General Motors
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General Motors on Monday showed off its latest electronic platform to support the needs of future vehicles as more technology seeps into them. The electrical architecture will provide the structure for future active safety features, infotainment systems, electric cars, and the automaker's hands-free highway driving system, Super Cruise. The new platform was needed because the technology drivers enjoy today, like infotainment functions and other connectivity features, requires more electrical bandwidth. The latest digital platform will secure the necessary additions well into the future, GM...
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GM's Cruise raises a further $1.15B for self-driving carsGeneral Motors' Cruise Automation announced Tuesday it raised another $1.15 billion in its latest investment round, bringing the firm's valuation to around $19 billion. Those who contributed to fund GM's self-driving car efforts further include GM itself, the SoftBank Vision Fund, and Honda. The...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM confirms plans for an electric pickup truck
First Tesla, then Ford, and now General Motors. The U.S. automaker confirmed during an investor call on Tuesday it definitely has plans to build an electric pickup truck. The news came directly from CEO Mary Barra and follows small hints the automaker had an electric pickup truck in the pipeline...
Sean Szymkowski -
Ford, Toyota, GM and SAE collaborate on standards for self-driving cars
Although numerous automakers and technology companies continue to test and push toward the goal of deploying self-driving cars, safety standards and regulations are nearly inexistent. With a new partnership between Ford, Toyota, General Motors and SAE International, the Automated Vehicle Safety...
Sean Szymkowski -
New Chevrolet electric car coming, $300M investment in Michigan plant
The General Motors Orion Township plant in Michigan will be home to a new Chevrolet electric car, the automaker announced Friday. GM will invest $300 million in the facility, to build the new Chevy electric vehicle and bring 400 new jobs to the plant. The announcement did not address specifics on...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM cuts 4,000 jobs in North America in latest round of layoffs
General Motors on Monday began the process of cutting 4,000 jobs currently held at its operations in the United States and Canada. It follows the automaker's announcement last November that it would idle three vehicle plants (plus two component plants) in North America due to slowing sales of sedan...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
For nearly two decades, General Motors' luxury division, Cadillac, has been under repair. The latest strategy shift to make Cadillac GM's electric car leader is its last chance at success, according to a senior GM executive. Mark Reuss, GM's newly minited president who also has oversight over the Cadillac brand, told Reuters in a Monday report there aren't "any chances left" to reinvigorate the luxury division after electric cars. "This is pretty much it," he added. The automaker announced Cadillac would lead the company in its electric car push next decade at an investor conference last...
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GM Cruise and DoorDash partner for self-driving food deliveries
General Motors and its Cruise self-driving car division announced a new partnership with popular food delivery service DoorDash that will employ autonomous vehicles to deliver food this March. Both companies announced the new pilot program on Thursday days after former GM President Dan Ammann took...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM trademarks "Enspire" name, likely for new Buick crossover
General Motors has once again filed to trademark the "Enspire" name, which points to the possibility we'll soon see a new Buick crossover by that name. According to a GM Authority report on Sunday, the automaker received approval for the trademark on Dec. 11. It's the second time GM has filed to...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM president takes over Cruise self-driving car business
As a sign of the growing importance of its Cruise self-driving business, General Motors President Dan Ammann is taking over as CEO of the San Francisco-based startup. GM announced Thursday that Ammann will take over from current Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt on January 1, 2019. Vogt founded Cruise...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM's Maven car-sharing service to add other brand's vehicles
General Motors' Maven mobility brand recently launched its foray into the peer-to-peer car sharing business via Peer Cars. But, next year, it won't be just GM vehicles. Vice president of GM Urban Mobility and Maven, Julia Steyn, said Monday the brand's Peer Cars car-sharing service will add non-GM...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM now offers extended bumper-to-bumper limited warranty
General Motors on Monday said that it will now offer extended, full-coverage warranties for its Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac brands. Unlike other extended warranties, the new GM plans are a true extension of the factory warranty with no deductibles or limited coverage. For Chevrolet and GMC...
