• by Karl Greenberg , September 10, 2008

General Motors is trying to battle public conception about its products and policies with a Web site the company says is intended to "make a distinction between the facts and rumors surrounding the company."

GMFactsandFiction.com, a public news and announcements source, organizes topics into Socratic-style question/answer cue-cards that contain a "myth" about the company in a terse statement and the company's response.

One example deals with the perception that "GM still doesn't make cars that people want to buy," to which the company responds: "GM cars and trucks have improved significantly over the past decade, and critics and customers are taking note. In 2007, the Saturn Aura and Chevy Silverado won North American Car and Truck of the year. In 2008, the Chevy Malibu was named North American Car of the Year; the Cadillac CTS was Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year."

The company says Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Pontiac Vibe, Cadillac CTS, Malibu and Buick Enclave had positive sales this year. "Despite a very tough market, GM cars and crossovers have enjoyed significant sales increases so far this year," says the company on the site.

GM also tackles the argument that Chevy's Volt electric car is never going to see the light of day as a production car: "The [Chevrolet] Volt is vaporware," goes the myth, to which the company replies that in June, GM approved production funding for the Volt, and that the car will be built at GM's Detroit Hamtramck plant.

The site also asks visitors to submit their own myths for company response.