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General Motors

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General Motors
Basic information
Founded 1908
Legal structure Public
Industry Automotive
Official website https://gm.com/


General Motors Company (GM) is an American multinational, automotive-manufacturing company founded in 1908. It owns many car brands, such as Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, alongside other companies like OnStar and other GM subsidiaries for parts, financial administration, and insurance.[1]

Controversies

In 2023, the company decided to abandon Apple Carplay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicles, initially explained to the public as a "safety concern". When questioned later, GM Infotainment Business Strategy and Planning Manager, Ryan Buffa, said that: “The primary reason is that we’re looking to create a comfort level around the [electric-vehicle] charging experience. With Android Auto or Apple CarPlay environments, the vehicle energy model or road segment data is sending energy usage and everything else associated with it to the phone, and it’s pretty difficult to off-board it from the phone.”[2]

GM was named in the July 2024 Senators Wyden and Markey's letter to the FTC accusing them of selling customer data to third party Verisk who then resold the data in the form of "driver reports" which insurance companies used to increase customer's insurance premiums.

Safety Recalls and Mechanical Neglect

GM has repeatedly opted for cost-cutting measures over durable fixes:

  • A 2025 recall addressed rear wheel lock-up caused by faulty valve bodies but only implemented a software patch instead of replacing the defective parts. Dealers were barred from ordering replacements, leaving customers stranded without loaners while still making payments

Historical Ethical Violations

GM’s misconduct spans decades:

• Ignition switch cover-up (2004–2014): Executives concealed defects, leading to criminal charges and a Supreme Court ruling against shielding liability through bankruptcy.”[3]

• Misleading consumers: Drivers were enrolled in data-collection programs through confusing opt-in processes, with many unaware their behavior was being monitored and sold. "[4] "[5]

References