Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
General Motors Company (sometimes referred to as we, our, us, ourselves, the Company, General Motors, or GM) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 2009. We design, build and sell trucks, crossovers, cars and automobile parts and provide software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. Our automotive operations meet the demands of our customers through our automotive segments: GM North America (GMNA) and GM International (GMI) with vehicles developed, manufactured and/or marketed under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands. We also have equity ownership stakes in entities that meet the demands of customers in other countries, primarily in China, with vehicles developed, manufactured and/or marketed under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Wuling brands. Cruise is our global segment responsible for the development and commercialization of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. We provide automotive financing services through our General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (GM Financial) segment. Refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) and Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements for financial information about our segments. Except for per share amounts or as otherwise specified, amounts presented within tables are stated in millions. Certain columns and rows may not add due to rounding. Forward-looking statements in this Business section are not guarantees of future performance and may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors and the "Forward-Looking Statements" section of Part II, Item 7. MD&A for a discussion of these risks and uncertainties.
Our vision for the future is a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, which guides our growth-focused strategy to invest in electric vehicles (EVs) and AVs, software-enabled services and subscriptions and new business opportunities, while strengthening our market position in profitable internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
We have an opportunity to grow our vehicle and financing revenue by continuing to capitalize on the strength of our established vehicle franchises and customer base and scaling our EV production through this decade. We also have the potential of growing our revenue through our software-enabled services and subscriptions, including OnStar, our advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including Super Cruise driver assistance technology, and our end-to-end software platform. Additionally, we are incubating several new businesses that we believe will enable us to attract new customers and generate revenues in new areas, like GM Defense which is helping global defense and government customers transition to a more electric, autonomous and connected future.
Electric Vehicles We plan to have annual EV capacity of one million units in North America as we exit 2025. A key element in our EV strategy is Ultium, our dedicated EV propulsion architecture. This platform is flexible and will be deployed across multiple brands and vehicle sizes, styles and drive configurations, allowing for quick response to customer preferences and a shorter design and development lead time compared to our ICE vehicles. We plan to leverage Ultium to expand our EV portfolio over a wide variety of segments and price points with multiple launches planned in 2024 and additional EV entries planned for 2025 and beyond.
In 2021, we began production at GM’s Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center (Factory ZERO), which was re-tooled into a fully dedicated EV facility to produce a variety of vehicles, including the GMC HUMMER EV Pickup and SUV, the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the upcoming Cadillac ESCALADE IQ. In January 2022, we announced that we will convert Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan to build electric pickups, with the plant slated to begin production in 2025. GM is also investing in our propulsion stamping and components plants to support EV production. GM’s CAMI Assembly – Canada’s first full-scale EV manufacturing facility – is the global production home of BrightDrop's Zevo 600 and Zevo 400. Additionally, we have announced plans to mass-produce battery cells for these and other future EVs through Ultium Cells Holdings LLC (an equally owned joint venture with LG Energy Solution) in Warren, Ohio; Spring Hill, Tennessee; and Lansing, Michigan.
GM’s commitment to an all-electric future is focused not only on delivering a world-class portfolio of EVs, but investing in an ecosystem that will help enable mass EV adoption, including the development of turn-key charging solutions as well as fleet and facility energy management services. To support this goal, we are working to help ensure that our customers will have access to comprehensive energy management and fast, reliable charging solutions at home, at the workplace and in public locations. Currently, GM has integration relationships with 12 EV charging networks and GM EV drivers have access to over 174,000 chargers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Beginning in early 2024, GM’s EV drivers will gain access to 15,000 Tesla Superchargers, and growing, throughout North America. The first GM EVs will be built with the North American Charging
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Standard (NACS) hardware on the vehicles beginning in 2025. In July 2023, GM also announced that it is collaborating with six other major automakers as part of a joint venture that will seek to create a high-powered charging network with a targeted installation of at least 30,000 chargers in urban and highway locations throughout North America.
Software-Enabled Services and Subscriptions Our vehicles are equipped with a suite of software-enabled services, including OnStar services, Super Cruise and others. With more than 25 years of experience, OnStar is a global leader in safety and digital services. OnStar is currently available in 15 markets globally and growing. As GM introduces more software-defined vehicles, OnStar is playing a key role as an enabler of active safety, infotainment, connectivity and driver assistance features. OnStar provides one ecosystem for retail and fleet customers to use, engage and shop through a broader set of digital technology offerings available at and after vehicle purchase. Our end-to-end software platform provides customers with software-defined features, apps and services over-the-air and will empower customers to update their ownership experiences with desirable features, software services, vehicle performance and Super Cruise. Super Cruise enables drivers of properly equipped vehicles to travel hands-free on more than 400,000 miles of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada. Additional software-enabled features will be available later including security features, climate and comfort options, personal themes and EV ownership experience elements. Select vehicles, including the 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ and Chevrolet Silverado EV, are already employing this software platform as it begins its rollout across most products in the coming years.
