General Motors Company

What does General Motors own?
General Motors owns four automotive brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. The company also owns GM Financial, its captive finance subsidiary, and Cruise, its autonomous vehicle subsidiary. GM operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China (through joint ventures), Brazil, and South Korea. The company's OnStar connected vehicle service is also a wholly owned subsidiary. GM previously owned Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer, and Opel/Vauxhall, all of which were divested or discontinued.

Is General Motors publicly traded?
Yes, General Motors is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker GM. The company relisted on the NYSE in November 2010 following its emergence from bankruptcy in 2009. GM does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. The US government, which provided approximately 50 billion US dollars in bailout funding during the 2009 bankruptcy, sold its remaining stake in GM in 2013.

Who founded General Motors?
General Motors was founded by William Crapo Durant on September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan. Durant was a successful carriage manufacturer who had acquired Buick Motor Company in 1904 and used it as the foundation for GM. Durant lost control of GM twice due to financial difficulties and was permanently replaced in 1920. Alfred P. Sloan Jr. subsequently became the dominant figure in GM's management and is credited with developing the multi-brand strategy and the concept of the annual model change.

Where is General Motors headquartered?
General Motors is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA, where the company has been based since its founding. The company's global headquarters is located at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. GM operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil, and South Korea, among other locations.

How many brands does General Motors own?
General Motors currently operates four brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. The company previously operated additional brands including Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile, Hummer, and Saab, all of which were discontinued or divested. GM also operated Opel and Vauxhall in Europe, which were sold to PSA Group (now Stellantis) in 2017.

Who owns General Motors?
General Motors is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in GM. The US government, which held a majority stake following the 2009 bailout, sold its remaining shares in 2013. Mary Barra serves as Chairman and CEO.

William Crapo Durant founded General Motors in Flint, Michigan on September 16, 1908. Durant was a successful carriage manufacturer who had acquired Buick Motor Company in 1904 and used it as the foundation for a new automotive holding company. Within the first two years of its existence, GM acquired Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Oakland (later renamed Pontiac), and several other automotive companies.

Durant lost control of GM in 1910 due to financial difficulties and was replaced by a banker-led management team. He subsequently founded Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911 and used its success to regain control of GM in 1916. Durant was again forced out of GM in 1920 following another financial crisis, and Alfred P. Sloan Jr. subsequently became the dominant figure in GM's management.

Under Alfred Sloan's leadership from the 1920s through the 1950s, GM developed the concept of the annual model change and the multi-brand strategy, offering "a car for every purse and purpose." Sloan organized GM's brands in a price hierarchy from Chevrolet at the entry level through Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac at the top. This strategy allowed GM to capture consumers as they moved up the income scale throughout their lives.

GM became the world's largest automaker by the mid-20th century, a position it held for several decades. The company's market share in the United States peaked at approximately 50% in the 1960s. However, GM's dominance was gradually eroded by competition from Japanese automakers, particularly Toyota and Honda, which offered more fuel-efficient and reliable vehicles.

The 1973 oil crisis exposed GM's dependence on large, fuel-inefficient vehicles and accelerated the shift in consumer preferences toward smaller cars. GM struggled to respond effectively to Japanese competition through the 1980s and 1990s, losing market share steadily.

In 2009, GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in US history. The US government provided approximately 50 billion US dollars in bailout funding, and the Canadian government provided additional support. GM emerged from bankruptcy in July 2009 as a restructured company, having shed several brands including Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Hummer, and having closed numerous manufacturing facilities. The US government sold its remaining stake in GM in 2013.

Following bankruptcy, GM focused on its four core brands and invested in new vehicle platforms and technologies. The company relaunched its initial public offering in November 2010, raising approximately 20 billion US dollars in one of the largest IPOs in US history at the time.

In 2016, GM acquired Cruise Automation, a self-driving vehicle startup, for approximately 1 billion US dollars. Cruise subsequently became GM's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, developing self-driving technology and operating robotaxi services. In 2023, a Cruise robotaxi was involved in an accident in San Francisco that resulted in significant regulatory and reputational consequences, leading GM to pause Cruise's robotaxi operations and restructure the business.

For the full year 2025, GM reported net income of approximately 2.7 billion US dollars, with all four brands posting gains in volume and market share. Cadillac delivered its best sales performance in nearly a decade. The company announced a new 6 billion US dollar share repurchase program and increased its quarterly dividend by 20%.

