[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GENERAL MOTORS' AURA NAMED ``CAR OF THE YEAR''

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 17, 2007

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I join with the staff of General 
Motors' Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, in celebrating the recent 
designation of GM's Aura model car as ``North American Car of the 
Year'' at the recent North American International Auto Show. The Aura 
is manufactured exclusively at the Fairfax plant, which is located in 
Kansas's Third Congressional District. The Aura's win was the first 
time GM had won car of the year since the Corvette won in 1998. And to 
win the award, it had to beat out the redesigned Toyota Camry, the 
nation's best-selling car model, which had just won the car of the year 
honors from Motor Trend, as well as the Honda Fit, the subcompact car 
recently introduced to the U.S. market. As Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief 
of Edmunds.com and one of 49 jurors voting for the award, was quoted as 
saying by CNN, ``It's an undeniable statement about where Saturn has 
gotten,'' he said. ``You could say it's long overdue, but they are now 
producing a competitive vehicle in a very competitive class.''
  Madam Speaker, in recognition of this outstanding achievement, I am 
placing in the Congressional Record recent Kansas City Star coverage of 
this well-deserved designation, and I know that you and the entire 
House of Representatives join with me in recognizing the designation of 
the Aura as ``Car of the Year''.

               [From the Kansas City Star, Jan. 9, 2007]

                     GM Aura is ``Car of the Year''

                         (By Randolph Heaster)

       A group of automotive journalists named the Saturn Aura 
     ``North American Car of the Year'' at the North American 
     International Auto Show in Detroit.
       The news that the Saturn Aura won a car of the year award 
     was a boost for the General Motors Corp.'s Fairfax plant, the 
     exclusive maker of the new model.
       The Aura was named ``North American Car of the Year'' by a 
     group of 49 automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada 
     at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
       The car was launched last August at the Fairfax plant, 
     which employs nearly 3,000.
       ``Our employees are known for their commitment to quality 
     and teamwork,'' said Paul Marr, manager of the Fairfax plant. 
     ``This recognition is a win for Fairfax Assembly and our 
     community as we strive to keep jobs in Kansas City.''
       Union officials at the Fairfax plant could not be reached 
     Monday. However, Jeff Manning, president of United Auto 
     Workers Local 31, stated frequently during Aura's launch that 
     the employees' goal was for it to receive car-of-the-year 
     honors.
       The Aura is the second locally made vehicle to receive such 
     a recognition this decade. The F-150 pickup, made at Ford 
     Motor Co.'s Claycomo plant, was named ``Truck of the Year'' 
     by Motor Trend magazine for 2004.
       The recognition is a shot in the arm for GM, which has been 
     struggling since higher fuel prices slowed sales of pickup 
     trucks and sport utility vehicles. Industry analysts have 
     stated that GM and the other domestic automakers must better 
     compete against Japanese auto companies in the midsize 
     passenger-car market.
       GM hopes that this week's auto show will create some buzz 
     for the new Chevrolet Malibu, which will be unveiled for the 
     first time. The Fairfax plant, which builds the current 
     Malibu, will begin producing the redesigned 2008 Malibu in 
     October.
       The Fairfax plant produced 39,699 Auras in 2006. More than 
     5,800 were sold last month.
       The auto show also gave GM's new Chevrolet Silverado the 
     award for truck of the year.

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