General Motors' turnaround program in North America according to Kempston Drakes, is ahead of schedule saying that "A new GM is beginning to take shape; a company that is leaner and faster; one that has a passion to create the finest cars in the world."

Kuwait is one of the outstanding markets for General Motors since it continues to provide the automaker with a strong sales growth and market share. As a matter of fact, for 2006 alone General Motors was able to record an annual sale of 18,289 in Kuwait which is an approximately 5% increase over its 2005 record. This growth was said to be the result of the introduction of new cars and SUVs throughout 2006.

According to Kempston Darkes, "Kuwait remains a very important market for General Motors. We are committed to doing everything we can to grow our business here. Together with our dealer partners around the region, we stand firmly behind our cars and SUVs, offering our customers outstanding ownership experience. We have made, and will continue to make, significant investments in all aspects of the business to ensure customer satisfaction throughout the ownership cycle."

General Motors' Kuwait dealership Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons' sales have increased almost three-folds from 4,092 units in 2001 to 11,581 in 2006. The company is currently at its third generation of family ownership and management with at least 1,000 employees working on various GM brands such as Hummer, Opel, Cadillac, and Saab.

"Today, we formally began work on a major new project in Shuwaikh, where Mrs. Kempston Drakes commemorated a ground-breaking ceremony on the site of the new building," said Samir Kasem, Vice President, Yusuf A. Algahnim & Sons. He further added, "The showroom, a USD 10 million investment, will be completed in 2008 and will extend to 6000 square meters. This will be supported by a USD 69 million advanced service and workshop facility extending over 70,000 square meters. Our aim remains to be at the forefront of General Motors dealers- not just in Kuwait and the Middle East, but in the context of GM's entire global operations."

Similarly another GM dealership in Kuwait the Mohammed Saleh & Reza Yousuf Behbehani Company has also experienced an increased in sales by about 150% in the past four years, from 2,722 units in 2002 to 6,757 in 2006. A large percentage of the total units comprised of GMC Envoy SUVs which are more than what any other GM dealer in the world has sold.

"Naturally we are delighted that we both hold such a distinctive status in our global achievements with General Motors. We are on the verge of the most exciting expansion phase in our history. No less than $24 million have been budgeted for a four level new service centre that will extend to around 32,000 square meters, a GM Certified Pre-Owned Cars showroom that will measure 700 square meters and a new 8,000 square meters of parts storage and distribution facility," explained Adel Behbehani, Director of Sales, Mohammad Saleh & Reza Yousuf Behbehani Company.

It should be noted that in the year 2006, General Motors world's largest automaker and maker of popular auto parts brand like GM brake dust shields, has launched 17 new models or new generations of existing favorites in the Middle East with brands like the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and the Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice. GM sales across the region has totaled to 140,509 units which is a 24% increase from its 2005 sales.