General Motors president and chief executive officer Richard Wagoner said at a Paris motor show press briefing the group planned to be “big and fast”. The internet would be a key component.

Mr Wagoner said the company was no longer satisfied with being known simply as big. He said: “We plan to be fast to market with truly innovative, industry-leading products and services.

“We'll be fast to use the internet both to change how we do business and to create all-new businesses for our company. “And fast to move into high-potential developing markets and leverage the GM network of alliance partners to help make that happen.”

Mr Wagoner made particular reference to Vauxhall, which he said was the first carmaker to sell vehicles over the internet.

“We all know what a big thing the internet is and we're proud of getting off to a big start right here in Europe,” he said. But he also pointed out that Vauxhall was not the only part of GM that was capitalising on the internet.

“This year we've launched GM Buypower in France and the Netherlands after being successful with similar sites in Germany and the UK,” he said.