complied by Károly Zetkó Fourth year Economics Students at Széchenyi
István University
General Motors Corporation – Company Profile
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global
industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people
around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in
200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks1 globally, up 4 percent and
the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM
Renaissance Center in Detroit.
The GM Group of global partners includes Fiat Auto SpA of Italy, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.,
Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corp. of Japan, which are involved in various product,
powertrain2 and purchasing collaborations. In addition, GM is the largest shareholder in GM
Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea. GM also has technology collaborations with
BMW AG of Germany and Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, and vehicle manufacturing ventures
with several automakers around the world, including Toyota, Suzuki, Shanghai Automotive
Industry Corp. of China, AVTOVAZ of Russia and Renault SA of France.
GM's automotive brands are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, HUMMER, Opel,
Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. In some countries, the GM Group distribution network
also markets vehicles manufactured by GM Daewoo, Isuzu, Fuji (Subaru) and Suzuki.
GM parts and accessories3 are sold under the GM, GM Goodwrench5 and ACDelco brands
through GM Service and Parts Operations. GM engines and transmissions4 are marketed
through GM Powertrain.
GM operates one of the world's leading financial services companies, GMAC Financial
Services, which offers automotive and commercial financing along with an array of mortgage
and insurance products. GM's OnStar is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and
information services.
In 2004, for the fourth consecutive year, GM set industry sales records in the United States, its
largest market, for total trucks, pickup trucks6 and sport utility vehicles7. In China, GM's
second-largest market in 2004, GM's sales increased 27 percent and set a company record.
GM in Hungary
1990
In Hungary, GM forms a joint venture8 with RÁBA (in Szentgotthárd), the state-owned
producer of trucks, axles9 and diesel engines10, to build engines and assemble11 cars beginning
in 1992 (In 1995 GM purchased the Rába’s 20 % and the ÁFI’s (Állami Fejlesztési Intézet)
15 % equity share and became the only owner of the company. Packard Electric Europe forms
a joint venture with Villszöv, a Hungarian firm, to manufacture automotive power and signal
distribution systems primarily for export for Opel cars produced and sold in Western Europe.
In the end of 1999 the last Hungarian assembled Opel Vectra left the line in Szentgotthárd,
after that one year ago the last Opel Astra made in the plant. Since October 2000 opened the
GM’s first transmission assembly plant except of North-America, where the workers make
heavy-duty12 automatic transmissions for buses and trucks. In July 2001 have been the part of
the new formed GM-Fiat establishment (see the chronological history). At last in November
2002 in one hand the GM opened its CEE13 regional office in Budaörs, in other hand GMDaewoo opened its CEE company also in Budaörs.
General Motors – Chronological History
(In point of the main M&A’s)
1908 – Founding
1925 – GM purchased Vauxhall Motors Ltd. in England
1929 – Opel Ag joined GM’s family, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of GM
1931 – Merger between GM Australia and Holden Ltd. (Australian car manufacturer
company)
1971 – GM acquired 34,2 % in Isuzu (originally Japanese company)
1972 – Daewoo Group assumed managerial control about the GM Korea Company, but GM
retained 50 % stake until 1992
1981 – GM – Suzuki arrangement on developing engines, and GM purchased 5 % share in
Suzuki
1986 GM acquired Lotus Group but in 1993 GM sold it to Bugatti (Italian manufacturer)
1989 – GM purchased 50 % of Saab Automobile AB (Sweden manufacturer)
1990 – One of GM’s divisions signed an agreement with VAZ Volga Auto Works about $1
billion, supplying certain components
1998 – GM raised its equity share in Isuzu to 49 %
1999 – GM acquired 20 % in Fuji Heavy Industries (among others the manufacturer of
Subaru)
2000 – GM increased its equity in Saab to 100 %
2000 – GM-Fiat strategic alliance, within the GM purchased 20 % equity in Fiat and together
established several joint ventures to share powertrains and components
2000 – GM increased its equity share in Suzuki to 20 %.