Cruise GM Cruise Holdings LLC (Cruise Holdings), our majority-owned subsidiary, is pursuing the development and commercialization of AV technology. In October 2023, a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian and a third-party vehicle occurred, which resulted in the pedestrian being thrown into the path of a Cruise AV. During the resulting investigation, regulators perceived that Cruise representatives were not explicit about a secondary movement of the Cruise AV and, as a result, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended Cruise’s permits to operate AVs in California without a safety driver. Shortly thereafter, Cruise voluntarily paused all of its driverless, supervised and manual AV operations in the U.S. while it examines its processes, systems and tools. This orderly pause is designed to rebuild public trust while Cruise undertakes a comprehensive safety review. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors for a further discussion of the risks associated with our AV strategy.
Competitive Position and Vehicle Sales The principal factors that determine consumer vehicle preferences in the markets in which we operate include overall vehicle design, price, quality, available options, safety, reliability, fuel economy or range and functionality. Market leadership in individual countries in which we compete varies widely.
We present both wholesale and total vehicle sales data to assist in the analysis of our revenue and market share. Wholesale vehicle sales data consists of sales to GM's dealers and distributors, as well as sales to the U.S. government, and excludes vehicles sold by our joint ventures. Wholesale vehicle sales data correlates to our revenue recognized from the sale of vehicles, which is the largest component of Automotive net sales and revenue. In the year ended December 31, 2023, 29.4% of our wholesale vehicle sales volume was generated outside the U.S. The following table summarizes wholesale vehicle sales by automotive segment (vehicles in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
GMNA 3,147 83.5 % 2,926 81.8 % 2,308 80.7 %
GMI 621 16.5 % 653 18.2 % 551 19.3 %
Total 3,768 100.0 % 3,579 100.0 % 2,859 100.0 %
Total vehicle sales data represents: (1) retail sales (i.e., sales to consumers who purchase new vehicles from dealers or distributors); (2) fleet sales (i.e., sales to large and small businesses, governments and daily rental car companies); and (3) certain vehicles used by dealers in their business. Total vehicle sales data for periods presented prior to 2022 reflect courtesy transportation vehicles used by U.S. dealers in their business. Beginning in 2022, we stopped including such dealership courtesy transportation vehicles in total vehicle sales until such time as those vehicles were sold to the end customer. Total vehicle sales data includes all sales by joint ventures on a total vehicle basis, not based on our percentage ownership interest in the joint venture. Certain joint venture agreements in China allow for the contractual right to report vehicle sales of non-GM trademarked vehicles by those joint ventures, which are included in the total vehicle sales we report for China. While total vehicle sales data does not correlate directly to the revenue we recognize during a particular period, we believe it is indicative of the underlying demand for our vehicles. Total vehicle sales data represents management's good faith estimate based on sales reported by our dealers, distributors and joint ventures; commercially available data sources such as registration and insurance data; and internal estimates and forecasts when other data is not available.
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The following table summarizes industry and GM total vehicle sales and our related competitive position by geographic region (vehicles in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
Industry GM Market Share Industry GM Market Share Industry GM Market Share
North America
United States 15,981 2,595 16.2 % 14,242 2,274 16.0 % 15,410 2,218 14.4 %
Other 3,592 460 12.8 % 3,066 406 13.2 % 3,081 355 11.5 %
Total North America 19,573 3,055 15.6 % 17,307 2,680 15.5 % 18,491 2,574 13.9 %
Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa
China(a) 24,976 2,099 8.4 % 23,489 2,303 9.8 % 25,843 2,892 11.2 %
Other 21,941 576 2.6 % 20,253 505 2.5 % 19,783 435 2.2 %
Total Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa 46,917 2,675 5.7 % 43,741 2,808 6.4 % 45,626 3,326 7.3 %
South America
Brazil 2,307 328 14.2 % 2,103 291 13.8 % 2,119 242 11.4 %
Other 1,418 128 9.0 % 1,563 160 10.3 % 1,490 152 10.2 %
Total South America 3,725 456 12.2 % 3,666 451 12.3 % 3,609 394 10.9 %
Total in GM markets 70,215 6,186 8.8 % 64,715 5,939 9.2 % 67,726 6,294 9.3 %
Total Europe 16,384 2 — % 14,234 2 — % 15,108 2 — %
Total Worldwide(b)(c) 86,600 6,188 7.1 % 78,949 5,941 7.5 % 82,834 6,296 7.6 %
United States
Cars 3,054 224 7.3 % 2,814 214 7.6 % 3,277 138 4.2 %
Trucks 4,249 1,303 30.7 % 3,974 1,246 31.4 % 4,038 1,223 30.3 %
Crossovers 8,678 1,068 12.3 % 7,454 814 10.9 % 8,095 857 10.6 %
Total United States 15,981 2,595 16.2 % 14,242 2,274 16.0 % 15,410 2,218 14.4 %
China(a)
SGMS 870 1,037 1,277
SGMW 1,229 1,266 1,615
Total China 24,976 2,099 8.4 % 23,489 2,303 9.8 % 25,843 2,892 11.2 %
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(a) Includes sales by the Automotive China Joint Ventures (Automotive China JVs): SAIC General Motors Sales Co., Ltd. (SGMS) and SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. (SGMW).
