Key facts
- Mark Reuss has been President of General Motors since January 2019.
- Reuss's father, Lloyd Reuss, was previously president of GM from 1990 to 1992.
- Mark Reuss began his career at GM in 1983 and has held numerous leadership positions.
- He is associated with the development of Cadillac's V-Series and Chevrolet's SS models.
- GM sold about 700,000 vehicles priced at $30,000 or less in the past year.
- The company has led the large SUV market for 51 consecutive years.
Mark Reuss, who has led General Motors as president since January 2019, discussed the company's strategic direction, including its approach to electric vehicles and its operations in China. Reuss, often described as a 'car guy,' has spent his entire professional life at GM, beginning with an internship in 1983 and rising through various engineering and leadership roles. His career has been marked by significant product development, including Cadillac's V-Series and the ongoing evolution of the Corvette.
Reuss's ascent to president comes decades after his father, Lloyd Reuss, held the top executive position at GM from 1990 to 1992 before being dismissed. Lloyd Reuss's tenure was characterized by efforts to address foreign competition and internal mismanagement, and his departure coincided with a shift away from electric vehicle development, including the groundbreaking EV1. Despite past allegations of nepotism, Mark Reuss's extensive experience and product-focused leadership are highlighted as key to GM's current strategy.
In a wide-ranging interview, Reuss emphasized the importance of integrating technical expertise with business acumen, stating that good engineers and finance professionals complement each other. He pointed to GM's success in producing affordable vehicles, noting that the company sold approximately 700,000 cars priced at $30,000 or less last year. Furthermore, GM has maintained its market leadership in large SUVs for 51 consecutive years and has seen significant adoption of its Super Cruise driver-assistance system, with over 600,000 users accumulating 800 million miles of driving experience across 23 different models.