Glossary:
Probably unknown words in the 1st text:
1
truck
2
powertrain
3
parts and accessories
4
transmission
5
[Good]wrench
6
total trucks, pickup trucks
7
sport utility vehicles
8
joint venture
9
axle
10
engine
11
to assemble
tehergépkocsi, kamion
erőátvitel
gépkocsi részek, alkatrészek
sebességváltó
villáskulcs, franciakulcs
nagy/normal méretű teherautó, kisteherautó
sport autó
vegyesvállalat (venture capital – kockázati tőke)
tengely
motor, hajtómű
összeszerel (assembly line – szerelő/futószalag ~ ld.
bővebben Ford cikk: “Mass production on the line”)
12
heavy-duty
13
CEE – Central Eastern Europe
nagyteljesítményű
Közép-kelet Európa
Ford Motor Company – the brief history
The First Vehicles
Henry Ford insisted1 that the company's future lay in the production of affordable2 cars for a
mass market. Beginning in 1903, the company began using the first 19 letters of the alphabet
to name new cars. In 1908, the Model T was born. 19 years and 15 million Model T's later,
Ford Motor Company (FMC) was a giant industrial complex that spanned the globe3. In 1925,
Ford Motor Company acquired the Lincoln Motor Company, thus branching out into luxury
cars, and in the 1930's, the Mercury division was created to establish a division centered on
mid-priced cars4. Ford Motor Company was growing.
Becoming a Global Company
In the 50's came the Thunderbird5 and the chance to own a part of Ford Motor Company. The
company went public and, on Feb. 24, 1956, had about 350,000 new stockholders. Henry
Ford II's keen perception of political and economic trends in the 50's led to the global
expansion of FMC in the 60's, and the establishment of Ford of Europe in 1967, 20 years
ahead of the European Economic Community's arrival6. The company established its North
American Automotive Operations in 1971, consolidating U.S., Canadian, and Mexican
operations more than two decades ahead of the North American Free Trade Agreement7.
Ford Motor Company started the last century with a single man envisioning products that
would meet the needs of people in a world on the verge8 of high-gear industrialization9.
Today, Ford Motor Company is a family of automotive brands consisting of10: Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo. The company is beginning
its second century of existence with a worldwide organization that retains11 and expands
Henry Ford's heritage by developing products that serve the varying and ever-changing needs
of people in the global community.
Mass Production12 on the Line
Perhaps Ford Motor Company's single greatest contribution13 to automotive manufacturing
was the moving assembly line. First implemented at the Highland Park plant (in Michigan,
US) in 1913, the new technique allowed individual workers to stay in one place and perform
the same task repeatedly14 on multiple vehicles15 that passed by them. The line proved
tremendously16 efficient, helping the company far surpass17 the production levels of their
competitors—and making the vehicles more affordable.
Connections between FMC and Hungary
Ford's connection with Hungary dates back to 1907, when Henry Ford chose József Galamb, a
Hungarian, to lead the development efforts of the famous Model T. In May 1992, Ford
opened a major automotive component plant, Alba Plant, near Budapest to manufacture
ignition coils18, fuel pumps19 and starters20 for export to other Ford operations in Europe,
South America and the U.S. and to Mazda in Japan. A total of 36 authorized Ford dealers21
provide sales and service support to Ford customers throughout Hungary. Sales in 2004 were
14,109 cars.
Divisions, subsidiaries of FMC
Ford Motor Credit Company, the world's largest automotive finance company, is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Now in its 43rd year, Ford Credit provides
vehicle financing to more than 10 million customers and more than 11,500 Ford, Lincoln, and
Mercury automotive dealers.
Genuine Parts & Service offers the reliability22 of factory-trained maintenance23 and repairs,
conveniently24 available through Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury dealerships-assuring25 superior
knowledge of your vehicle.
Motorcraft® premium parts are the preferred choice of Ford Motor Company. From motor oil
to transmission assemblies and everything in between, Motorcraft® parts provide exceptional
quality and fit.
Hertz isn't just a member of the Ford Motor Company's family of brands; it's long been a
customer as well. For years, Ford Motor Company has supplied many of the vehicles Hertz
rents26 to its customers around the world. In fact, Ford Model T's were the first car rented by
the company that later became Hertz.
Ford Motor Company – Chronological History
(In point of the main M&A’s)
1903 – Establishment
1922 – Ford Motor Company acquired Lincoln Motor Company for $8 million.
1935 – The name of a new brand – Mercury appeared. (This is the only brand, which is
created within the FMC family, to bridge the gap between the economical Ford and the luxury
Lincoln.)
