Tag: general motors

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General Motors to stop manufacturing Chevy Bolt EV and EUV

General Motors will end the production of its Chevy Bolt EV and EUV vehicles by the end of this year, according to chair and CEO Mary Barra. In a recent call with shareholders reported on by CNBC, Barra shared GM’s plans to phase out the two models.

The Bolt EV and EUV are both based on an older generation of battery cell technology. GM has since pivoted to using its new and improved Ultium batteries in all its electric vehicles.

It makes sense for the company to want to consolidate its production efforts using single-battery technology. This is doubly the case when you consider the safety issues GM has been dealing with in the outgoing tech.

GM first doubled down on its all-electric future with a rebranding in 2021.

Beyond the shareholder call, a Q1 2023 letter to shareholders is available to read online.

Source: CNBC Via: Engadget

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GM aims to boost subscription revenue with its own infotainment system for EVs

General Motors (GM) has provided an update on its in-vehicle infotainment strategy.

The Detroit-based automobile company plans to phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicles (EVs). The first GM vehicle to get rid of Apple and Google’s in-car infotainment tech will be the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, as reported by Reuters.

It’s worth noting that while Android Auto will not be added to future GM vehicles, Google isn’t being shut out of GM’s cars. The company will build its own infotainment system in partnership with Google, allowing it to capture more data on how consumers drive and charge EVs. The decision is a setback for Apple in its competition with Google to capture more real estate on vehicle dashboards in North America.

The system will include Google Maps and Google Assistant, as well as other apps such as Spotify and Audible that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. GM said that EV owners will get free access to these features for eight years. The new infotainment system will also be more tightly integrated with GM’s Super Cruise driver assistance system, which allows hands-free driving under certain conditions. GM said that it will introduce new driver assistance features that rely on its vehicle’s built-in navigation system, rather than on a smartphone connection.

GM also views the new infotainment system as a way to generate more revenue from subscription services, including music streaming, audiobooks and vehicle maintenance. GM’s chief executive Mary Barra has set a target of $20 billion USD (about $27 billion CAD) to $25 billion (roughly $33 billion CAD) in annual revenue from subscriptions by 2030.

GM said that it will continue to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its combustion vehicles. Further, owners of EVs equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will still be able to use the platforms

Source: Reuters

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General Motors to use ChatGPT tech for in-car virtual assistant

General Motors is working on a new in-car digital assistant that will be powered by the same language and machine learning models as used in OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

“ChatGPT is going to be in everything,” GM Vice President Scott Miller said in an interview last week, via Reuters. According to the report, GM envisions the digital assistant supporting drivers in various scenarios, including providing instructions on how to replace a flat tire or integrating with other devices such as garage door openers.

Semafor was the first to break the news on Friday, March 10th, with GM confirming its plans with Reuters earlier today.

“This shift is not just about one single capability like the evolution of voice commands, but instead means that customers can expect their future vehicles to be far more capable and fresh overall when it comes to emerging technologies,” said a GM spokesperson in a statement given to Reuters.

Unlike other chatbots such as Bing Chat and ChatGPT, the GM in-car virtual assistant will have a “car-specific layer” built on top of the machine learning models that power ChatGPT.

Like with other platforms, the adoption and integration of AI and ML will only become more widespread among car manufacturers as they look to improve the features and performance their vehicles offer. As vehicles become increasingly connected and autonomous, digital assistants like the one being developed by GM could play an important role in providing drivers with the information they need to navigate certain driving scenarios.

It is currently unknown when the first GM vehicle with ChatGPT’s underlying language model equipped could be released.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Reuters

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GM understands that EV adoption is a marathon, not a sprint

General Motors is battling Tesla on two fronts — to be the number one manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs) and manufacture the safest autonomous vehicles.

While launching a vast fleet of EVs will take time, GM is currently working on perfecting its Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver-assist system (ADAS). The manufacturer announced yesterday that it is expanding the feature to cover over 400,000 miles (roughly 643737 KM) of roads and highways across the United States and Canada, including US Route 66 (The Mother Road), CA Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), US Route 1 (Overseas Highway) and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Additionally, the manufacturer wants to bring the feature to over 20 GM vehicles, including the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, Chevy Silverado EV, Blazer EV and more. Additionally, Super Cruise’s successor, Ultra Cruise, will release some time next year, which GM says is a considerable leap over GM’s current hands-free driver assistance program.

