GM CEO: 'Today marks the beginning of a new company'

DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) - Hours after the "new" General Motors was born, CEO Fritz Henderson announced, "Today marks the beginning of a new company... designing, building and selling great cars and trucks."

He said the company's priorities will be customers, cars and culture, and added that the company will launch a Web site next week to allow customers to share concerns and ideas with senior management.

After a six-week trip through bankruptcy, the "new" GM was born Friday, owned by the government and free of tens of billions in debt. The company shed unaffordable brands, dealerships and plants. The sale of the valuable assets of the old company to the new GM was completed Friday morning.