1979 – Ford acquired 25 % equity stake in Mazda
1987 – In this year Aston Martin became 75 % owned of Ford
1989 – Jaguar have been the member of the Ford family
1993 – Aston Martin became wholly owned subsidiary of Ford
1996 – Ford increased its shareholding in Mazda to 33,4 %
1999 – Ford acquired the Volvo
2000 – Land Rover acquired totally by Ford
Glossary:
Probably unknown words in the 2nd text:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
kitart vmi mellett, ragaszkodik vmihez
megfizethető
átíveli a világot (világot átívelő)
közép(ár)kategóriájú autó
viharmadár (itt szgk. márka)
megérkezés
so called NAFTA (significant trade agr.)
on the ~ of sg – vminek a szélén/határán
iparosodás
áll vmiből
megtart/-őriz
tömegtermelés
hozzájárulás (itt)
ismételten
15 sor(ban)ozatosan érkező autók (itt)
16 borzasztó/félelmetes
17 felülmúl, túltesz
18 gyújtótekercs (niw )
19 benzinpumpa (niw )
20 önindító (niw )
21 kereskedő
22 megbízhatóság (szavahihetőség)
23 gyári szerviz(hálózat)
24 kellemetlenül
25 biztosít, meggyőz
26 (auto)bérlők
DaimlerChrysler
DaimlerChrysler Heritage
Where the public at large is concerned, the tradition of a company is one of the most
important resources for brand image. While corporate structures change, the tradition of the
individual brands represents a reliable constant1.
In 1998, two companies steeped in tradition – Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corporation –
merged. They actively shaped, and left their mark on, every chapter2 in the history of the
motor vehicle.
These successful traditions are among the most valuable and sacrosanct3 assets of
DaimlerChrysler Classic. They testify to a distinctive4 corporate culture and require careful
nurturing5 to be made comprehensible6 and emotionally accessible for the public at large.
Cultivating tradition7 is therefore the diversified and responsible assignment of
DaimlerChrysler Classic.
Company at a Glance
A True Global company
DaimlerChrysler is unique in the automotive industry:
our product portfolio ranges from small cars to sports cars and luxury sedans; and from
versatile vans8 to heavy duty trucks or comfortable coaches9. DaimlerChryslers’ passenger
car10 brands include Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and smart.
Commercial vehicle brands include Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star,
Setra and Mitsubishi Fuso. It offers financial and other automotive services through
DaimlerChrysler Services.
DaimlerChrysler’s strategy rests on four pillars11: global presence12, strong brands, broad
product range, and technology leadership. DaimlerChrysler has a global workforce and a
global shareholder base. With 384,723 employees, DaimlerChrysler achieved revenues of
EUR 142.1 billion (USD 192.3 billion) in 2004.
Glossary:
Probably unknown words in the 3rd text:
1 állandó megbízhatóság (itt)
2 fejezet
3 szent és sérthetetlen
4 megkülönböztető
5 gondozás, nevelés
6 érthető, felfogható
7 hagyományok ápolása (itt)
8 sokoldaló (többfunkciós) autók – (magyarul talán kishaszongépjármű)
9 coach = kocsi v. távolsági autóbusz v. vagon (mint a szerelvény egy része)
10 szgk
11 global presence (one of the companies favourite phrases)
Sources and more info: www.gm.com; www.ford.com; www.diamlerchrysler.com
Appendix
I.
GM family
US brands
Continental brands
Asian, Australian brands
 Buick
 Fiat
 Cadillac
 Opel
[continental name is
 Chevrolet
 Saab
Chevrolet since 2004]
 GMC
 Vauxhall (UK)
 Hummer
 Daewoo (SK)
 Fuji Heavy Industries (JAP)
[e.g.: Subaru]
 Oldsmobile
 Holden (AUS)
 Pontiac
 Isuzu (JAP)
 Saturn
 Suzuki
Appendix
II.
Ford family
US brands
Continental brands
 Ford (US)
 Aston Martin (UK)
 Lincoln
 Ford (continental)
 Mercury
 Jaguar (UK)
 Land Rover (UK)
 Volvo (SWE)
Japan brand
 Mazda
Appendix
III.
DaimlerChrysler family
US brands
Continental brands
Japan brand
 Chrysler
 Maybach (GER luxury cars)
 Fuso (Mitsubishi governed bus
 Dodge
 Mercedes-Benz
 Jeep
 Setra (GER-buses)
US Truck & Bus makers:
 Smart
 Freightliner
 Sterling Trucks
 Wetern Star Trucks
and truck manufacturer)