UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 13, 2004
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 1-143 38-0572515
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) File Number) Identification No.)
300 Renaissance Center, 48265-3000
Detroit, Michigan (Zip Code)
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (313) 556-5000
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 2.05. COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXIT OR DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES
With respect to Form 8-K, Item 2.05, Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities:
(a) On October 13, 2004, the European Strategy Board of General Motors
Corporation (GM) approved a restructuring initiative with respect to its
European operations as described in the following press release.
(b) At this time GM is unable to estimate the total amount or range of
amounts expected to be incurred in connection with each major type of
cost associated with this course of action.
(c) At this time GM is unable to estimate the total amount or range of
amounts expected to be incurred in connection with this action.
(d) At this time GM is unable to estimate the total amount or range of
amounts of the charge that will result in future cash expenditures.
On October 14, 2004, GM issued the following press release:
GM Europe announces major restructuring initiative
- Company targets to reduce structural costs by 500 million euros ($600 million)
annually - Concentration on German operations - Consultations and negotiations
with employees' representatives
Zurich. General Motors Europe today announced its intention to reduce its annual
structural costs by an estimated 500 million euros ($600 million) by 2006. The
plan calls for a reduction of the workforce by up to 12,000 over the next two
years, with over 90 percent in 2005. The company will immediately begin
consultations and negotiations with the employees' representatives on the plan.
"GM Europe has undergone significant change and restructuring in the last three
years with the support of both our workers and the respective Works Councils,"
said Fritz Henderson, Chairman, of General Motors Europe (GME). "We anticipate
working constructively with the works councils to arrive at a creative solution
to our current challenge."
The plan comprehends GME's current outlook for the European automotive market,
including sluggish demand growth, increasing competition from both European and
Asian brands, and a negative outlook on net vehicle pricing. It is expected the
company will take separation charges in 2005 and 2006, the amount and timing of
which will be dependent upon completed negotiations with the works councils.
The initial scope of the plan provides for the majority of the reduction to be
in Germany, with a heavy emphasis on manufacturing and engineering.
Approximately 1,000 of those reductions are proposed to be in outsourced
operations.
"Any successful turnaround has to start with great product - and we have that
part of the business well in place here in Europe," said Henderson. "These
measures will not affect the integrity of any of our products nor our future
product programs. These are improvements that will positively impact our
long-term viability by reducing our structural costs and our attendant break
even level. With these actions, we will be better able to provide our customers
with exciting and high quality products both in the near and long term."
"This also should not be looked at as a lack of commitment to grow our company,"
he said. "But the lack of industry growth, the pricing environment and the
competitiveness of the market do not allow us to grow fast enough to offset the
cost base we have today. Our plan assumes continued market share growth, but
with a realistic outlook for revenue."
"We've made significant progress in quality over the past three years, and we
are now emphasizing more attractive design as a core emotional component of our
product line, and that will continue," added Carl-Peter Forster, GM Europe
President.
"Beyond these measures with our structural costs, we continue to make
significant progress in our ongoing material cost savings, the largest component
of our cost base, and our warranty expense continues to shrink because of our
improvements in quality," he said.
The company confirmed its 2005 production launches remain on track in terms of
quality and timing for the Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC, the Zafira monocab, and the
Saab 9-3 Sport Hatch. Further, it confirmed the introduction of an all-new
Opel/Vauxhall cross-over sport utility vehicle, the next-generation Corsa and a
new two-seater roadster in 2006.
"We also will continue with our commitment to diesel engines, as they have
proven to be very popular with our customers," said Forster. "Our new diesel
engines, especially the 1.9 liter in the Vectra, Astra and Saab 9-3, continue to
receive excellent reviews among the automotive media, consistently winning
comparison tests against our most formidable competitors."
Through the continued integration of the design and engineering functions
between the staffs of Saab and Opel, design and engineering are expected to
realize significant efficiencies. The alignment of engineering activities in
Sweden, the U.K. and Germany will reduce duplication of engineered component
sets, and allow each area to focus on specific areas of expertise.
In conjunction with these moves, the International Technical Development Center
in Russelsheim, Germany, and the Saab Technical Development Center in
Trollhattan, Sweden, will be fully integrated into GM's worldwide engineering
organization. Hans Demant, GM Europe's Vice President of Engineering, will
continue to lead the GME engineering organization reporting to Carl-Peter
Forster, President of GM Europe.
This change reflects the next phase of the ongoing engineering integration
process under way within GME and, importantly, it ensures the engineering
activities in Europe are integrated into GM's global vehicle development
process. The change will allow much greater contributions to, and leverage of,
GM's global engineering and vehicle development resources. Demant continues in
his role as Managing Director of Adam Opel AG.
Sales, Marketing and Aftersales is restructuring along functional lines and is
expected to increase its efficiencies, with special attention being paid to
making the interaction with dealers and customers much easier, and getting
potential customers to experience its new products.
The company is reviewing the prioritization, efficiency and customer focus of
its spending. For instance, it is in the process of analyzing the efficiency of
its advertising buying, and has decided to end its participation in DTM racing
in Germany after completing the '05 season.
The plan also calls for a restructuring of the company's warehousing operations
and significant reductions in administrative areas throughout the company.
"The convergence of a number of negative economic factors over the past several
years has undermined our previous turnaround efforts and we obviously need to go
much further," Henderson said.
Henderson added: "With losses since 1999 and no reasonable indication that
market or economic conditions will improve substantially in the coming years, we
have no other choice than to take tough steps to ensure our long-term success.
We owe it to our employees, our customers, and the communities in which we
operate to get the business back on a sustainable path that associates our
company and each of our brands with success."
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: October 14, 2004 By: /s/PETER R. BIBLE.
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(Peter R. Bible,
Chief Accounting Officer)