(b) Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria are subject to broad economic sanctions . Accordingly, these countries are excluded from industry sales data and corresponding calculation of market share.
(c) As of March 2022, GM is no longer importing vehicles or parts to Russia, Belarus and other sanctioned provinces in Ukraine.
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As discussed above, total vehicle sales and market share data provided in the table above includes fleet vehicles. We sell vehicles directly or through our dealer network to fleet customers, including daily rental car companies, commercial fleet customers, leasing companies and governments. Certain fleet transactions, particularly sales to daily rental car companies, are generally less profitable than retail sales to end customers. The following table summarizes estimated fleet sales and those sales as a percentage of total vehicle sales (vehicles in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
GMNA 679 564 399
GMI 506 426 311
Total fleet sales 1,185 990 710
Fleet sales as a percentage of total vehicle sales 19.2 % 16.7 % 11.3 %
Product Pricing Several methods are used to promote our products, including the use of dealer, retail and fleet incentives, such as customer rebates and finance rate support. The level of incentives is dependent upon the level of competition in the markets in which we operate and the level of demand for our products.
Cyclical and Seasonal Nature of Business The market for vehicles is cyclical and depends in part on general economic conditions, credit availability and consumer spending. Vehicle markets are also seasonal. Production varies from month to month. Vehicle model changeovers occur throughout the year as a result of new market entries.
Relationship with Dealers We market vehicles and automotive parts primarily through a network of independent authorized retail dealers. These outlets include distributors, dealers and authorized sales, service and parts outlets. Our customers can obtain a wide range of after-sale vehicle services and products through our dealer network, such as maintenance, light repairs, collision repairs, vehicle accessories and extended service warranties. The number of authorized dealerships and other agents performing similar functions were 4,618 in GMNA and 7,050 in GMI at December 31, 2023.
We, and our joint ventures, enter into a contract with each authorized dealer agreeing to sell to the dealer one or more specified product lines at wholesale prices and granting the dealer the right to sell those products to customers from an approved location. Our dealers often offer more than one GM brand at a single dealership in a number of our markets. Authorized dealers offer parts, accessories, service and repairs for GM vehicles in the product lines that they sell using GM parts and accessories. Our dealers are authorized to service GM vehicles under our limited warranty, and those repairs are made almost exclusively with GM parts. Our dealers generally provide their customers with access to credit or lease financing, vehicle insurance and extended service contracts, which may be provided by GM Financial and other financial institutions.
The quality of GM dealerships and our relationship with our dealers are critical to our success, now, and as we transition to our all-electric future, given that they maintain the primary sales and service interface with the end consumer of our products. In addition to the terms of our contracts with our dealers, we are regulated by various country and state franchise laws and regulations that may supersede those contractual terms and impose specific regulatory requirements and standards for initiating dealer network changes, pursuing terminations for cause and other contractual matters.
Research, Product Development and Intellectual Property Costs for research, manufacturing engineering, software engineering, product engineering and design and development activities primarily relate to developing new products or services or improving existing products or services, including activities related to vehicle and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions control, improved fuel economy, EVs, AVs and the safety of drivers and passengers. Research and development expenses were $9.9 billion, $9.8 billion and $7.9 billion in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Product Development The Global Product Development organization is responsible for designing, developing, validating and integrating all global products, services and their components while aiming to maximize part sharing across multiple vehicle segments. Our global vehicle architecture development is headquartered at our Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where our global teams in Design, Program Management & Execution, Hardware, Systems & Integration, Product Safety, Systems & Certification, Software Defined Vehicle Embedded Platforms, Electrification & Battery Systems, Technology Acceleration & Commercialization and Purchasing & Supply Chain collaborate to meet customer requirements and maximize global economies of scale.
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We continue to invest in key ICE segments, which are critical to fund our all-electric future. Cross-segment part sharing is an essential enabler to optimize our vehicle portfolio profitability, with more than 75% of our global internal combustion vehicle sales volume expected to come from five internal combustion vehicle architectures through this decade. We will continue to leverage our ICE portfolio to accommodate our customers around the world while achieving our financial goals.
Software & Services The newly created Software & Services organization, with a presence in Silicon Valley, California and globally, is bringing together all of GM's software capabilities and assets under one team for the first time at GM. The team is developing and implementing an integrated strategy, working closely with the Global Product Development organization and others across the enterprise to deliver an end-to-end integrated software and services strategy that will make the driver experience even more compelling and seamless.
