GM enhancing Chevy Volt following investigation

General Motors has decided to enhance the vehicle structure and battery coolant systems in Chevy Volts, a move that will further protect the battery. The enhancements will protect the battery from catching fire days or weeks after a severe crash. 

The following changes (from GM's website) include external and internal battery protection:

• "Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt's vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision
• Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels
• Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill"

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began its preliminary evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later," GM stated on its website. "The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later."

Through the first 11 months of 2011, Volt owners drove nearly 20 million miles without an incident similar to the outcome of the tests.

"The Volt has always been safe to drive," Mary Barra said, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development. "Now, we will go the extra mile to ensure our customers' peace of mind in the days and weeks following a severe crash."

Of the enhancements being added, Barra said there are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry.

"We have tested the Volt's battery system for more than 285,000 hours, or 25 years, of operation," Barra said. "We're as confident as ever that the cell design is among the safest on the market."

Volt customers will be individually notified when the modifications are available for their vehicles. 

Team Auto Group of Salisbury currently has three Volts... come take one for a test drive!

50-inch HDTV with any new or used vehicle purchase from Team Auto Group of Salisbury

Team Auto Group of Salisbury is having a huge sale this week, and is offering a 50-inch LG HDTV with the purchase of any new GM vehicle or used vehicle, starting Thursday and running through Monday. Any car, truck or SUV that we have, new or used, is included in the deal.

Holiday "Red Tag" prices will be posted on each vehicle, and some are discounted up to $10,000 off. With zero percent APR for 72 months for most models and zero down and no payments for 90 days, AND a free 50-inch HDTV, how could you not go ahead and purchase the car you've been eying for a while?

Right now Team Auto Group has more than 100 pre-owned vehicles in stock priced from $3,995. 

Check www.teamautogroup.com to pick out your car, and call 704-314-4733 to schedule an appointment to come check it out in person. 

Rowan County United Way Finale videos

With a goal of $1.6 million dollars, the people of Rowan County really stepped up and gave a lot this year to the United Way! The Rowan County United Way made its goal... and it's not over yet, there are still campaigns finishing up, and some just beginning!

And, the highlight of the night - one lucky Rowan County man - Edwin Martinez - was chosen out of the 12 finalists to win a new car! Martinez works at Freightliner, and was shocked to hear he had won the car. Martinez was one of the last two standing, along with Rowan Public Library employee Joyce Ervin. Ervin's name was called meaning Martinez won the car. Check out the video below. 

Then, the drawing was held to find out which dealership would be giving the car away - Team Auto Group, Ben Mynatt, Cloninger Ford-Toyota and Gerry Wood. Check out the video of the dealership drawing below.

Too bad Team Auto Group wasn't able to give away a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze!

The finale ended with a special performance - members of the Rowan County United Way committee and employees with various United Way organizations sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on stage. Here's the video.

Congratulations to every finalist, especially to Mr. Martinez. And a huge congrats to the Rowan County United Way and people of Rowan County!

Happy Birthday, Chevrolet!

Team Auto Group has been around for nearly 20 years, but Chevrolet has been around five times longer. Today, November 3rd, marks the 100th birthday for Chevrolet. 

Do you know where Chevrolet came from? Did you know Chevrolet is named for the man who started Chevrolet 100 years ago?

On November 3, 1911, Swiss immigrant Louis Chevrolet and U.S. entrepreneur Billy Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Today, Chevrolet is one of the best-known automotive brands, not only in the U.S., but around the world. Chevrolet is the number one selling automotive brand in China, and continues to wow people across Europe and Asia. 

 In the beginning, the first car was the Series C Classic Six, and offered an electric starter and electric headlamps at a time when both were rarities among even luxury cars. In the decades that followed, innovations such as safety glass, fuel injection, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control systems were used on Chevrolet models at the same time as more expensive vehicles. As one of the largest-selling brands in the industry, Chevrolet’s early adoption of landmark technologies fundamentally changed the way they were applied to new vehicles. 

Designs have changed so much over the years, but the trust in the Chevrolet brand has remained the same. Team Auto Group has also changed and grown over time. From a small Chevrolet dealership in the 1990's to a Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick dealership, complete with an award-winning service department, collision center and detailing department. We have an excellent internet sales department and friendly sales team. Team Auto Group is keeping the Chevrolet brand alive in Salisbury, North Carolina, and wishes Chevrolet another century of greatness!

For more on Chevrolet's history, visit this website: 100 Years of Chevrolet

And check out some of the Chevrolet ads over the years:

Flag football and soccer teams sponsored by Team Auto Group

GM dealerships across the country are giving back to their communities in big ways - sponsoring football or soccer teams in their towns, and even going to to the Saturday morning games to show their support for the players and their families.

Team Auto Group in Salisbury is proud to sponsor the flag football and soccer teams for the J.F. Hurley YMCA of Salisbury. We have been working closely with Phil Hilliard, the sports director for the YMCA. He's been a big help in coordinating Team Auto Group to be at the fields on Saturdays, and even brought a few teams to the dealership for photos. 

We'll be out there again this weekend with a GMC Terrain or Chevrolet Cruze, and will be having drawings for reusable tote bags and stadium seats. 

Here are some photos from the games and the visits to the dealership.

