General Motors (GM) was founded in 1908 in Flint, Michigan and grew into a global conglomerate through acquisitions and brand expansion. At its peak in the 1950s, GM held over 50% of the US car market. Following bankruptcy in 2009 (restructured with US government support), the company shed several brands and reemerged as a leaner operation.
GM’s core brands in North America are Chevrolet (mainstream), GMC (trucks and SUVs), Cadillac (luxury), and Buick (entry premium). In China, GM operates through joint ventures with SAIC, with Wuling being the most important for volume — its Hongguang Mini EV was briefly the world’s best-selling EV.
The Ultium EV platform underpins GM’s electrification strategy, serving models from the affordable Chevrolet Equinox EV to the flagship Cadillac Celestiq. However, weaker-than-expected EV demand has forced production cuts and delays across the Ultium lineup through 2025–2026. GM expects to continue reporting EV division losses in the near term while scaling toward profitability.
