2015 Canyon Reveal Remarks by Mary Barra and Mark Reuss

MARY BARRA

Hello. It's good to have you with us. On behalf of everyone at General Motors I'd like to welcome you to the Motor City and the 2014 North American International Auto Show.

I am honored to stand up here tonight and humbled to lead the global GM team. It's a team I'm very proud to be part of… a team of men and women doing unbelievably great work... putting out vehicle after vehicle that have made the automotive world stop and take notice.

Like the Corvette Stingray, and the all-new Cadillac CTS Sedan and the Chevrolet Silverado. All of which are finalists for North American Car and Truck of the Year.

But our biggest product news of the year was introducing a complete new portfolio of trucks and full size SUVs.

Soon after the new Silverado and Sierra pickups arrived at dealerships, we introduced our Heavy Duty pickups, and all-new versions of our segment-leading full-size SUVs: Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Yukon XL.

We also introduced the all-new Chevrolet Colorado in LA.

But we're not done. We're continuing the product onslaught into 2014.

It all starts tonight with the all-new GMC Canyon. Then tomorrow morning we'll drive the Corvette Z06 onto the Chevrolet stage at Cobo Center.

This is nothing short of the best Corvette ever built, and you might want to get there early to see its grand entrance.

And Tuesday you'll see how we're expanding and elevating the Cadillac brand with another model aimed squarely at the world's best.

Of course in this business, everything starts and ends with great products.

At today's GM, our products are the result of putting the customer at the center of everything we do.

That has fostered a bold new culture at our company… a culture that promotes innovation and encourages risk-taking.

So, as you'll see tonight, if we can delight our customers with something unexpected, we go for it.

Our goal is simple -- to make sure every vehicle is the best in segment in every country in which we compete.

That means we're developing flexible products that meet the needs of different regions around the world.

Here in North America, the new GMC Canyon is part of our three-truck strategy designed with the customer in mind, making us the only manufacturer that lets buyers choose precisely the right truck for their needs: Light Duty, Heavy Duty or Midsize.

The midsize truck segment is especially interesting. Other manufacturers have either ignored it or abandoned it.

That means midsize pickup customers have had to compromise. To get the features, content and amenities they're looking for, they've had to either leave the segment -- most often to a compact crossover or car -- or choose from a limited selection.

To us, that's no way to treat a customer. That's opportunity knocking.

That's why we're getting back into the segment with not one, but two all-new entries...the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

We're confident that with these two trucks we can both win conquest sales and grow the segment...simply by listening to customers.

The new GMC Canyon gives these customers everything they want.

And we're very excited to show it to you now.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the all-new 2015 GMC Canyon.

The 2015 GMC Canyon redefines the midsize truck segment with its style, refinement and capability.

It is pure GMC.

I can't think of anybody better to tell you more about the Canyon than the best car guy - and truck guy - in the business, our new product chief... Mark Reuss.

MARK REUSS

Thank you, Mary, and hello everyone.

To paraphrase what Mary said earlier, midsize truck customers simply want a better truck. And this new Canyon delivers in every way. It takes styling cues from Sierra - and for good reason. GMC customers list exterior styling as their #1 reason for buying a GMC.

That family resemblance continues on the inside where Canyon brings a level of refinement this segment has never seen. There's keen attention to detail and premium materials throughout. It's roomy and comfortable.

And when it arrives next fall, we fully expect the 2015 Canyon to be the quietest midsize truck you can buy.

Canyon will offer the latest technologies… from smartphone connectivity with touch-screen and voice-activated controls to driver awareness features like Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning.

There's even Wi-Fi connectivity available to make Canyon a mobile hotspot, with OnStar 4G LTE.

In addition to all these comfort and convenience features, customers also want their truck to perform like a truck. And that means it needs to be truly capable.

That's why we engineered the Canyon to deliver segment-leading payload, towing, and fuel economy.

To do that, we built Canyon on a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame.

It's a scaled version of our full-size pickup frame. And it rides on an all-new chassis designed specifically to meet the needs of our customers in North America.

Two engines will be offered at launch: a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with an estimated 195 horsepower... and the optional 3.6-liter V6 with an estimated 300 HP and 270 ft-lbs. of torque.

In the second model year we will also offer the 2.8-liter 4-cylinder Duramax Turbo Diesel.

This will be the only diesel in the midsize segment, promising excellent fuel economy and torque for maximum towing capability.

All engines are mated to a standard six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. And a six-speed manual is also available.

Of course, it wouldn't be a real truck without a functional cargo box, so we gave Canyon the largest box in the segment.

And it has the features that our full-size pickup customers really like -- such as the Corner-Step rear bumper, cargo tie-downs and the EZ Lift & Lower tailgate.

In short, the 2015 GMC Canyon is the midsize truck that customers have been waiting for.

It offers the refinement and convenience of a premium crossover with the capability of a truck. Plus it's easy to maneuver and highly efficient.

Canyon will be built alongside the Chevrolet Colorado at our Wentzville assembly plant near St. Louis.

And I'd like to thank the governor of Missouri, the honorable Jay Nixon, for coming to Detroit to be here for this important introduction. I'd also like to thank Senator Debbie Stabenow for being here. Glad you both could make it.

Canyon joins Sierra and Sierra HD to complete our three-truck strategy for GMC… and it is the final piece of our all-new portfolio of trucks and SUVs from General Motors.

We now offer the broadest and deepest lineup of trucks in the industry.

And we took the opportunity to bring them all together here tonight for the first time ever.

So let's take a look.

This is the most complete line up of trucks and SUVs in the industry.

And they're all from two of the strongest brands in the business: GMC and Chevrolet.

You could think of tonight as GM's Truck-A-Palooza.

And to complete the musical metaphor, later we'll be hearing from a blues-rock guitarist who has sold millions of records… or countless mp3's...Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band.

Right now I'd like to invite Jeff Luke, our Executive Chief Engineer for trucks, and Tony DiSalle, vice president of marketing for Buick and GMC to join me on stage.

And Mary Barra, my good friend - now my new boss and GM CEO - will be at our other Canyon in the Display Area.

Thank you for coming, enjoy the rest of the evening, and please, come take a look at the new Canyon.