Intellectual Property We are constantly innovating and hold a significant number of patents, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property that protect those innovations in numerous countries. While no single piece of intellectual property is individually material to our business as a whole, our intellectual property is important to our operations and continued technological development. Additionally, we hold a number of trademarks and service marks that are very important to our identity and recognition in the marketplace.
Raw Materials, Services and Supplies We purchase a wide variety of raw materials, systems, components, parts, supplies, energy, freight, transportation and other services from numerous suppliers to manufacture our products. The raw materials primarily include steel, aluminum, resins, copper, lead, precious metals and raw materials used in EVs. We do not normally carry substantial inventories of these raw materials in excess of levels reasonably required to meet our production requirements, and while we have not experienced any significant shortages of raw materials, we have recently experienced supply disruptions resulting in temporary production stoppages. Processing of certain EV raw materials required for production of EVs are currently concentrated in China and may be subject to import or export restrictions. In addition, our transition to EVs will require developing a more resilient, scalable and sustainable North America-focused EV supply chain, which includes advancing our strategic sourcing initiatives to secure supply through investments in raw materials suppliers and the execution of strategic, multi-year supply agreements with suppliers throughout the value chain. This includes securing supply through offtake agreements for EV raw materials and derivatives thereof, such as lithium, cathode active material, manganese, synthetic and natural graphite, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements and permanent motor magnets. These EV-related agreements may require us to hold higher than normal levels of EV raw materials inventory and to make long-term commitments to purchase raw materials. Expected demand for these raw materials currently exceeds the capacity of the existing supply chain and our raw material sourcing strategy aims to secure raw material supply to support our EV transition.
Commodity costs are reflecting greater variability and are expected to remain elevated due to the macro-economic environment and the continuing existence of government policies. Furthermore, an increased demand for EV critical minerals is increasing scrutiny of the sustainability and human rights implications of these supply chains.
In some instances, we purchase systems, components, parts and supplies from a single source, which may increase risk to supply disruptions. The inability or unwillingness of these sources to provide us with parts and supplies could have a material adverse effect on our production. Combined purchases from our two largest suppliers were approximately 11% of our total purchases in each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and approximately 12% of our total purchases in the year ended December 31, 2021. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors for further discussion of these risks.
Automotive Financing - GM Financial GM Financial is our global captive automotive finance company and our global provider of automobile finance solutions. GM Financial conducts its business in North America, South America and through joint ventures in China.
GM Financial provides retail loan and lease lending across the credit spectrum to support vehicle sales. Additionally, GM Financial offers commercial lending products to dealers including floorplan financing, which is lending to finance new and used vehicle inventory; and dealer loans, which are loans to finance improvements to dealership facilities, to provide working capital, or to purchase and/or finance dealership real estate. GM Financial provides lending products to commercial vehicle upfitters and advances to certain GM subsidiaries.
In North America, GM Financial offers a sub-prime lending program. The program is primarily offered to consumers with a FICO score or its equivalent of less than 620 who have limited access to automobile financing through banks and credit unions and is expected to sustain a higher level of credit losses than prime lending.
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GM Financial generally seeks to fund its operations in each country through local sources of funding to minimize currency and country risk. GM Financial primarily finances its loan, lease and commercial origination volume through the use of secured and unsecured credit facilities, securitization transactions and the issuance of unsecured debt in the capital markets.
Human Capital
The foundation of GM’s business is our Purpose: We pioneer the innovations that move and connect people to what matters. It is why we exist. Our Purpose, growth strategy and culture all help us on our path towards achieving our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Our people are our most valuable asset, and we must continue to attract and retain the best talent in the world in order to achieve this vision. As a result, we strive to create a Workplace of Choice to attract, retain and develop top talent by adhering to a responsible employer philosophy, which includes, among other things, commitments to create job opportunities, pay workers fairly, ensure safety and well-being and promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Fundamental to these commitments are our company values.
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Our eight GM behaviors are the foundation of our culture; and how we behave encompasses key measures of our performance, including the ways we conduct ourselves as we work with one another.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion At GM, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for our workforce, business partners, customers and communities as we aspire to be the most inclusive company in the world. We believe these strengths will allow us to not only lead the industry but to impact communities around the world as we transition to an all-electric future. This unwavering commitment includes taking steps to ensure that all areas of our business are supportive of a world-class inclusive, equitable and diverse organization. Our ability to meet the needs of a diverse and global customer base is tied closely to the behaviors of the people within our Company, which is why we are committed to fostering a culture that celebrates our differences. This commitment is embraced at all levels of the organization, including our diverse Board of Directors, which is currently made up of almost 50% women (6 out of 13 members) and is more than 30% racially or ethnically diverse (4 out of 13 members).
Based on these longstanding values, we have a number of programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing our culture of inclusion throughout the Company. For example, we have 12 voluntary, employee-led resource groups that provide a forum for diverse employees and allies from a variety of different backgrounds to share experiences and contribute to our collective cultural intelligence and growth. Each group also works to attract and retain new talent and offers employees opportunities to support our Company’s diversity initiatives within the community.
