GM builds the first new car dealership in Harlem in 40 years
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GM builds the first new car dealership in Harlem in 40 years
General Motors hopes for Harlem-like renaissance
E-mail | Print | | Disable live quotes By Simona Covel
Last Update: 4:38 PM ET Jun 2, 2006
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- General Motors Corp. (GM) executives and New York City leadership Friday drew parallels between the giant auto maker and the city's recently revitalized neighborhood as the group unveiled the first Harlem car dealerships in more than 40 years.
The pair of GM dealerships - one selling Chevrolets and Saturns, the other more upscale Cadillacs and Hummers - were welcomed with a four piece jazz band and a soul food buffet, in an effort to channel the Upper Manhattan neighborhood's rich African-American heritage.
"We have confidence in General Motors, we have confidence in American industry," said Harlem Representative Charles Rangel, speaking inside the bright new Chevrolet and Saturn dealership. He was flanked by GM chief executive Rick Wagoner, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city political fixture Reverend Jesse Jackson. GM is set to execute a turnaround, he added, as robust as Harlem has seen over the last 10 years.
Despite the approving crowd, GM has struggled mightily to remain popular in coastal, urban markets and faces a long road to success in Manhattan. GM spokeswoman Toni Simonetti said New York City is known as an "underperforming market."
"It's one of the large markets where General Motors underperforms in terms of market share," Simonetti acknowledged. In May, GM held about 23% of the entire U.S. market, but GM's share of urban markets outside the Midwest has suffered due to a lack of buyers able to claim employee discounts, and the extreme popularity of import cars.
"We want to be where our customers are and we want to be a part of the growth...in Harlem today," said Wagoner.
The new dealerships, situated on the eastern edge of Harlem, are part of the city's ongoing effort to bring more commerce and jobs to the historically poor area, while trimming crime. Still, the east Harlem location is several blocks from the stretch that officials usually boast about, where tour buses chug up and down 125th Street and former president Bill Clinton has an office. East Harlem is markedly grittier, still peppered in some places by overgrown vacant lots and swirling piles of litter.
The new GM dealerships were partially funded through a city economic development bond program. They have already brought 150 jobs to the neighborhood, Mayor Bloomberg said, and he expects that number to grow by as much as 250 more in the coming months.
I thought this was kinda cool
h: Harlem is pretty not so bad these days.
E-mail | Print | | Disable live quotes By Simona Covel
Last Update: 4:38 PM ET Jun 2, 2006
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- General Motors Corp. (GM) executives and New York City leadership Friday drew parallels between the giant auto maker and the city's recently revitalized neighborhood as the group unveiled the first Harlem car dealerships in more than 40 years.
The pair of GM dealerships - one selling Chevrolets and Saturns, the other more upscale Cadillacs and Hummers - were welcomed with a four piece jazz band and a soul food buffet, in an effort to channel the Upper Manhattan neighborhood's rich African-American heritage.
"We have confidence in General Motors, we have confidence in American industry," said Harlem Representative Charles Rangel, speaking inside the bright new Chevrolet and Saturn dealership. He was flanked by GM chief executive Rick Wagoner, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city political fixture Reverend Jesse Jackson. GM is set to execute a turnaround, he added, as robust as Harlem has seen over the last 10 years.
Despite the approving crowd, GM has struggled mightily to remain popular in coastal, urban markets and faces a long road to success in Manhattan. GM spokeswoman Toni Simonetti said New York City is known as an "underperforming market."
"It's one of the large markets where General Motors underperforms in terms of market share," Simonetti acknowledged. In May, GM held about 23% of the entire U.S. market, but GM's share of urban markets outside the Midwest has suffered due to a lack of buyers able to claim employee discounts, and the extreme popularity of import cars.
"We want to be where our customers are and we want to be a part of the growth...in Harlem today," said Wagoner.
The new dealerships, situated on the eastern edge of Harlem, are part of the city's ongoing effort to bring more commerce and jobs to the historically poor area, while trimming crime. Still, the east Harlem location is several blocks from the stretch that officials usually boast about, where tour buses chug up and down 125th Street and former president Bill Clinton has an office. East Harlem is markedly grittier, still peppered in some places by overgrown vacant lots and swirling piles of litter.
The new GM dealerships were partially funded through a city economic development bond program. They have already brought 150 jobs to the neighborhood, Mayor Bloomberg said, and he expects that number to grow by as much as 250 more in the coming months.
I thought this was kinda cool
h: Harlem is pretty not so bad these days.
