Article: Pickup Trucks Give Lift To GM

DETROIT Despite a year of controversy surrounding the safety of General Motors Corp.'s 6.3 million older full-size pickup trucks, the vehicles are commanding strong prices and selling briskly, according to used-car dealers and a price survey.

The vehicles' success appears due, at least in part, to GM's aggressive efforts to defend itself against criticism of the trucks.

GM went on the offensive last February, after a Dateline NBC program criticizing the fuel tank design of GM's 1973-87 Chevrolet and GMC pickups. At a news conference, GM chief counsel Harry Pearce exposed Dateline's use of toy rockets to fake an explosion in the trucks.

"They (GM) think they've been wronged, and ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!