GM Powertrain renamed GM Propulsion Systems

General Motors is to officially rename GM Powertrain to GM Global Propulsion Systems, thereby becoming the first OEM to formally transition to a new naming convention to reflect industry trends and its evolution over the years. The European engineering centres in Rüsselsheim and Turin will be named GM Global Propulsion Systems – Rüsselsheim Engineering Center and Turin Engineering Center accordingly.

“The new name is another step on our journey to redefine transportation and mobility,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice-president, Global Product Development. “Global Propulsion Systems better conveys what we are developing and offering to our customers: an incredibly broad, diverse lineup – ranging from high-tech 3-cylinder petrol engines to fuel cells, battery electric systems, and 6-, and 8-speed transmissions.”

GM’s Global Propulsion Systems is collectively the group of more than 8,600 people that design, develop, engineer and manufacture all propulsion related equipment and controls for GM worldwide. Currently, some 2,500 experts are employed in this area at the European sites in Rüsselsheim and Turin.

According to Christian Müller, vice-president, GM Global Propulsion Systems – Europe, “Gone are the days when a simple gasoline (petrol) engine and a simple transmission are all a vehicle needs. Today mobility is key and the customer is demanding unprecedented technology integration that requires unprecedented engineering and supplier partnership. The name-change reflects the new and larger scope as we head into a future of propulsion systems such as electric drive.”

Nearly 50 percent of the Global Propulsion Systems engineering workforce is involved with alternative or electrified propulsion systems. GM’s expanding capabilities include the all-new Ampera-e battery electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cells. Other notable systems include the new generation combustion engines currently being rolled out.

Other recent achievements include the Easytronic 3.0 automated manual transmission of the Vauxhall ADAM, Corsa and Astra, the highly acclaimed drivetrain for the Astra and the new BiTurbo diesel engine which makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month in the new Astra Sports Tourer.