Sean Szymkowski -
AM General, best known for bringing the Hummer brand into the world, has reportedly hung up a "for sale" sign. The company is allegedly seeking potential bidders, which may include both General Motors and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Reuters reported Monday the list of potential buyers includes GM, FCA, and a group of AM General's current industry rivals such as General Dynamics, Oshkosh Corporation, and BAE Systems. Sources told the publication AM General may be worth up to $2 billion should it agree to a sale. AM General currently builds the military-spec Humvee and introduced the original...
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Honda will invest $2.75B in GM's Cruise self-driving car business
In the race to develop the world's first safe, reliable and robust driverless ride-hailing service, General Motors and its Cruise self-driving car unit just received major backing from rival automaker Honda. The companies announced Wednesday that Honda will invest $2.75 billion in the Cruise unit...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM files trademark for "Sport Control AWD" name
General Motors has something brewing involving an all-wheel-drive system. GM Authority first discovered on Wednesday a trademark filing for the name "Sport Control AWD." The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the filing on September 20 and noted the name will be associated with...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM trademarks DriveScription, potential name for subscription service
General Motors may be preparing to dive further into the car-subscription segment. The automaker filed to trademark the DriveScription name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 27. GM Authority first discovered the trademark filing on Tuesday, which was filed to the goods...
Sean Szymkowski -
Make extra money renting out your GM car through Maven
General Motors' Maven mobility brand will now let owners rent out their personal car. Maven announced on Tuesday that Peer Cars will launch in a handful of U.S. cities for a beta ahead of a larger rollout this fall. Peer-to-peer car sharing is best known via Turo, which allows owners to rent out...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM and Honda partner on next-gen batteries
General Motors and Honda on Thursday announced plans to work together on next-generation batteries for electric cars to fast-track their development for both automakers. The batteries are said to deliver higher energy density, smaller packaging and faster charging than current designs. They will be...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Future automotive components could look less like rigid pieces and more like organic shapes. General Motors announced on Thursday that the automaker has worked with Bay-area software company Autodesk to create a 3D-printed component to preview future manufacturing processes. The part is a seat bracket made from stainless steel. Compared to a traditional seat bracket, the 3D-printed part is 40 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger. Normally, the same part would involve eight separate components and several suppliers; the proof-of-concept part is one fluid piece. The software technology...
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Ford says no thanks to GM's 9-speed automatic
After General Motors and Ford committed to co-developing new 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions, Ford has passed on the former. Per the agreement, Ford took on work for the 10-speed automatic, used for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, and GM undertook the 9-speed automatic for front-wheel-drive...
Sean Szymkowski -
Amazon will now deliver packages to your car
Select Amazon shoppers now have a new option for delivery of their purchases: the trunk of their car. Amazon announced the new service on Tuesday and it will roll out for owners of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, and Volvo vehicles. The process is relatively straightforward and requires an active...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM to test AirBnB-style program for cars
General Motors is positioning itself for a subscription-based future with its Maven personal mobility and car-sharing service, and its next step may set its sights on the Turo service, which is an AirBnB for cars. The automaker will reportedly launch a pilot peer-to-peer car rental service this...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM patented a ridiculously high-compression twin-charged hybrid powertrain
The latest General Motors patent underscores how busy the automaker's powertrain engineers have been. The automaker received a patent approval for a high-compression, twin-charged hybrid powertrain in October, AutoGuide reported Wednesday. And when we say "high compression," we're talking...
Sean Szymkowski -
GM to use carbon fiber in next-generation pickup beds?
General Motors has made efforts to slash weight from its vehicles, and its next-generation full-size pickup trucks might get the most surprising lightweight solution yet. They might be in line for a carbon-fiber-induced diet. The automaker might use the strong, lightweight material in the beds of...
Sean Szymkowski