The Chevy Volt is here!!!!

Wow, seeing the Volt online or television is no comparison to sitting behind the wheel. Team Auto Group got the Volt in Wednesday (Oct. 5) and has already gotten a lot of attention around town. Today I found out why. 

I got behind the wheel of the Volt, placed the key in the cup holder, pushed in the green "On" button, and thought I was behind the wheel of a spaceship. A fun and futuristic sound resonated throughout the car as I turned on the engine (with the push of the button), and the dash lit up. Icons swirled around the dash as I turned the car off, too. 

I didn't get the chance to drive it today, but will on Friday or Saturday, and I can't wait. Check back for updates on my driving experience in the Chevrolet Volt!

Congrats, Megan!

Megan stopped by Team Auto Group last week and purchased a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. Her family was supposed to take it camping over the weekend, and we hope they had a lot of fun. The Torrent is perfect for camping or road trips. Welcome to the Team Auto Group family, Megan! We hope you enjoy your new car!

Joe excited about his Buick Lacrosse!

Joe came by Team Auto Group last week and purchased a 2011 Buick LaCrosse, fully loaded, and this isn't his first trip to the dealership. Joe, of Salisbury, traded in his Buick Lucerne for his new ride, and was really happy to drive it off the lot. Congratulations, Joe!

Huge Sale at Team Auto Group

Team Auto Group is at it again. We are having a huge Prior Bank Asset $59 Down Mega-Sale, and it's only for today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 1). All vehicles have been inspected and their titles have been cleared for transfer to prospective new owners. And many are still under warranty.

The following vehicles are available for $9,999 and under: 2006 Chrysler Town and Country, 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2006 Chevrolet Equinox, 2007 Toyota Yaris, 2008 Pontiac G6, 2003 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab, 1994 BMW 325 convertible, 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1999 Mercury Sable, 2004 Dodge Stratus, 1999 Chevrolet Blazer, 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, 2001 Chevrolet S-10 extended cab, 2000 Dodge Dakota extended cab, 1999 Mitsubishi 3000 GT, 1998 Ford F-250 XLT, 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1997 Honda Accord, and a 2005 Chevy Venture van.

We also have a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS for only $199 a month, a 2011 Cadillac CTS Sedan for only $369 a month, a 2011 Buick Regal for a remarkable $229 per month and a 2012 GMC Terrain for $299 a month.

There are 80 more vehicles to choose from, from a 2011 Chevrolet Impala LTZ to a 2007 Ford Mustang. We also have two Harley-Davidsons - 2007 Harley-Davidson Road Glide and a 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail Duce.

Come by Team Auto Group today, or call 704-216-8000 to make an appointment. If you make an appointment we can go ahead and line you up with a sales person and make sure the car is ready for you when you get here.

Visit our website to check the inventory yourself - http://www.teamautogroup.com/

2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD - $14,800

2007 Chevrolet Eqinox LX $14,501

2010 Chevrolet Impala LS $13,700

Advertising over the years

Since the introduction of the television, advertising has transformed over time - just as much as the vehicles from Chevrolet and GM have. Take a look at these ads from the 1970's to 1990's and see how things changed. Notice the clothing, songs, the target audience, graphics, and demeanor of those in the commercials. Later this week I'll post vehicle specific commercials so you can see the transformation of the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Suburban, and other favorites from Chevrolet and GM.

My favorite is the "Like a Rock" commercial with the man pouring water all over himself, the older couple dancing next to their camper and Chevrolet, and the men on the construction site looking happy to be at work... all because of their Chevrolet. My second favorite is the Buick "Cutting Loose" commercial. I think it'd be great if GM and Chevrolet used these commercials for their new models. It would be a fun tribute to their advertising over the years. Maybe we'll do one here at Team Auto Group one day. 


Enjoy, and look for more later this week!

United Way Day of Caring

On Thursday Medley Warren, Cindy Landry and I (Shelley Smith) participated in the United Way Day of Caring. Our assignment - beautify East Rowan High School's picnic table/break area and the entrance to the football stadium. (If they can't win a game, they can at least have a spruced-up entrance to the stadium, right?) 

It was a beautiful day, and we had a lot of fun. We were joined by employees with the Rowan County tax office and inspections department, who were a lot of fun to work with. It was definitely fun getting to know everyone, and it was great getting out of the office and being outside. 

Cindy and I are pretty sore today, Medley will probably feel it tomorrow. For about five hours we hauled mulch and spread it around a picnic/break area at the high school, and also trimmed bushes around the stadium, spreading mulch in the flower beds. 

It was nice to give back to the community Thursday. And the school really appreciated and showed their love for us. We received a wonderful fruit basket, water and poster thanking us for our work. We also got a few "thank you's" from students walking by - the best reward for our hard work Thursday. 

The United Way does so much for our community, and we were grateful we had the chance to give back. Here are a few photos and a video of everyone working.

Congrats, Nottingham family!

Congrats on your new truck, Nottingham family!

Congrats Roger and Evelyn!

Team Auto Group hopes you enjoy your new convertible!

Congrats, Everette!

Welcome to the Team Auto Group family!

Congrats on your new truck, Luther!

Congrats on your 2011 Chevy Silverado, Luther! And welcome to the Team Auto Group family!