Peter Palmer: General Motors Renames Powertrain Division

Last year, we covered the top ten jobs at General Motors within the next ten years. On the list was Alternative Propulsion Engineer, and it appears GM is moving more in that direction, renaming GM Powertrain to GM Global Propulsion Systems.

The Global Propulsion Systems division comprises more than 8,600 people that design, develop, and engineer all propulsion related products and controls for GM globally.

“The new name is another step on our journey to redefine transportation and mobility,” said Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President, Global Product Development.

GM is the first to formally transition to a new name in this fashion, which the automaker says reflects both current industry trends and its evolution through the years. For example, the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt has an estimated 200 plus miles of range on a single charge. In addition, GM also produces models like the Chevrolet Volt, with second generation Voltec propulsion and Cruze 2.0L diesel. The latter is one of the best non-hybrid cars for fuel economy with an EPA estimated 46 mpg on the highway.

“Global Propulsion Systems better conveys what we are developing and offering to our customers: an incredibly broad, diverse lineup – ranging from high-tech 3-cylinder gasoline engines to fuel cells, V8 diesel engines to battery electric systems, and 6-, 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-speed to continuously variable transmissions,” Reuss said.

Nearly 50 percent of the Global Propulsion Systems engineering workforce is involved with alternative or electrified propulsion solutions. Dan Nicholson is Vice President of GM Global Propulsion Systems. He believes a new mindset in the car buying public is changing the way automobiles move.

“Gone are the days when a gasoline engine and a transmission designed independently meet a customer’s expectations. Today’s customer is demanding unprecedented technology integration that requires unprecedented engineering and supplier partnerships. The diversity of our propulsion systems requires a name that reflects what we are already working on and delivering to our customers,” he said.

Would you buy an alternatively powered vehicle?

*Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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