GM continues to align DEI efforts with business objectives, including investing in talent pipelines to support current and future workforce needs, bolstering inclusive and accessible solutions across all key stakeholders and fostering meaningful community partnerships to enable GM’s all-electric future. These investments are designed to help increase overall DEI maturity throughout our enterprise, increasing pathways for talent entry and development in the Company and foster partnerships that improve equity inside and outside of GM.
Develop and Retain Talented People Today, we compete for talent against other automotive companies and against businesses in other sectors, such as technology. To win and keep top talent, we must provide a workplace culture that encourages employee behaviors aligned with our values, fulfills employees' long-term individual aspirations and provides experiences that make individuals feel valued, included and engaged. In furtherance of this goal, we invest significant resources to retain and develop our talent. In addition to mentoring and networking opportunities, we offer a vast array of career development resources to help develop, grow and enable employees to make the most of their careers at GM. Formal resources include, among other things, the Technical Education Program, which offers our employees an opportunity to complete corporate strategically aligned degrees and certificate programs at leading universities, and our Degreed Learning Platform, which brings forth a variety of external and in-house content in learning pathways and other micro learnings. It is also tied to our GM competency and skills model. Employees in some of our technical roles also have the opportunity to participate in the
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GM Technical Learning University — a training and upskilling program designed to expand and update the technical prowess of our workforce.
GM recognizes that leadership effectiveness is a critical business need. All new managers in the Company are entered into a three-month immersive learning program and all new executives come together for an upskilling and targeted development program designed around the GM leadership profile.
Safety and Well-Being The safety and well-being of our employees is also a critical component of our ability to transform the future of personal mobility. At GM, we pride ourselves on our commitment to live values that return people home safely — Every Person, Every Site, Every Day. Our unwavering commitment to safety is manifested through empowering employees to “Speak Up for Safety” and the Employee Safety Concern Process. These resources make it easier for salaried, hourly or represented and contract employees to report potential vehicle or workplace safety issues, or to suggest safety related improvements without fear of retaliation. The well-being of our employees is equally as important to entice and stimulate creativity and innovation.
Our award-winning Total Rewards package includes support for physical, emotional and financial wellness. We provide a comprehensive, competitive offering that includes compensation, a 401(k) company contribution and matching program, paid time off for holidays and vacations, a high-quality health care plan, and GM Family First savings on GM vehicles, parts, and services. We are committed to creating spaces where people can show up and thrive as their authentic selves at work as well as at home. GM encourages and supports healthy behaviors, attitudes and actions in our workplaces to improve health outcomes for team members and their families and to contribute to the success of our business.
Employees At December 31, 2023, we employed approximately 87,000 (54%) hourly employees and approximately 76,000 (46%) salaried employees. At December 31, 2023, approximately 46,000 (46%) of our U.S. employees were represented by unions, a majority of which were represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). The following table summarizes worldwide employment (in thousands):
December 31, 2023
GMNA(a) 123
GMI 31
GM Financial 9
Total Worldwide 163
U.S. - Salaried 53
U.S. - Hourly 46
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(a) Includes Cruise.
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Information About our Executive Officers As of January 30, 2024, the names and ages of our executive officers and their positions with GM are as follows:
Name (Age) Present GM Position (Effective Date) Positions Held During the Past Five Years (Effective Date)
Michael Abbott (51) Executive Vice President, Software (2023) Apple, Vice President of Engineering, Cloud Services Division (2018)
Mary T. Barra (62) Chair and Chief Executive Officer (2016)
Julian Blissett (57) Executive Vice President and President, GM China (2020) Senior Vice President, International Operations (2019)
Vice President, Executive Shanghai GM (2014)
Craig B. Glidden (66) Executive Vice President, Legal, Policy, Cybersecurity, and Corporate Secretary (2021)
Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2015)
Rory V. Harvey (56) Executive Vice President and President, Global Markets (2024) Executive Vice President and President, North America (2023) Vice President, Global Cadillac (2020)
Vice President, Cadillac North America Sales, Service and Marketing (2018)
Christopher T. Hatto (53) Vice President, Global Business Solutions and Chief Accounting Officer (2020) Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (2018)
Paul A. Jacobson (52) Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2020) Delta Air Lines, Executive Vice President — Chief Financial Officer (2013)
Gerald Johnson (61) Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Sustainability (2019) Vice President, North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations (2017)
Mark L. Reuss (60) President (2019) Executive Vice President and President, Global Product Development Group and Cadillac (2018)
There are no family relationships between any of the officers named above and there is no arrangement or understanding between any of the officers named above and any other person pursuant to which he or she was selected as an officer. Each of the officers named above was elected by the Board of Directors to hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
Environmental and Regulatory Matters
Automotive Criteria Emissions Control Our products are subject to laws and regulations globally that require us to control certain non-GHG automotive emissions, including vehicle and engine exhaust emission standards, vehicle evaporative emission standards and onboard diagnostic (OBD) system requirements. Emission requirements have become more stringent as a result of stricter standards and new diagnostic requirements that have come into force in many markets around the world, often with very little harmonization. Regulatory authorities may conduct ongoing evaluations of products from all manufacturers. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors for additional information.
