Latest news with #RoryHarvey
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
Driving the future with customer choice: GM brings global innovation to the Middle East
Customer choice and preferences drive the transformational investments that General Motors is making to deliver safer, smarter, and cleaner Middle East hosted representatives from the region at the heart of its global operations in Detroit, Michigan. This offered them an inside look at the laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities where groundbreaking technologies that shape the future of mobility are being developed and tested. They also got to meet the people whose passion, ingenuity and talent drives this transformation. Featuring a comprehensive range of GM's EV portfolio from Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC, participants had the opportunity to experience hands-free, eyes-on Super Cruise* technology, enabled by OnStar, and gain insights into the company's proprietary battery and software strategies, showcasing how GM is a pillar of this industries transformation. Rory Harvey, GM executive vice president and president of Global Markets, said that GM is leveraging software, hardware, AI, and sensors to produce safer, smarter, and cleaner vehicles – as the company builds on a century of automotive expertise.'At GM, it all starts with our customers. We offer customers choice – right across our beautifully designed portfolio of new gas-powered vehicles and America's broadest lineup of electric vehicles,' said Harvey.'We're developing advanced driver assistance and autonomous vehicle technology to eliminate human driving error, save lives, and improve mobility for everyone.'Jack Uppal, President and Managing Director, GM Africa and Middle East, said: 'This year is a milestone moment for GM in the Middle East. Our ambition strategy is in full execution with a host of market activities with new and refreshed vehicles offering customer choice of gas powered and electric vehicles. Our OnStar Conectivity offerings across our markets are transforming with new customer experiences and convenience features, which will culminate with the arrival of the industry's first hands-free advanced driver assistance technology Super Cruise – a foundational technology that will transform our customers' experience on the road and how we develop the future of autonomous mobility in a personal this was on full display over in Detroit, allowing our guests to experience tomorrow today and share the knowledge and experience with millions in the region.'Chevrolet - with much-loved nameplates – Equinox and Spark – all going electric, has disrupted the market claiming the spot for the most attainable electric vehicle line-up in the Middle East market, with more offering on the horizon. And, on the performance hypercar side, the thrilling all-wheel Corvette E-ray is the first-ever electrified - with the first-of-its-kind and one of the most advanced vehicles it has ever built, the HUMMER EV SUV and Super Truck – offers customers a powerful drive experience that pushes the boundaries of what full-size EVs can – With the Cadillac OPTIQ already launched across the Middle East, and the upcoming LYRIQ, OPTIQ-V, LYRIQ-V, VISTIQ, ESCALADE IQ, and ESCALADE IQL to follow – is leading GM's electric vehicle expansion globally. OnStar – Powering the connected experience behind each of these vehicles is OnStar, the in-vehicle technology that enables a smoother, smarter and confident EV & AV TECHNOLOGYTo continue to offer more affordable EVs globally, GM has continued to advance its electrification and driver-assistance technologies: • High-manganese (LMR) prismatic battery cells with 33% more energy density than the best lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells—at similar cost. These new cells are slated for U.S. production starting in 2028, with a focus on powering electric pickups and large SUVs.• Super Cruise, enabled by OnStar, is coming soon to the Middle East and will be available across 9 models from Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac - offers hands-free driving, automatic lane changes, and trailering support. • Path to Autonomy is being led by GM's Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) with the Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP), which supports over-the-air updates, smart home integration, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. VIP enables seamless compatibility with services like OnStar**. OnStar services include Google Built-in, myChevrolet, myGMC and myCadillac apps, supports external developers in delivering next-generation in-car experiences.• Artificial Intelligence is playing an increasingly central role in GM's operations. GM announced an expanded partnership with NVIDIA to integrate AI, simulation, and high-performance computing into vehicle development and manufacturing. This includes creating digital twins of production lines to optimize operations through virtual simulations, as well as predictive systems that detect equipment failures in advance—boosting efficiency and safety. Many of these innovations are driven by the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, one of the world's most advanced hubs for engineering and research.* Super Cruise will be available soon in the Middle East. Enabled by OnStar, high-definition road mapping is complete in Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and is currently in progress in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Launch plans are underway. ** OnStar Connected vehicle services are currently available in KSA, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain only. Services vary by vehicle model and require an active service plan, working electrical system, cell reception and GPS signal. See for details and limitations. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
GM claims No. 2 spot in US electric vehicle sales
