GM strengthens electric vehicle strategy

US automaker General Motors is to introduce a new electric vehicle platform in China as well as produce electric vehicle motors, batteries and other core components in the country, Julian Blissett, president of GM China, said on Wednesday.

These key components will be produced locally to support future sales and production of electric vehicles in the Chinese market. The carmaker is committed to further deepening its footprint in the field of new-energy vehicles.

Blissett said the automaker would also consider cooperating with more local suppliers in the production of electric vehicle parts.

It is to cooperate with Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amerex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) on its new Ultium batteries.

GM’s new Ultium batteries are unique in that the large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside a battery pack. This allows engineers to optimize storage and layout for each vehicle design.

The US automaker aims to have 20 new-energy vehicle models available to Chinese consumers by 2023.

The company has said it is concentrating its competitive resources, including engineering, procurement and manufacturing, on the development of electric vehicle and new-generation electric vehicles. It said it will invest more than half of its engineering capital on developing electric vehicles globally in the next five years.

Automakers in China are seeking close relationships with auto parts suppliers for new-energy vehicles across the country. Volkswagen has said it will acquire 26 percent of electric vehicle battery maker Gotion High-Tech for around 1 billion euros (US$1.12 billion), becoming its largest shareholder.