Trend of fuel efficient cars good for Lordstown, exec says

BOARDMAN — “I can’t commit to any new product” for the Lordstown General Motors complex, said Mark R. LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing.

But LaNeve, the featured speaker at Thursday’s Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way annual meeting, said the consumer trend toward buying more fuel efficient vehicles is good for the Lordstown plant.

Lordstown makes the fuel efficient Chevrolet Cobalt, of which 18,636 were sold in April, 25 percent more than in April 2007; and the Pontiac G5, which also saw an 11 percent increase in sales in April 2008 over the same month in 2007.

“I can say that with the change in the market, our intent is to strengthen our position in fuel efficient cars and crossover vehicles and at the same time defend our truck business,” which LaNeve said is suffering because of high fuel prices.

The entire U.S. auto industry is challenged by high fuel prices and the housing industry credit problem, which is negatively affecting consumer confidence, said LeNeve, who grew up in nearby Beaver Falls, Pa., the son of a steelworker.

He said GM’s business is booming globally, in such countries as Brazil, Russia, India, China and Korea. But, he said, “we have to make sure we build things in America and to keep our country strong.”

“Our greatest challenge is to change the incorrect perception that GM does not make quality, fuel efficient vehicles,” LeNeve said.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com