General Motors Co. topped crosstown rival Ford Motor Co. to take the No. 2 spot in U.S. electric vehicle sales for the first five months of 2025. The Detroit automaker announced 62,000 EVs sold this year through May. Chevrolet carried sales among the company's brands, with 37,000 sold in the United States in that same period. Ford sold 34,132 EVs through May, according to the company. That represents a quarter drop year-over-year as sales of the F-150 Lightning pickup and E-Transit commercial van declined 42% and 93%, respectively. GM saw 94% year-over-year growth in domestic EV sales in the first quarter of 2025 and boasted more than 15% of U.S. EV market share. "Customers are responding in record numbers to our world-class portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles," Rory Harvey, executive vice president and president of global markets, said in a statement. "In the first two months of the second quarter, we more than doubled our EV sales compared to the same period last year." Part of the bump is attributable to price-conscious buyers worried about tariffs raising prices and legislative efforts to strip the $7,500 EV tax credit, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions LLC. "The idea that parts may be in short supply, costs may go up, all of these factors are weighing on the decision-making of buyers today," Fiorani said. "If they believe that they're going to need a vehicle in the next few months, a lot of them have moved to the dealership now to purchase while they believe the prices will be lower." GM still trails Tesla Inc. in EV sales, but CEO Elon Musk's dominance is waning in the face of domestic and Chinese competition. Tesla sold 1.3 million cars in the first quarter of 2025, a 9% decline from the year-earlier period, according to Bloomberg. Tesla's share of the U.S. EV market dropped from almost two-thirds to less than half in the past two years, according to Bloomberg reporting. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford Falls Behind As Chevrolet Makes Surprise EV Leap
General Motors has released key sales highlights for its vehicles through May 2025, with the biggest piece of news being that Chevrolet has surpassed Ford to become the number two EV brand in the United States. After the first quarter, GM reported that Chevrolet was the fastest-growing EV brand in the country. Now, with 37,000 EVs sold from the start of the year until the end of May, Chevy has officially surpassed Ford. The Blue Oval registered 34,000 EV sales over the same period, but saw a drop in EV sales in May. Although Chevrolet didn't break down EV sales by model, we're willing to bet that the affordable Equinox EV contributed significantly to the total of 37,000. Starting at $33,600, the Equinox EV handily undercuts the $37,995 starting price of Ford's cheapest EV, the Mustang Mach-E. Without an equivalent model to match the Equinox EV on price, Ford was always going to struggle to maintain its number 2 position behind Tesla. Chevy also has the Blazer EV, a mid-size electric SUV for which Ford has no direct equivalent, and the Silverado EV. As a whole, there were also big gains for GM's EV lineup of 13 individual models. For the first quarter, GM saw a 94% increase in EV sales. Through May, GM has sold over 62,000 EVs in the country. In the first two months of Q2, GM's EV market share was around 15.5%, over double what it was a year ago. May was also GM's second-best EV month ever. GM also has EVs in segments not occupied by Ford, such as the new Escalade IQ, one of the largest fully electric SUVs on sale. The lineup also includes the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC Hummer EV. "Customers are responding in record numbers to our world-class portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles," said Rory Harvey, executive VP and president of global markets. "In the first two months of the second quarter, we more than doubled our EV sales compared to the same period last year." Q2 sales will be reported by GM on July 1, and if the company maintains its current momentum, it could widen the gap over Ford. Chevrolet's EV sales are especially impressive considering that the cheap and popular Bolt is no longer on sale. It's been almost two years since GM CEO, Mary Barra, confirmed that a second-gen Bolt is on the way. Specifics are still up in the air, but a zippy electric hatchback under $30,000 could further boost Chevrolet and GM's EV portfolio. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Most automakers report sales gains in Q1
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. General Motors outpaced its competition the first three months of the year, selling 693,363 vehicles in Q1, a 17% year-over-year increase. The automaker was bolstered by a 94% YoY increase in EV sales. Chevrolet brand EV sales jumped by 119% YoY, led by the Equinox and Blazer EVs. Sales of electric Cadillac models also increased 37% over Q1 last year. GM said Q1 pickup truck sales were their best since 2007 with GM-brand models representing about 40% of all domestic truck sales in the quarter. 'GM's sales growth outpaced every other major automaker, and the driving force is our portfolio,' Rory Harvey, EVP and president of global markets, said in a statement. 'We're the industry leader in trucks and affordable small SUVs, Cadillac is growing significantly in luxury, and we have the broadest portfolio of EVs in the industry.' Audi of America sold 42,710 vehicles in Q1, a 3% YoY drop. Sales of the A4 sedan tumbled 84% to 403 units compared to a year ago. The automaker's luxury Q8 SUV sales soared 71% for the quarter with 3,065 units. Audi said it closed March with an 8% sales improvement from the same month last year. BMW of North America finished Q1 with 84,475 sales, a 3.7% YoY increase. Sales of EVs increased 26.4% YoY to 13,538 units, led by the iX SUV with sales of 3,626 units. Passenger cars accounted for 43,619 of it vehicle sales in Q1, a 12.7% increase from a year ago. 