However, according to The Verge, the public consensus around autonomous vehicles is still iffy, with headlines regarding Tesla crashes swaying opinion.

GM is bidding to educate the public about the benefit of EVs and autonomous vehicles via its newly launched EV Live platform, in an attempt to catch up to Tesla. The platform has a “Live Tour” section, where potential customers can get a one-on-one live tour with an EV specialist and clarify any doubts they might have.

In addition, GM president Mark Reuss published a piece on LinkedIn earlier today titled “Why a safe approach to self-driving deployment is critical to success” that includes details about the safety measures the manufacturer is taking with its advanced driver assistance features. “We’re laser-focused on testing, validating and improving our hands-free driving technologies to provide our customers with safe features and systems,” reads the piece.

“We don’t want to be a laggard in history,” said Jason Fisher, chief engineer of autonomous vehicles at GM, in an interview with The Verge. “We want to be first, but we want to be the safest company out there.”

GM understands that adoption of EVs and autonomous driving technology isn’t a sprint, but rather a marathon, and educating the public about differences in technology, like the difference between its hands-free advanced driver-assist system and a fully autonomous vehicle, is key.

“We do need to help people understand — and it’s very clear from General Motors perspective — that Super Cruise is not a fully functioning autonomous vehicle, [and] that the driver is still expected to command control of their vehicle,” said Fisher, via The Verge. “We’re very, very clear about what is fully autonomous and what is the responsibility of the driver.”

Image credit: GM @LinkedIn

Via: The Verge

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GM to expand Super Cruise driver-assist system to more roads and vehicles

General Motors (GM) has announced that it is expanding its Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) by the end of year to cover over 400,000 miles (roughly 643737 KM) of roads and highways across the United States and Canada.

ADAS, which launched in 2017 with the Cadillac CT6, uses adaptive cruise control to navigate LiDAR-enabled maps using real-time positioning, cameras, and sensors and will soon be available in over 20 GM vehicles, including Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, Chevy Silverado EV, Blazer EV and more.

Until now, the feature’s Hands-Free Driving functionality was only available on major highways but is now expanding to non-divided state and federal highways and main roads that connect smaller cities and towns, including US Route 66 (The Mother Road), CA Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), US Route 1 (Overseas Highway) and the Trans-Canada Highway.

“This expansion will enable Super Cruise to work on some additional divided highways, but the big news is this the bulk of the expansion will allow Super Cruise to operate on non-divided highways,” said David Craig, GM’s chief of maps. “These non-divided highways are typically the state and federal highways… that connect the smaller cities and townships across the US and Canada.”

The expansion will be available as a free over-the-air (OTA) update on 2022 models built on the VIP architecture later this year, while 2023 models are likely to come with the expansion pre-installed.

“GM is all in when it comes to accessible advanced driver assistance technology. We are adding Super Cruise to more vehicles than ever, and on more roads for more customers to experience,” said Mario Maiorana, GM chief engineer, Super Cruise. “We are pursuing what we believe to be the most comprehensive path to autonomy in the industry with responsible deployment of automated driving technology like Super Cruise at the core of what we do.”

Source: GM

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GM deploys UVeye’s AI to ‘quickly and accurately’ inspect vehicles

Robots, digital assistants, and smart gadgets are all around us, and strive to make human life easier. General Motors (GM) is doing something similar by bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to its vehicle inspection process, as reported by The Verge.

The technology comes from an Israeli startup called UVeye, which makes AI diagnostic systems with sensors that can quickly spot damaged parts or maintenance issues unmistakably. GM will sell UVeye’s technology to its dealer network as part of the agreement to enhance its vehicle inspection systems.

In addition, GM will collaborate with UVeye on a number of vehicle inspection technology projects involving used car auctions, fleet management, and automotive dealership sales.

“High-speed inspection equipment can serve as tools of empowerment for new-and used-car dealers,” said Amir Hever, CEO and founder of UVeye, in a press statement. “We very much look forward to working with GM in the months and years ahead. Both companies share the same vision and sense of innovation and when it comes to vehicle quality, the future is a bright one.”

According to the report, UVeye’s tech scans and analyzes high-quality, multi-angle images of the vehicle to identify any issues and create objective documentation of the vehicle as it moves from point to point along its ‘Automotive Lifecycle.’ Machine learning and high-definition cameras “quickly and accurately” inspect tires, the vehicle’s underbody, and the vehicle’s exterior for faults, missing parts, and other safety-related issues.

