GM’s Mary Barra Is Undeterred About an Electric Future | The Circuit

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Mary Barra's Leadership at General Motors

Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, has led the company from financial ruin to profitability during her 40-year tenure.
She has faced challenges such as political heat, labor disputes, and the largest recall in GM's history.
Barra is determined to transform GM into a tech-forward business, focusing on electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies.
GM has opened a new design center that embodies a mid-century modern aesthetic and utilizes advanced technology for car design.
Barra emphasizes safety and has implemented a safety-first culture throughout the company.

GM is scaling back its operations outside the United States to focus on profitability and has shifted its focus to EVs and AVs.
The transition to EVs is still in its early stages, and GM is facing challenges with battery manufacturing and cost reduction.
GM is investing heavily in EV production, aiming to build a million EVs annually by 2025.
The Cadillac Celestiq, a hand-built electric vehicle priced at $340,000, represents GM's commitment to luxury EVs.
To appeal to the middle class, GM focuses on affordability, range, styling, functionality, and addressing charging anxiety.
Barra aims for all light-duty vehicles to be electric by 2035, with fuel cell technology as a longer-term goal.

GM has closed traditional plants to improve efficiency, resulting in job losses and community impact.
The United Auto Workers strike in 2023 highlighted labor issues and led to concessions for workers.
Chinese automakers like BYD pose a threat to the US auto market with affordable EVs like the BYD Seagull.
Barra views both Tesla and BYD as significant threats and believes legacy American automakers can maintain their position by offering great vehicles at the right price.
GM's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, faced challenges due to a lack of relationship-building with regulators and first responders.
Barra plans to relaunch Cruise in one city, focusing on community engagement and demonstrating the technology's benefits.

GM's long-term vision includes electric and flying vehicles, as mentioned in the company's original Articles of Incorporation.
Industry expert David Welch expresses skepticism about GM's ability to deliver on its goal of producing a million EVs by 2025 due to various challenges.
Barra's strategy involves introducing EVs in every market segment before competitors, aiming to reset market share and grow revenue.
Welch acknowledges Barra's daring leadership, including tough decisions like plant closures and conflicts with the union and Donald Trump.
GM's history of profitability and decline has shaped public perception, but the company is regaining market share and making improvements under Barra's leadership.
Mary Barra feels a responsibility to help Detroit thrive, given its past as a powerhouse city.
She emphasizes the importance of transparency and addressing problems promptly to prevent them from escalating.
Despite being the first female CEO of a global automaker, Barra believes the real celebration will come when women in leadership positions are no longer a novelty.
She hopes to inspire young girls and boys to pursue their dreams through hard work and determination.