US, Europe and Asia, General Motors has a purpose-built Middle East Distribution Center, which serves customers across the Middle East and Africa.

H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, said that the automobile industry is one of the most important sectors of the future economy that encourage innovation and employ advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing. These developments have led to the transformation of the transport sector in general and the auto industry in particular – as reflected by the launch of autonomous vehicle and other modern mobility solutions over the past few years, he said.

H.E. further explained that transportation is a sector of great importance under the national strategy for innovation and advanced innovation and the UAE Vision 2021, given its role in driving economic diversification and enhancing the competitiveness of the business environment. He added: “Today, the UAE is a prominent regional hub in the manufacturing and trade of cars and their spare parts. Also, the UAE is home to a number of leading global companies in this industry, most notably General Motors. We are keen to strengthen the partnership between the government and the private sector to further develop this vital sector and attract quality investments to the country through it, in a way that achieves mutual benefit and supports our vision for the future.”

Commenting on the visit, Al Shurafa said, “We are honored by the visit of H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri and his team at our offices. We have been working together for almost four decades and have gone from strength to strength. As we step forward into the next wave of technology, it is more important than ever that we work hand-in-hand to make our cities smarter and our roads safer. We at General Motors are committed to being a bold and supportive partner for the UAE government and the wider region.”

The visit concluded with Al Shurafa walking H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri through General Motors vision of a future with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and the innovative product and service portfolio that will accelerate the brand, and the UAE, into the future. The UAE government has outlined some bold and ambitious plans to become a smart, sustainable and advanced city and General Motors is committed to being a bold partner to achieve this goal.

Accelerates Path to an All-Electric future

GM to invest $27 billion in Electric & Autonomous vehicle research

GM to launch 30 new EVs around the world by 2025

Gary West, Managing Director OnStar & Future Mobility GM Middle East, to deliver keynote address at GITEX charting GM’s revolution

General Motors joined other powerhouses in technology at GITEX 2020, leading discussions around future mobility, building on the brand’s global commitment to an all-electric future with Zero Emissions, Zero Crashes and Zero Congestion.

Gary West, Managing Director OnStar & Future Mobility GM Middle East, drove the conversation through a series of discussions with other technology and mobility leaders as well as a keynote presentation, underscored by GM’s recent announcement to invest $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle development and launch 30 EVs around the world by 2025.

General Motors has a long and successful history of innovation which has seen the 100-year-old automotive manufacturer disrupt itself to become a leader in alternate propulsion vehicles. Starting with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, an electric vehicle democratizing this technology for the masses, the product offensive continues with the launch of 30 EVs globally by 2025. With one of the most diverse line-ups already available under Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac, GM will be among the only automotive manufacturers to offer an EV at all price points, for families, for work, for adventure and for performance. This announcement follows the groundbreaking reveal of the Cadillac LYRIQ and the GMC HUMMER EV, the latter being the world’s first all-electric SuperTruck and confirmed to launch in the Middle East in late 2022.

Commenting on participation at GITEX, West said: “It is both an honor and a responsibility to be present in such a vital capacity at GITEX 2020. The visionary leadership in the UAE is serious about ushering in the next wave of technology, both with shared mobility and personal use vehicles and we are committed to being just as bold in our support of this pledge, through a revolutionary future product portfolio, innovative strategic partnerships and expert advice on legislation and city planning.”

Despite the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, GM’s future mobility plans have accelerated. Already a milestone in electrification, engineers have updated the Ultium battery packs, costing 40% less than the batteries that power the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Work continues, with the aim to produce Ultium batteries that cost 60% less than the batteries in use today with twice the energy density expected. In short, Ultium technology is expected to bring EVs even closer to price-parity with gas-powered vehicles, eliminating two major consumer barriers to adoption – price and range anxiety – ensuring that EVs are a viable everyday option.

Speaking at the recent virtual 2020 Barclays Global Automotive Conference, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors said: “Climate change is real, and we want to be part of the solution by putting everyone in an electric vehicle,” said Barra. “This year, we will close the books on the most successful decade in the history of General Motors, so we are transitioning our company from gas to electric from a position of strength. We can accelerate our EV plans because we are rapidly building a competitive advantage in batteries, software, vehicle integration, manufacturing and the customer experience.”

However, it is not just the cost and performance of innovative EV components that will give GM a competitive advantage in the fast-changing Middle East auto industry, but how they integrate with other advanced systems. In early 2021, General Motors will launch its pioneering OnStar in-vehicle safety and security service in some GCC countries, elevating its customer experience through connectivity backed by a local, human connection.

GITEX brings together the biggest official delegation of business, tech and investors across the region. Through a full agenda of discussions and knowledge sharing, the conference aims to fast-track digital transformation in a safe and sustainable way across all industries.