Last year, UVeye secured a $60 million ($77 million CAD) Series C funding led by investors like CarMax, W.R. Berkley Corporation, and F.I.T. Ventures. According to GM, UVeye’s AI tech will be made available across 4,000 of its dealership locations across the U.S.

Image credit: UVeye

Source: UVeye Via: The Verge

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Autonomous car pulled over by police in San Francisco

Welcome to the future.

A video posted to Instagram earlier this month by user @b.rad916 reveals what happened when police attempted to stop an autonomous car in San Francisco, California.

In the video, the car operated by self-driving vehicle company Cruise is pulled over with a police vehicle behind it. The officer walks towards the driver’s side of the vehicle, only for it to zoom away, before crossing the intersection and pulling over yet again with its hazard lights on.

Cruise, a company owned by General Motors (GM), responded to the video on Twitter, stating that the autonomous car pulled over to the nearest “safe location for the traffic stop, as intended.” Cruise says that the officer contacted the company. It’s still unclear why the autonomous vehicle was pulled over.

Image credit: Screenshot @b.rad916

Source: @Cruise, @b.rad916

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GM building 40,000 EV chargers across Canada and the U.S.

General Motors is getting in the fight to convince more drivers that range anxiety is a thing of the past with the launch of 40,000 prospective level-2 EV chargers spread across Canada and the U.S.

The charger incentive is set to begin in 2022, and the automaker is investing $750 million to expand its charging infrastructure. To keep in mind: GM plans to build 40,000 chargers, not 40,000 charging stations. Since each station usually has 1-3 chargers at it, these 40,000 chargers could be as small as 13,000-20,000 stations across the continent.

I’ll also note that while Level-2 stations are useful to have at places where you park for prolonged periods of time, like work or home, it will still take hours to fill up your car.

To start its charger rollout, the company will task its dealer network with finding locations in its communities that could benefit from a Level-2 charger. This could include local sportsplexes, multi-unit dwellings, and other key places. It’s also important to note that the GM is going to make these chargers available to all EV owners, not just General Motors vehicles. Each dealership is also slated to get 10 chargers.

The company is also going to be selling three different level two chargers at its dealership so customers can set up a charger at home if they purchase a new EV. In the past, GM was offering free level-2 charger installations with Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV purchases. After the recent Bolt recalls, that might be the best thing Bolt owners got for buying their cars.

The three new chargers are going to be Ultium-branded to match GM’s future battery tech. The base model is a 48-amp smart charger, the middle option is also 48-amps, but GM is calling it a Premium charger. The final option is an 80-amp model called the Premium Smart charger.

GM says the premium models also have a camera built into them and a touchscreen to make them a little more secure and easier to use. According to GM, these chargers will start shipping in early 2022, but the company hasn’t shared any pricing yet.

Overall, it’s nice to see GM show off some new chargers, but to actually help people with range anxiety and traveling on long trips, we need more fast chargers. So while GM is installing lots of slower chargers, it would have been nice for the automaker to at least install one or two fast chargers in each town that has a dealership as well.

Source: GM

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Nick Reilly Takes the Reins at Opel

The announcement follows last week’s news of GM’s decision not to sell its European division.

Meanwhile, General Motors announced its intentions of finding a new general director for the corporation’s two sister brands, Opel and Vauxhall.

For now, Reilly will be working with management for the European divisions to create a viable, long-term business plan, drawing from his past knowledge and experience with Vauxhall.

Reilly was appointed as Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his contribution to England’s auto industry, a distinct honour granted by the Queen of England.

After plans with Magna fell through, Reilly must see to it that GM makes no error with Opel and Vauxhall.

 

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GM Decides Not to Sell Opel

Just hours ago, debates began to move rapidly towards the sale of 55% of Opel to automotive parts supplier Magna and the Russian bank Sberbank.

Last night, General Motors announced its plans, following favourable results last month, to keep brand with the lightning bolt.

The decision came suddenly, when German government chancellor Angela Merkel was visiting Washington. The German official deemed General Motors’ behaviour as totally unacceptable. Germany strongly supported the sale of Magna.

In Russia, the reaction was more moderate, but the decision did come as a surprise. The Magna-Sberbank consortium is considering taking legal action against GM’s move.

General Motors explained its decision citing the favourable conditions in Europe, and the importance of Opel and its English twin, Vauxhall, in terms of global strategy.