'We are pleased to report a strong result for Q1, and with that a great start to 2025,' Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America, said in a statement. 'BMW remains in a strong position in the U.S., where the majority of the vehicles we sell in this market are also assembled in this market.' Ford Motor Co. reported sales of 501,291 vehicles, a 1.3% YoY drop. The automaker's top performer was its F-Series pickup models, with sales of 190,389 units, a 24.5% YoY improvement. Sales of the Ranger soared 677.5% in Q1 to 14,913 units. Ford's SUV sales tumbled 16.7% from a year earlier, while car sales also declined sharply to 9,377 units, a 31.6% drop in the quarter. Ford's electrified line up, which includes both EVs and hybrids, jumped by 25.5% in Q1, representing 73,623 units of the automaker's total quarterly sales. Mercedes-Benz USA reported Q1 sales of 75,100 vehicles, a 1% YoY increase. Passenger cars represented a majority of sales with 67,400 units while vans made up with the rest with 7,700 units. 'We closed Q1 in a very strong position for wholesale group sales and celebrated our best-ever March in MBUSA's history for retail sales,' Dimitris Psillakis, president and CEO and head of marketing and sales of Mercedes-Benz USA, said in a statement. 'With an established longstanding legacy in the U.S. and a significant footprint and investments in both manufacturing and the retail service business, together with our dealers we will work tirelessly to make the best decisions for our customers and the business to proudly represent the three-pointed star in the communities we call home.' Nissan Motor Co. sold 267,085 vehicles in Q1, up 5.7% from the same period last year. The automaker credited the sales lift to strong performance of its under $30,000 lineup including the Versa, Leaf, Kicks and Murano. Sales of the entry-level Versa sedan increased 156% YoY. The Nissan lineup offset declines for the Infiniti luxury line, which fell 5.3% with 13,165 units sold. Rivian Automotive said it produced 14,611 vehicles in Q1 and delivered 8,640 during the quarter. The automaker said its production totals are in line with projections discussed during its previous earrings call. Rivian reaffirmed its prior forecast of delivering between 46,000 and 51,000 vehicles in 2025. Stellantis' FCA US division reported a 12% YoY sales decline in Q1 with 293,225 vehicles sold. Despite the overall sales decrease, brands including Chrysler, Ram and Jeep reported gains during the quarter while Fiat's U.S. sales increased 239%, driven by sales of the all-electric 500e. "We've seen consecutive monthly market share growth since January, in addition to retail growth momentum, with the right mix of pricing and incentive actions put in place at the end of last year, leading both Jeep and Ram brands to post their best retail months of the year this March,' Jeff Kommor, head of U.S. sales, said in a statement. Tesla said it produced 362,615 vehicles in Q1, down 16.3% from 433,371 units reported the same period a year ago. Deliveries were dominated by the 3 and Y models, representing 345,525 units. Other model sales totaled 17,161 units. Toyota Motor North America reported Q1 sales of 570,269 vehicles, up 0.9% YoY. TMNA ended the quarter strong with sales of 231,335 vehicles in March, a 7.7% YoY increase. Quarterly sales of electrified vehicles totaled 288,796 units, up 39.6% YoY. Its luxury Lexus brand had its best Q1 ever with sales of 83,043 vehicles, up 5.8% YoY. 'We continue to see steady sales from our Toyota and Lexus brands due in part to improved inventory levels and new models like the Toyota 4Runner and Lexus LX hybrid,' EVP and COO Mark Templin, said in a statement. Volkswagen of America Q1 sales totaled 87,915 units, up 7.1% YoY. The automaker said the Jetta sedan was its top seller with 17,778 units, a 36.5% YoY increase. Sales of the ID.4 EV jumped 24.3% to 7,663 units. Recommended Reading Tracking US auto sales by month Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Corvette Sales Slip 21% in Q1 Despite GM's Strong Overall Performance
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious General Motors reported its strongest first-quarter sales since 2018 on Tuesday, but the company's sports car icon, the Chevrolet Corvette, saw a steep decline, with deliveries dropping 21 percent compared to the same period last year. Chevy delivered 6,794 Corvettes in the first three months of 2025, down from 8,576 units in Q1 2024, according to GM's quarterly report. The drop comes amid signs that interest in the C8-generation Corvette may be cooling as it enters its sixth year of production. While GM's overall sales surged 17 percent year-over-year, with gains across GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick, the decline in Corvette sales raises questions about the future trajectory of the brand's flagship performance car. Thousands of unsold Corvettes reportedly remain on dealer lots nationwide. Still, GM executives highlighted the automaker's strengths elsewhere. 'GM's sales growth outpaced every other major automaker, and the driving force is our portfolio,' said Rory Harvey, GM executive vice president, in a statement. 'We're the industry leader in trucks and affordable small SUVs, Cadillac is growing significantly in luxury, and we have the broadest portfolio of EVs in the industry.' The company reported electric vehicle sales up 94 percent in the quarter. Highlights included 6,187 deliveries of the Chevrolet Blazer EV, compared to just 600 in Q1 2024, and 1,956 units of the new Cadillac Escalade IQ. Buick posted its best quarter in nearly two decades with a 39 percent sales gain, buoyed by strong Encore GX demand. As for the Corvette, the drop may reflect saturation among early adopters and the mid-cycle maturity of the C8 generation. Chevrolet hopes high-performance variants like the upcoming ZR1 — priced from $174,995 — can sustain interest until the C9 arrives later this decade.
