GM to Double Electric and Autonomous Programs over Two years
In its 2018 Sustainability Report, General Motors outlines its mobility, electric vehicle, and autonomous roadmap. GM’ Mary Barra: “We believe in an all-electric future.”

GM will allocate resources to develop and transition to autonomous, connected, and shared models of mobility.
Photo via Public Domain Files.
General Motors released this week its 2018 Sustainability Report titled, “Navigating the Road to Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion.”
The report, delivered by Mary Barra, GM’s chairman and CEO, delves into the automaker’s initiatives regarding developing and transitioning to autonomous, connected, and shared models of mobility.
“Climate change is real, and we take the challenges it presents seriously,” Barra says in the report. “We also recognize the transportation sector needs to be part of the solution, which is why we believe in an all-electric future.”
In the report, GM noted it plans on doubling resources allocated to electric and autonomous vehicle programs over the next two years.
The automaker also highlighted the development of an electric pickup, a $300 million investment in its Orion Township, Mich. assembly plant for a new Chevrolet all-electric vehicle, and that Cadillac will be GM’s lead EV brand when it launches its next-generation battery-electric vehicle architecture.
“This global architecture will be flexible and versatile, allowing us to build everything in our portfolio from just three drive units,” the report states. “This flexibility will allow us to deliver profitable EVs that also meet our customers’ needs for affordability and range.”
To support the growth of its EV portfolio the company has decided to invest $28 million in a battery lab at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
The company announced that it will be working with Bechtel to build public EV fast-charging infrastructure in the U.S. This comes after GM announced its intent to work with EVgo, ChargePoint, and GreenLots to give customers access to more than 31,000 charging ports.
The report highlights the automaker’s development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) through its Cruise AV subsidiary and the high-profile partnerships to develop AVs, with investments from the SoftBank Vision Fund ($2.25 billion), Honda ($2.75 billion), and funds advised by T. Rowe Price and existing Cruise partners ($1.15 billion).
“These investments and strategic partnerships validate our approach to AV development, and importantly, give us the resources to tackle what we believe is the greatest engineering challenge of our generation,” the report states.
More Fleet Forward

Vibe Coding: When Fleet Managers Become Software Builders
Five fleet professionals — none with programming skills — discuss how they’re using AI to build fleet solutions in-house and in a fraction of the time.
Read More →
What Fleets Want: FFC Panel to Examine the Future of the Fleet-OEM Relationship
Fleet and OEM leaders will tackle how connected vehicles, embedded telematics, and data are changing the relationship between commercial fleets and automakers.
Read More →
2026 Fleet Manager of the Year Finalists Announced
Who are the 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year finalists?
Read More →
John Rossant to Deliver Opening Keynote at 2026 Fleet Forward Conference
The CoMotion founder will draw on developments across Europe, China, the Middle East, and other international markets to identify trends that could influence how U.S. fleets plan for the coming decade.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Is Fleet Ready for Its New Disruptors?
Three emerging leaders from a corporate fleet, public fleet, and the automotive supply chain will bring new ideas and a willingness to challenge industry norms to the Fleet Forward Conference stage.
Read More →
NAFA Announces 2026 Fleet Safety Symposium Education Program
Register for NAFA’s Fleet Safety Symposium and save $200 on your Fleet Forward Conference registration.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Take the Lead in Hands-On AI Workshop at FFC
The fleet manager-led session will show how to use “vibe coding” to build practical fleet tools without a traditional programming background.
Read More →
NETS Crash-Cost Data and CoolSys’ 80% Loss Reduction Take Center Stage at FFC
NETS will present findings from its latest Cost of Crashes research, then CoolSys safety leader and author Shawn Martinez will explain how the company built a safer driving culture across 3,500 employees.
Read More →
Is Your Grey Fleet Creating an Unmanaged Safety Risk?
NCR Atleos Fleet Manager Jose Rocha will join Cardata and SambaSafety experts at Fleet Forward Conference to examine how fleets can extend safety oversight to every employee who drives for business.
Read More →