The U.S. federal government, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), imposes stringent exhaust and evaporative emission control requirements on vehicles sold in the U.S. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) likewise imposes stringent exhaust and evaporative emission standards. The Clean Air Act permits states that have areas with air quality compliance issues to adopt California emission standards in lieu of federal requirements. Various other states have adopted California emission standards, and there is a possibility that additional U.S. jurisdictions could adopt California emission standards in the future. The EPA has issued a proposal for its Tier 4 Multipollutant Rule that will begin with the 2027 model year. The historically stringent proposal calls for ever-increasing volumes of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in order to maintain compliance.
For each model year, we must obtain certification that our vehicles and engines will meet emission requirements of the EPA before we can sell vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, and of CARB before we can sell vehicles in California and the states that have adopted California emission standards.
The Canadian federal government's current vehicle pollutant emission requirements are generally aligned with U.S. federal requirements.
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In 2019, certain areas within China began implementation of the China 6 emission standard (China 6) requirements. China 6 combines elements of both European Union (EU) and U.S. standards and increases the time and mileage periods over which manufacturers are responsible for a vehicle's emission performance. Nationwide implementation of China 6a for new registrations occurred in January 2021, and the more stringent China 6b was implemented in July 2023. In 2022, China began studies regarding the next generation of vehicle emission standards (China 7), which will likely be influenced by the European (Euro 7) standards.
Brazil has approved a set of national emission standards referred to as L7, implemented in 2022, and L8, to be implemented from 2025 onward. L7 standards cover vehicle exhaust emissions, durability for emissions, evaporative emissions and noise limits, and include additional OBD requirements and a phase-in for onboard refueling vapor recovery systems. L8 standards include corporate average vehicle emissions targets, which increase in stringency every two years until 2031. Some of the requirements are aligned with those of the EPA.
As a result of the sale of the Opel and Vauxhall businesses and certain other assets in Europe (the Opel/Vauxhall Business), GM’s vehicle presence in Europe is smaller, but GM may still be affected by actions taken by regulators related both to Opel/Vauxhall vehicles sold before the sale of the Opel/Vauxhall Business as well as to other vehicles GM continues to sell in Europe. In Europe, increased scrutiny of emission standards compliance may result in changes to these standards, as well as stricter interpretations or redefinition of these standards and more rigorous enforcement. Beyond this, as a part of the EU's desire to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility, the EU is looking to develop stricter emission standards (Euro 7) for all vehicles (including cars, vans, lorries and buses), as it moves to end the sale of ICE vehicles past 2035, and place requirements on batteries to be used in EVs. For additional information, refer to Note 16 to our consolidated financial statements.
Automotive Fuel Economy and GHG Emissions In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) promulgates and enforces Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for three separate fleets: domestic cars, import cars and light-duty trucks. Manufacturers may use one or a combination of the following to resolve fleet deficits: credits from the five prior model years, expected credits for the next three model years, credits obtained from other manufacturers or payment of civil penalties. Manufacturers that do not resolve deficits for a model year may be subject to substantial civil penalties. In addition to federal CAFE standards, the EPA promulgates and enforces GHG emission standards. NHTSA and the EPA have separately finalized standards with differing stringency levels and affected model years, with the CAFE standards addressing the 2024–2026 model years and the GHG standards addressing the 2023–2026 model years and both standards have been challenged through litigation. NHTSA has also proposed CAFE standards for the 2027–2031 model years and the EPA has proposed standards for the 2027–2032 model years that are not yet final. NHTSA and the EPA have also proposed on-going fuel efficiency and GHG emissions requirements for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. These requirements also increase in stringency over time.
In addition, CARB has asserted the right to promulgate and enforce its own state GHG standards for motor vehicles, and other states have asserted the right to adopt CARB's standards. CARB regulations previously stated that compliance with the light-duty EPA GHG program is deemed compliance with CARB standards. However, in December 2018, CARB amended this regulation to state that, in the event the EPA were to alter federal GHG stringency, which it now has, compliance with the EPA's GHG emission standards will no longer be deemed compliance with CARB's separate requirements. While NHTSA and the EPA previously took actions to preempt California’s GHG standards, NHTSA repealed its assertion of preemption and the EPA rescinded its withdrawal of California’s preemption waiver, enabling CARB to enforce GHG standards from the Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) program for the 2021–2025 model years. As a result, GM is required to meet state GHG standards in California and the states that have adopted California’s GHG standards. The EPA’s rescission of its withdrawal of California’s waiver has been challenged through litigation. CARB has not proposed separate GHG standards for the 2026 or later model years, but may do so in the future.
