By 2015, the said GM expects to sell 12 million vehicles there. GM's future, he continued, stretches far beyond the borders of the United States." But, there are "many factors in our favor. Fifty years ago, company executives were focused on things that seem trivial today -- how large the fins on a new 1961 model would be or how to squeeze 50 more horsepower into an engine. There is also still Exhaust Fan Manufacturers much work to be done to fund the company's pension liabilities. That is possible Akerson explained, because GM is producing vehicles that customers want, cars such as the Lordstown, Ohio-built Chevrolet Cruze, the top-selling compact car in America just five months after it was introduced, and the Chevrolet Volt, the first extended-range electric in the market. And, he said, "This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come. While the company has "made great strides in Europe, there is still much to do," Akerson said. In the BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] countries, GM dominates the market and anticipates rapid growth, Akerson continued. The problems that almost put the company out of business, he noted, were decades in the making." Emerging from bankruptcy was not just a second chance, he said, "but a rebirth. History suggests that they were not focused on the things that would eventually pose serious threats to the company, Akerson said. "It was very enlightening," Akerson observed. "We have a new attitude," he said. The Verano is Buick's first compact luxury sedan." The goal, he said, is for GM to address its own vulnerabilities before its competitors identify them. Things such as brand amalgamation, an evermore crowded marketplace and competition from around the world, more stringent environmental regulations that impact how vehicles operate as well as how they are produced, demand for greater fuel efficiency, the rapid pace of technological innovation and the need to remain on the cutting edge." Among the most important changes is the company's ability to turn a profit on both its top-end luxury vehicles, SUVs and trucks and its base models, i. Chevrolet, he happily reported, is among the five most recognizable automotive brands in the world. We strive to win and that's what this company and its leadership is about. The company is experiencing solid growth, gaining market share, boosting profits and reducing liabilities, Akerson said. Because these vehicles are what consumers want, and have all of the comforts and amenities that they want, the automaker is able to charge a premium price, driving up profits, Akerson told shareholders. affordably priced small cars that appeal to the masses. It is a daunting task, he acknowledged, "but we are invigorated by the challenges. "The new GM is building momentum. There are, however, still many challenges. Referring to the Buick Verano and Chevrolet Sonic, one displayed to his left, the other to his right on the stage inside the historic Fisher Building where the annual meeting took place, Akerson said that this is the "ideal time" to launch such vehicles. It has added 9,000 jobs in the United States since emerging from bankruptcy, reduced the complexity in how it operates and has achieved this despite shedding some of its brands, a drastic move, he says, that worried him and his colleagues.Acknowledging that the largest American automaker almost made history by "not making a future," Akerson told shareholders the new GM has made significant progress and monumental changes in how it operates since emerging from Chapter 11. "These are the right vehicles at the right time in our history," he asserted.e." Jeff Gordon Chevrolet is excited about what the future holds for the Chevrolet brand!!. Akerson told his audience that the company has also introduced an exercise he refers to as "tough love. Both cars were unveiled during the North American International Auto Show in January and will roll into dealer showrooms in coming months. Today, having learned from experience, Akerson said GM has refocused its energies and made important changes in how it operates. "No one is doing a victory lap, we still have a lot to do," he cautioned, referring to the undertaking as a "massive turnaround."During these tough-love sessions, he explained, GM executives work in groups identifying the company's vulnerabilities and imagining how, if they were a competitor, they could best attack those vulnerabilities. "We expect to win. While challenges remain, Akerson said he is confident the new GM is on the right path, anticipating changes in the market better than ever before and focusing on what consumers want. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is small, fuel-efficient model that offers the athletic ride and agility of a sports car. "I learned a lot