Announced today (1st October) at a conference for investors and financial analysts at the company's Milford Proving Ground, the plan is intended to turn the firm into ‘the most valued automotive company’. The company added that the initiatives unveiled are anticipated to help it achieve 9-10% margins on an EBIT-adjusted basis by early next decade.

‘In the nine months that this leadership team has been together, we have spent a significant amount of time setting our goals for the future of GM and developing a specific action plan,’ said chief executive Mary Barra. ‘Our strategic plan is a pathway to earn customers for life and create significant shareholder value in the process. Every chance to connect with a customer is an opportunity to build a stronger relationship.’

Initiatives include a focus on taking the lead in product and technology: In 2015, about 27% of GM's global sales volume is expected to come from products new or refreshed within 18 months. That figure is expected to rise to 38% in 2016 and 2017, and reach 47% in 2019.

GM plans to execute the world's largest automotive deployment of 4G LTE high-speed mobile broadband, introduce vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity in the 2017 Cadillac CTS and launch its Super Cruise, which allows for extended periods of hands-free driving on highways.

New models will also see the use of GM’s Mixed Material Body Structure that uses its welding technology and a combination of steel and aluminium stampings, castings and extrusions to deliver designs that are lightweight, use 20% fewer parts, have class-leading torsional stiffness and exhibit superior noise and vibration characteristics.

GM also announced plans to establish its flagship brand Cadillac as a separate business unit headquartered in New York City to pursue growth opportunities in the luxury market with more focus and clarity. Cadillac expects to introduce four new vehicles in North America in 2015, including the recently announced CT6. In addition, Cadillac plans to introduce nine new models in the next five years in China, which is expected to become the world's largest luxury car market later this decade.


GM is also looking for continued growth in China, with its joint ventures planning to invest $14 billion from 2014 through 2018 to open five new vehicle- manufacturing plants and support sales of just under 5 million vehicles annually. In the same time frame, GM expects to launch 60 new or refreshed vehicles, including nine new sport utility vehicles.


The car group also outlined plans to continue growing GM Financial and to deliver core operating efficiencies.

• During the meeting, GM also reaffirmed the company's previously announced near-term financial targets:
• In North America, the company expects to achieve EBIT-adjusted margins of 10% in 2016.
• In Europe, the company expects to return to profitability in 2016.
• In China, the company expects that its joint ventures will maintain net income margins in the 9- to 10-percent range. 
• In South America, the company's core operations continue to improve as a result of recent product launches and material and logistics optimisation.