John Buttermore, GM Powertrain vice president of global manufacturing, right, shakes hands with U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, second from right, at an event to mark the beginning of production of the company's 2-mode hybrid transmission Monday, Oct. 29, 2007 at the GM Powertrain Baltimore Transmission Plant in White Marsh, Md. Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, left, and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, third from right, were among the other local officials at the event. (AP Photo/ Steve Ruark)