These extra models may be variations on a theme from GM's own branded offerings (including Europe's Opel, Great Britain's Vauxhall and Australia's Holden, as well as unique names from Chevrolet and Pontiac), but there will also be models from the company's alliance partners -- Fiat, Isuzu, Subaru, and Suzuki.
Grimaldi also suggested that the latest name to join the GM stable -- Daewoo -- would be marketed through what is now the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Chevy Truck dealers, who will be losing the Oldsmobile brand when it goes away in a couple of years.
The Daewoo connection could be particularly important to GM of Canada's efforts to sell small cars in this country, since it would allow GM to go contest the market on a more equitable footing with the major Korean exporters, Hyundai and Kia, who enjoy a considerable price advantage because their products are built in Korea.
"We are mindful of who are strengthening their positions," Grimaldi said, "particularly the Koreans, and we have to start blocking their advance."
Grimaldi made it clear that recapturing a large part of the sales lost to firms based outside of North America is one of his major concerns. "We are going to fight foreign competition on the car side," he said plainly and firmly.