Key facts
- General Motors is targeting a two-year vehicle development process.
- The GMC Hummer EV was developed from concept to production in 20 months.
- GM is using AI, simulation, and engineering data for virtual vehicle testing.
- This approach aims to identify design flaws earlier and reduce reliance on physical prototypes.
- The accelerated development is driven by competition from Chinese automakers, EV market shifts, and regulatory uncertainty.
General Motors is aiming to make its vehicle development process as fast as the 20 months it took to create the GMC Hummer EV, targeting a routine two-year cycle. This acceleration is driven by the need to compete with rapidly developing Chinese automakers, adapt to slower-than-expected EV adoption, and navigate fluctuating regulations and incentives. To achieve this, GM is heavily investing in virtual testing, utilizing AI, simulation, and decades of engineering data to identify and resolve design issues before building physical prototypes. This shift allows for more comprehensive testing under various conditions, such as crash simulations and climate testing, in a virtual environment, reducing costs and time. The company has developed bespoke virtual tools, often customized with software suppliers or built internally, to integrate hardware and software testing earlier in the process. This approach has already yielded improvements, such as a redesigned bracket for the Corvette that is 30% stiffer, 20% lighter, and 95% more durable. Executives believe this iterative, software-like development model is crucial for future industry success.