GM reveals its advanced technology roadmap for China

General Motors (GM) announced its technology rollout plan for electrification, intelligent driving and connectivity in China last week.

“As GM’s largest market and a global center of innovation, China will play a crucial role in making our vision a reality,” said Mary Barra, chairman and CEO of GM. “With our joint venture partner SAIC, we are blending global insights and scale with local market expertise to redefine what is possible for our customers and for society.”

At GM Tech Day, China’s version of GM’s EV Day held in March in Warren, Michigan, U.S.A., with an immersive display at the PATAC Design Dome in Shanghai and virtual presentations from the Warren Design Dome in Michigan, GM provided a fast-forward look at its technologies developed globally that combine a local perspective. They included GM’s new global EV platform, the Ultium battery system and next-generation EVs to be launched in China.

GM has been relentlessly pursuing a future of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, vowing to invest more than USD20 billion in electric and automated vehicles by 2025. In China, since the introduction of its “Drive to 2030” vision at World Expo 2010 Shanghai, the company has built the largest connected customer base and enhanced its highly localised technical capability and supply chain to support its long-term development.

China Advanced Technology Roadmap Highlights

In electrification, more than 40% of GM’s new launches in China in the next five years will be electrified models. They will all be manufactured in China, with almost all parts coming from local suppliers. The state-of-the-art Ultium battery system and third-generation global electric platform will integrate GM’s engineering flexibility, technology advances with highly localised manufacturing, and supply chain in China to enhance quality and cost competitiveness.

In intelligent driving, GM will help strengthen consumer trust in China through the continued rollout and upgrade of the Super Cruise driver assistance system, which will be featured on Cadillac’s entire lineup by mid-decade and expanded to Buick and Chevrolet models. GM will also accelerate the development of China-specific solutions for intelligent connected vehicles, with its first global vehicle-to-everything (V2X) program set for launch this year on a Buick GL8 MPV for China.

In connectivity, nearly all GM vehicles in China from its global brands will be connected via flexible platforms and industry-leading scale. GM will capitalise on mega-trends like 5G, artificial intelligence, smart cities and big data. In 2022, 5G will be available on all new Cadillac models and most Chevrolet and Buick vehicles going forward. The most up-to-date connected services will be provided through over-the-air updates.  

“We will enhance local integration and global collaboration by capitalising on China-leading market trends and playing to the local industry’s strengths,” said Julian Blissett, GM executive vice president and president of GM China. “We are ready to activate a new era.”

General Motors (NYSE: GM), its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.