GM CEO Akerson Leads Woodward Dream Cruise Parade

Takes wheel of ’60 Corvette to help celebrate Chevrolet Centennial

ROYAL OAK, Mich.  – Taking the wheel of a red-and-white 1960 Corvette convertible, General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson led the Woodward Dream Cruise Parade on Thursday, followed by classic Corvettes, Camaros and 51 Chevrolet Volt electric cars from 12 states marking their first homecoming as part of the brand’s 100^h anniversary celebration.

Akerson drove the approximately 12-mile route with GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky riding shotgun. Twenty GM employee-owned Chevrolet heritage vehicles, selected last month during the annual employee car show at the Warren Technical Center, made up part of the motoring entourage.

“Our centennial is a chance for all of us to reflect on the passion and the emotion that have touched the lives of countless Chevrolet owners, families, employees, and fans – people who know that a car or truck represents far more than getting from Point A to Point B,”  Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing, said before the parade.

Chevrolet NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson joined in the festivities, waving the green flag to start the parade.

More than 200 million Chevrolets have been sold in the brand’s first century, including 2.3 million in more than 120 countries during the first six months of the year. Chevy celebrates its formal birthday on Nov. 3.

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com