General Motors president Mark Reuss outlined the automaker's strategic direction in a wide-ranging interview with Car and Driver's Jamie Kitman, addressing both the company's historical missteps and its aggressive pivot toward electric vehicles and software.
Reuss oversees all of GM's global vehicle development and engineering. His comments come as the Detroit giant navigates a critical transition period. GM committed to selling only battery electric vehicles by 2035, a target more ambitious than many competitors. The company has already launched the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV, with the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq ramping production.
The GM president didn't shy away from discussing the company's past failures. The automaker's struggles with quality control, delayed recalls, and the bankruptcy that followed the 2008 financial crisis remain fresh in industry memory. Reuss framed these challenges as learning opportunities that shaped GM's current operational discipline.
On the future, Reuss emphasized software development as critical to competitive advantage. GM established a dedicated software organization to reduce its reliance on third-party suppliers and accelerate over-the-air update capabilities. The company invested heavily in its ultium battery platform, which underpins multiple EV architectures across Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and international brands.
Reuss also addressed production challenges and supply chain vulnerabilities that plagued the industry post-pandemic. GM's manufacturing footprint is shifting toward EV-capable facilities, with older plants either retooled or shuttered.
The interview reveals a leader focused on execution over grand promises. Reuss repeatedly stressed that GM's EV transition depends on scaling profitably. Simply building electric vehicles matters less than building them at acceptable margins. That discipline separates GM's strategy from competitors making similar electrification pledges without clear financial roadmaps.