General Motors Going Back Into the Defense Business

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

“Old soldiers never die,” the saying goes, “they just fade away.”

And that’s exactly what General Motors, no stranger to U.S. military products, did following the Cold War. The company that once produced the Cadillac-built M5 Stuart tank and Buick-built M18 Hellcat tank destroyer in World War Two sold its military products division — GM Defense — to General Dynamics in 2003.

However, just because Stryker and LAV III light armored vehicle production is now someone else’s responsibility doesn’t mean GM isn’t interested in fulfilling the military’s needs. The company still ships engines and transmissions to the Army, but according to a new report, the automaker is once again planning an official military division.

Coming on the heels of last week’s unveiling of the versatile Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS), Automotive News reports that GM has a new defense industry unit in the works.

Called GM Defense LLC, the unit would exist under the automaker’s Global Product Development umbrella. Last week’s fuel cell-powered vehicle platform would be just one product the unit aims to dangle in front of customers. Besides the obvious U.S. Army appeal of its vehicles, other products would fill various roles in both aerospace and defence, GM claims.

“This new business structure will enhance GM’s productivity, agility and affordability in a very dynamic customer environment,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Business, in an email to Automotive News. “Our goal is to make it simpler and more seamless to do business with General Motors.”

It will be Freese’s job to oversee GM Defense LLC. As for the unit’s home base, the company hasn’t decided on a location yet, according to GM spokeswoman Elizabeth Winter.

The HD truck-based SURUS platform isn’t the only hydrogen-powered project under development at GM. A year ago, GM unveiled a war-ready fuel cell variant of the Chevrolet Colorado pickup, and a third project is said to be underway.

[Image: General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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