CARB has also imposed a requirement that increases percentages of ZEVs that must be sold in California. While NHTSA and the EPA previously took actions to preempt California’s ZEV standards, NHTSA repealed its assertion of preemption and the EPA rescinded its withdrawal of California’s waiver, enabling CARB and the other adopting states to enforce ZEV standards from the ACC program. The EPA’s rescission of its withdrawal of California’s waiver has been challenged through litigation. Further, in August 2022, CARB finalized its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) program, including ZEV standards requiring increasing percentages of ZEVs for the 2026–2035 model years, ending with a 100% sales target in the 2035 model year. CARB must obtain a waiver from the EPA to implement its ACC II program. Additional U.S. jurisdictions could adopt CARB’s ACC and ACC II requirements in the future.
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In Canada, federal light- and heavy-duty GHG regulations are currently patterned after the U.S. EPA GHG emission standards given the integrated nature of the auto sector between Canada and the U.S. The Canadian light-duty GHG standards continue to largely align with the U.S. EPA GHG standards for the 2023–2026 model years. Additionally, in 2022, the Canadian federal government issued the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan requiring the implementation of increasingly stringent ZEV supply regulations for the 2026–2035 model years starting with 20% ZEVs in the 2026 model year and ending with 100% in the 2035 model year. The Canadian federal government recently published the ZEV Availability Standard outlining the regulatory requirements for ZEV supply in Canada, with non-compliance resulting in enforcement action up to and including criminal charges. Additionally, both Quebec and British Columbia have ZEV sales requirements in place where non-compliance results in monetary penalties. Quebec’s ZEV requirements regulating the 2018–2025 model years are largely based on California program requirements. Quebec recently passed new light-duty ZEV regulations for the 2025–2035 model years that are more stringent than the California program requirements. The province of British Columbia’s light-duty ZEV regulations were completed in July 2020 and cover the 2020–2039 model years. British Columbia has proposed revised and very aggressive regulatory ZEV sales targets for the 2026–2035 model years, including a stringent 90% ZEV by the 2030 model year leading up to a 100% in the 2035 model year, making it the most stringent ZEV regulation of any jurisdiction in North America.
China has two fuel consumption requirements for passenger vehicles enforced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT): an individual vehicle pass-fail type approval requirement and a corporate average fuel consumption (CAFC) requirement. Specific to the CAFC requirement, China introduced Phase 5 in 2021 with full compliance required by 2025. In addition, China has established a mandate that requires passenger car manufacturers to produce a certain volume of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles, which are referred to as New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), from 2019 and beyond. The number of NEV credits per car is based on the electric range, energy efficiency and battery energy density with the goal of increasing NEV volume penetrations and improving technological sophistication over time. Uncommitted NEV credits may be used to assist compliance with the corporate average fuel consumption requirement. China previously issued NEV credit targets between 2019 and 2023 and has set new NEV credit targets aimed at further increasing NEV volumes for 2024 and 2025. In 2022, China began to study the CAFC requirement and NEV credit mandates for 2026–2030 (referred to as Phase 6). These standards are anticipated to be more stringent, aligned with the trend observed in other key global markets.
In Brazil, the Secretary of Industry and Development promulgates and enforces CAFE standards and has enforced a new CAFE program for the period October 2020–September 2026 for light-duty and mid-size trucks and SUVs, including diesel vehicles. The next phases of the program are yet to be finalized and are expected to gradually become more stringent.
We have several options to comply with existing and potential new regulations that we have utilized and may continue to utilize, including increasing production and sale of certain vehicles, such as EVs, and curtailing production of others, which could include profitable ICE vehicles; technology changes, including fuel consumption efficiency and engine upgrades; payment of penalties; and/or the purchase of credits from third parties. We regularly evaluate our current and future product plans and strategies for compliance with fuel economy and GHG regulations.
GM remains committed to an all-electric future. The Company has approved science-based targets for scope 1, 2 and 3 (Category 11) emissions and has announced plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. In addition, the Company plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles in the U.S. by 2035. These targets align with our growth and transformation plan, including our commitment to an all-electric future.
Industrial Environmental Control Our operations are subject to a wide range of environmental protection laws including those regulating air emissions, water discharge, waste management and environmental cleanup. Certain environmental statutes require that responsible parties fund remediation actions regardless of fault, legality of original disposal or ownership of a disposal site. Under certain circumstances these laws impose joint and several liability as well as liability for related damages to natural resources.
To further mitigate the impacts of our worldwide operations on the environment, including climate change, we are supplementing our compliance programs with sustainability efforts focused on reducing operational GHG emissions, water consumption and discharge and operational waste.
We have surpassed our goal of diverting more than 90% of our operational waste from landfills, incinerators and energy recovery facilities by 2025, compared to our 2018 baseline, and are now building upon our strategies and ambitions. We also continue our efforts to increase our use of renewable energy, improve our energy efficiency and work to drive growth and scale of renewables. We have finalized the energy sourcing agreements required to secure 100% of the energy needed to power all
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our U.S. facilities with renewable energy by the end of 2025. This is in line with the accelerated target announced in September 2021 and 25 years ahead of the initial target of 2050, set in 2016. We are on target to meet the remaining needs of our global operations with 100% renewable energy by 2035.
Chemical Regulations We continually monitor the implementation of chemical regulations to maintain compliance and evaluate their effect on our business, suppliers and the automotive industry.
Globally, governments continue to introduce new legislation and regulations related to the selection and use of chemicals by mandating broad prohibitions or restrictions and implementing vehicle interior air quality, green chemistry, life cycle analysis and product stewardship initiatives. These initiatives give broad regulatory authority to ban or restrict the use of certain chemical substances and potentially affect automobile manufacturers' responsibilities for vehicle components at the end of a vehicle's life, as well as chemical selection for product development and manufacturing. Global treaties and initiatives such as the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions on Chemicals and Waste, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), are driving chemical regulations across signatory countries. Increases in the use of circuit boards and other electronics may require additional assessment under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment directives. New European requirements require suppliers of parts and vehicles to the European market to disclose substances of concern in parts.
Chemical regulations are increasing in North America. In the U.S., the EPA is moving forward with risk analysis and management of high priority chemicals under the authority of the 2016 Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The EPA has also issued a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting rule that requires PFAS use reporting by manufacturers between 2011 and 2022. In addition, several U.S. states have chemical management regulations that can affect vehicle design and manufacturing such as chemical restriction and use requirements. For example, Maine and Minnesota will require the reporting of PFAS in 2025 and 2026 and the elimination of PFAS in 2030 and 2032, except for unavoidable uses. Chemical restrictions and export controls in Canada continue to steadily progress under the Environment and Climate Change Canada's Chemical Management Plan to assess existing substances and implement risk management controls on any chemical deemed toxic.
These emerging laws and regulations will potentially lead to increases in costs and supply chain complexity. Manufacturers, including joint venture partners and suppliers, that do not comply with global and specific country regulations could be subject to civil penalties, production disruptions or limitations on the sale of affected products. We believe we are materially in compliance with substantially all these requirements or expect to be materially in compliance by the required dates.
Vehicle Safety
U.S. Requirements The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (the Safety Act) regulates the vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment that we manufacture and sell. The Safety Act prohibits the sale in the U.S. of any new vehicle or equipment that does not conform to applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards established by NHTSA. Meeting or exceeding the many safety standards is costly as global compliance and non-governmental assessment requirements continue to evolve and grow more complex, and lack harmonization globally. The Safety Act further requires that if we or NHTSA determine a vehicle or an item of vehicle equipment does not comply with a safety standard, or that vehicle or equipment contains a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk, we must conduct a safety recall to remedy that condition in the affected vehicles. Should we or NHTSA determine a safety defect or noncompliance issue exists with respect to any of our vehicles, the cost of such recall campaigns could be substantial.
Other National Requirements Outside of the U.S., many countries have established vehicle safety standards and regulations and are likely to adopt additional, more stringent requirements in the future. The European General Safety Regulation has introduced United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulations, which are required for the European Type Approval process. Globally, governments generally have been adopting UNECE based regulations with some variations to address local concerns. Any difference between North American and UNECE based regulations can add complexity and costs to vehicle development, and we continue to support efforts to harmonize regulations to reduce complexity. Safety and recall requirements in various countries around the world, including in China, Brazil and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, also may add substantial costs and complexity to our safety and field action activities globally. In Canada, vehicle regulatory requirements are generally aligned with U.S. regulations; however, under the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act, recall thresholds are different and the Minister of Transport has broad powers to order manufacturers to submit a notice of defect or non-compliance when the Minister considers it to be in the interest of safety. Global regulations continue to increase in scope
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with new technologies, some of which can be market-specific, that can add complexity and increase our cost of compliance globally.
Crash Test Ratings and New Car Assessment Programs Organizations in various regions around the world, including in the U.S., rate and compare motor vehicles through various New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs) to provide consumers and businesses with additional information about the safety of new vehicles. NCAPs use crash tests and other evaluations that are different than what is required by applicable regulations, and use stars or other grading systems, depending on the region, to rate vehicle safety. Achieving high NCAP ratings, which can vary by country and region, can add complexity and cost to vehicles.
Website Access to Our Reports Our internet website address is https://www.gm.com. In addition to the information about us and our subsidiaries contained in this 2023 Form 10-K, information about us can be found on our website including information on our corporate governance principles and practices. Our Investor Relations website at https://investor.gm.com contains a significant amount of information about us, including financial and other information for investors. We encourage investors to visit our website, as we frequently update and post new information about our company on our website and it is possible that this information could be deemed to be material information. Our website and information included in or linked to our website are not part of this 2023 Form 10-K.
Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding our filings at https://www.sec.gov.
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