General Motors' sustainability strategy centers on achieving a zero-emissions future through comprehensive climate action, renewable energy adoption, and ethical business practices. The company has committed to science-based targets and carbon neutrality across its products and operations by 2040, positioning itself as a leader in automotive sustainability.

Climate action includes ambitious emissions reduction goals validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. GM aims to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality across all products and operations by 2040. The company's strategy focuses on transitioning to battery electric vehicles and other zero-emissions vehicle technologies while reducing emissions from manufacturing operations and supply chain activities.

Renewable energy initiatives target 100% renewable electricity use for U.S. facilities by the end of 2025, expanding globally to 2035. GM has secured the contracts needed to match its electricity use with renewable energy sources, demonstrating commitment to clean energy transition. The company invests in on-site renewable energy generation, power purchase agreements, and energy storage systems to support sustainable manufacturing operations.

Electric vehicle leadership represents GM's core sustainability strategy. The company has invested billions in EV development, battery technology, and charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation. GM's Ultium battery platform supports multiple vehicle types across Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac brands, enabling scalable EV adoption while maintaining performance and range capabilities.

Supply chain sustainability programs focus on responsible sourcing, circular economy principles, and supplier engagement. GM works with suppliers to reduce environmental impact, improve labor practices, and implement sustainable manufacturing processes. The company maintains comprehensive supplier codes of conduct addressing environmental standards, human rights, and ethical business practices throughout its global supply chain.

The company's ethical framework encompasses human rights protection, workplace safety, and corporate governance. GM maintains comprehensive human rights policies and conducts due diligence on human rights impacts in communities where it operates. The company implements diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee safety programs, and ethical marketing practices while maintaining transparent reporting on sustainability performance.

Social responsibility programs include the GM Foundation, which supports education, community development, and mobility access programs worldwide. The company engages in disaster relief efforts, STEM education initiatives, and partnerships with community organizations to address transportation needs and promote sustainable mobility solutions.

General Motors has received consistent recognition for automotive innovation, sustainability leadership, and corporate excellence:

• Fortune Global 500 (2025): Ranked #9 among the world's largest corporations, demonstrating GM's scale and market position in the global automotive industry
• Top Gear Awards (2025): Recognized with three "of the year" awards for automotive innovation, vehicle capability, and design excellence across GM's vehicle portfolio
• R&D 100 Awards (2025): Four awards for disruptive technologies including BraunAbility Traverse wheelchair-accessible vehicle and electric Cadillac innovations, demonstrating GM's research and development leadership
• Supplier of the Year Awards (2025): 33rd annual recognition honoring 92 top suppliers across 12 countries for excellence in quality, innovation, and sustainability partnerships
• CDP Climate Leadership: Recognition for climate disclosure and environmental performance, particularly in emissions reduction and renewable energy adoption
• Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Inclusion in DJSI for automotive companies, assessed for ESG performance among global industry leaders
• Automotive Innovation Awards: Multiple awards for electric vehicle technology, autonomous driving systems, and connected vehicle features
• Workplace Excellence: Recognition as one of Fortune's Best Companies to Work For and similar workplace culture awards globally
• Environmental Leadership Awards: Recognition for sustainable manufacturing processes, renewable energy adoption, and zero-emissions vehicle development
• Technology Innovation Awards: Recognition for battery technology, autonomous driving, and connected mobility solutions
• Corporate Governance Awards: Recognition for board structure, ethical business practices, and corporate responsibility in the automotive sector
• Marketing Excellence Awards: Recognition for brand marketing, customer engagement, and digital transformation initiatives

GM has faced significant regulatory and reputational challenges over its history. The most significant recent controversy involved the Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary. In October 2023, a Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco struck a pedestrian who had already been hit by another vehicle, and then dragged the pedestrian approximately 20 feet before stopping. The incident led to the suspension of Cruise's California operating license, a federal investigation, and the resignation of Cruise's CEO. GM subsequently paused Cruise's robotaxi operations and restructured the business, taking significant write-downs.

GM also faced a major ignition switch recall scandal beginning in 2014, when the company disclosed that it had known for years about a defective ignition switch in certain models that could cause the engine to shut off and disable safety systems. The defect was linked to at least 124 deaths. GM paid approximately 900 million US dollars in a settlement with the US Department of Justice and established a victim compensation fund.

The company's 2009 bankruptcy and government bailout was a significant public controversy, with critics arguing that the bailout rewarded poor management and unfairly benefited the United Auto Workers union at the expense of bondholders.