GM said that lowering the assumptions on U

Company on track toward meeting viability plan targetsDETROIT, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ General Motors today provided an updateon company restructuring efforts included in the viability plan submitted tothe federal government last month, and announced more conservative industryvolume planning assumptions to ensure the viability plan is successful even inthe most challenging of markets.The updates were part of a comprehensive review of GM's global business byRick Wagoner, chairman and CEO; Fritz Henderson, president and COO; and RayYoung, executive vice president and CFO; at the Deutsche Bank 2009 AutoAnalysts Conference in Detroit.Their remarks focused on the global financial, operational and productportfolio actions GM is taking to restructure its business for greatercompetitiveness and long-term viability. View presentation slides http://"We are on track to accomplish the requirements of the viability plan,"Wagoner stated."We know we have a lot of work in front of us, but we arealready working closely with many key stakeholders.The GM team is 100percent dedicated to achieving the goals of our plan."In light of the ongoing uncertainty of global market conditions, GM isadopting more conservative industry volume assumptions than those presented toCongress.For liquidity and viability planning purposes, GM will assume 2009U.S. total vehicle sales of 10.5 million units and global sales of 57.5million units.

The initial plan included a downside scenario of 10.5 millionU.S. sales in 2009, with a baseline scenario of 12 million sales.GM alsorevised downwards its assessment of global industry volume assumptions for2010-2012 for liquidity planning purposes.GM said that lowering the assumptions on U.S. and global industry volumeswill drive tougher operational decisions that will result in a more robustviability plan, one that better positions the company for long-term growth asthe auto market recovers.GM said it would continue to refine its plan inresponse to changing market conditions.GM's detailed Restructuring Plan for Long-Term Viability was presented toCongress on December 2, 2008, and it formed the basis for the loan agreementwith the U.S. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker,has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Department of Treasury; theavailability of funding for future loans under that credit agreement; ourability to execute the viability plan under development; our ability tomaintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level ofdebt; continued economic instability or poor economic conditions in the U.S.and global markets; volatility in fuel prices; and the ability of ourcustomers, dealers, distributors and suppliers to obtain adequate financing onacceptable terms to continue their business relationships with us.GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form10-Q provide information about these factors, which we may revise orsupplement in future reports to the SEC on Form 8-K.SOURCEGeneral Motors CorporationRenee Rashid-Merem, 1-313-665-3128, 1-313-701-8560 (cell),, or Julie Gibson, 1-212-418-6381, 1-313-213-3086(cell), , both of General Motors Corporation. Hippo dropped us an update on Petteri Koponen The Finns will be heard.

Check out the Finnagler in action here .Petteri Koponen celebrated All Hallow's Eve by sneaking back into Italian Serie A team Virtus Bologna's starting line-up in an away game against Bancatercas Teramo. ) three almost consecutive three pointers set the tone early on, but Italian national team sharpshooter Valerio Amoroso caught fire and Bobby Jones took Bancatercas Teramo up by seven at half. Amoroso continued carrying his team in the third quarter, but after Jones' foul trouble, Bologna was able to shake opening difficulties. Three-pointers by Koponen and Viktor Sanikidze brought Virtus within four (63-59 with seven minutes remaining), David Moss tied the game with just five minutes remaining and LeRoy Hurd sank a wild three-pointer to put Virtus up 63-66 Virtus' team defense was the key in the decisive minutes. Ryan Hoover's free throws brought Teramo within two and LeRoy Hurd managed to sink one out of two, but Teramo got the last possession. Drake Diener's last second three point shot, however, was swatted away by Georgian forward Sanikidze Koponen played sparingly, only 14 minutes in the game. He finished with six points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist.