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GM has ditched plans to build Nikola's hybrid fuel-cell pickup
Under a restructured deal, GM will no longer take a stake in the EV startup either.
GM offers free, limited internet access in its connected cars
GM is offering owners of its connected cars free, limited WiFi access amid the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access the network anywhere within 50 yards of the vehicle.
Amazon and GM may invest in Rivian's electric pickup trucks
Rivian might be attracting some big money just a few months after unveiling its electric pickup truck and SUV. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say Amazon and GM are in discussions to invest in Rivian in an agreement that would value the EV startup between $1 billion and $2 billion. They would have minority stakes in the company, but this would still represent a big boost for an automaker whose first vehicle won't roll off the assembly line until 2020.
GMC’s next Sierra HD pickup can see through trailers
GMC has unveiled its 2020 Sierra Heavy Duty pickup truck, which packs in 445 horsepower and a 10-speed transmission -- along with plenty of tech, of course. It offers 15 camera views, including a transparent trailer view that lets you see what's behind your trailer. The feature blends what a tailgate-mounted camera sees with the view from an accessory camera you can affix to the back of the trailer. You can also install and connect to a camera inside your trailer to make sure no loose items are causing chaos.
GM cuts workers and plants as it shifts focus to electric vehicles
General Motors announced today that is planning to lay off 15 percent of its contract workers, shutter five plants in North America, and discontinue production on six vehicle models next year. The move comes as part of a major restructuring of the car manufacturer that has been suffering from lagging sales. Going forward, GM intends to focus on electric and autonomous vehicle programs, just like basically every other car maker.
Buick adds Yelp Reservations to its car dashboards
Until Buick lets you order coffee and fuel with your voice, you'll have to stick to using your digits. The brand launched its Marketplace app for its in-car infotainment system late last year and it's been adding new services ever since. Yelp Reservations is the latest to make the cut, allowing you to book a table at thousands of restaurants up and down the country.
GM wants a national tax credit program for electric vehicles
A year since its pledge to go all-electric, General Motors wants its counterparts to follow suit. The automaker is calling on the US government to start a nationwide zero emissions vehicle (NZEV) program. Its ambitious plan -- submitted to the the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday -- would demand 25 percent of fleets to be composed of zero emissions vehicles by 2030.
GM's self-driving car reportedly has trouble recognizing pedestrians
It seems that General Motors' self-driving car unit, Cruise, is running into major difficulties, and will likely not be able to hit its late 2019 launch target. Sources close to the project have told Reuters that engineers have been hitting unexpected technical challenges, like being able to detect objects if objects are in motion. For example, vehicles would hesitate or stop when passing a row of parked bicycles, would mistakenly see "phantom bicycles" that caused jerky stops, and would even fail to recognize pedestrians. "Nothing is on schedule," one GM source told Reuters, as Cruise has already missed mileage targets and milestones.
Buick Marketplace adds in-dash fuel payments for Exxon
General Motors is giving customers in the US the ability to pay for gas at Exxon and Mobil stations from within their infotainment systems, and it's starting with Buick vehicles. Today, the automaker is rolling out a Marketplace update for Buicks that have access to it, which will add Exxon Mobil as one of its partner brands. It works like the in-dash fuel payment system GM-owned Chevy launched for Shell stations back in April: fire up the in-vehicle commerce platform, tap the Exxon Mobil icon and choose the Pay for Fuel option. You'll also need to type in the pump number to unlock it, but it doesn't get more complicated than that.
GM's new car-sharing program allows owners to rent their vehicles
Earlier this year, there were rumors that GM was going to launch a car sharing service, allowing GM owners to rent out their personal vehicles to make some quick cash. Now, the company has confirmed it. GM is expanding Maven and will allow both owners and qualified lessees to rent out their vehicles.
GM is supplying next-gen batteries for Honda EVs
GM has expanded its collaboration with Honda to supply the Japanese automaker with next-generation batteries. These will go in EVs built mainly for the North American market, and though neither company stated when they would start using the new power options, sources told Reuters that they're expected to begin production in 2021.
Senators investigate safety procedures for autonomous cars
Just a day after the NTSB released its preliminary findings on the Uber crash in Arizona, senators Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal began an investigation into safety protocols for driverless car testing. In a letter sent to major auto manufacturers involved in autonomous driving systems, the senators asked several specific questions to find out what kind of procedures the companies have to ensure the safety of others during testing.
General Motors is 3D printing parts to make EVs more efficient
The virtues of 3D printing have long been touted by a vast range of manufacturers, so it was only a matter of time before the EV industry got in on the action. General Motors has announced that, alongside design software company Autodesk Inc, it's creating lightweight 3D parts that'll help it meet its ambitious plan to add 20 new electric battery and fuel cell batteries to its global lineup by 2023.
GM may test a carsharing program this summer
GM's Maven is basically the equivalent of a car rental service; for a fee, users can borrow a loaded GM vehicle for up to 28 days at a time. Now, it appears that GM may be looking to expand the service. According to Bloomberg, GM will operate pilot program this summer to test allowing GM users to rent out their personal vehicles through Maven. Annalisa Esposito Bluhm from Maven Communications, told us, ""At Maven, we are always considering new, innovative ways to make sharing easier. We have no plans to announce at this time," in regard to our carsharing inquiry.
California axes self-driving car rule limiting liability for crashes
California has been happy to tweak the rules to get more self-driving cars on the road, but it still has its limits. The state's DMV has eliminated a planned rule (suggested by GM) that would have let companies avoid liability for an autonomous vehicle crash if the machine hadn't been maintained to manufacturer specs. In other words, they could have been let off the hook if your car's sensors were muddy, even if an accident was really due to bad code.
GM may bring its self-driving Cruise program to Uber
Remember how GM's autonomous vehicles division Cruise was planning to work with Lyft? The two companies hoped to put 300 more self-driving Chevy Bolts on the road next year. The fleet was supposed to start testing within the next year, and GM was already testing a ride-hailing system in San Francisco just for employees. Unfortunately, the thrill is gone between the two companies, according to a report by The Information, which says that GM is now meeting with Uber to launch those self-driving cars by next year.
GM aims to be the first to test self-driving cars in New York City
It looks like New York City will be hosting its first test of fully autonomous vehicles very soon and surprisingly, they're not from Waymo or Uber. Instead, General Motors and Cruise Automation have submitted the first application for sustained testing and are aiming to do so in Manhattan.
GM eyes HD mapping to boost self-driving car development
Last year, GM bought Cruise Automation, a startup focused on self-driving car technology, and now it appears the automotive giant is getting serious about creating HD maps. Cruise Automation has just announced that it's recruiting a Head of Mapping, who will "own the strategy, planning, and execution of our specialized HD maps," according to the job posting.
GM has a rental car service for Uber and Lyft drivers
Maven, General Motors' Zipcar-style service, is expanding to grease the wheels of the despair-inducing gig economy. Maven Gig lets you rent a vehicle for, say, a week at a time, specifically as a way of making money on the "freelance mobility economy." Specifically, if you pay $229, you'll take control of a Chevy Bolt for a week so you can live your dream of working for Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Rodie and GrubHub.
The Army could save hydrogen cars from a premature death
Over the past 25 years, hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) have been the butt of countless jokes in the automotive industry. Many critics see the technology as something long in the works that will never have a future. It's seen some spotty progress over the past decade, existing alongside compressed natural gas vehicles. But in terms of public perception, HFCs are still on the fringe compared with plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. In 2016, the Los Angeles Times reported that Toyota expected to sell 3,000 of its $60,000 Mirai sedans by the end of 2017 -- and that was an optimistic forecast, mind you. In contrast, Tesla racked up over 232,000 preorders for its all-electric Model 3 sedan in just 24 hours, and Toyota crossed 3.9 million in global sales for the Prius in February.
