Happy Birthday GM!

Today is GM's 100th birthday. For all of its problems, you can not ignore the impact that GM has had on the automotive industry, and the impact that it continues to have today. Even in its current, pruned form, GM is still one of the largest companies in the world. Some stats:

• 266,000 Employees
• 9.37 million 2007 Vehicle Sales
• Operations in 35 countries
• 13 global brands, plus OnStar
• 6,776 U.S. dealers
• Revenue of about $172 Billion

Some GM Innovations:

• Electric headlamps
• Electric starter
• Energy absorbing steering column
• Unibody construction
• Independent front suspension
• Engines that run on unleaded gasoline
• First mass produced automatic transmission
• Production airbags
• Catalytic converter
• Frigidaire, first room air conditioner
• First mechanical blood pump (for open heart surgery)
• First metal highway barriers
• OnStar, first telematics service

And GM has made some very popular and important cars over the years. Corvette. Suburban. Impala. Camaro. Bel Aire.

Here's a toast to GM. Keep fighting, guys, Michigan and the whole industry needs you.