2018 Sustainability Report Details GM’s Drive for Safer, Better, More Sustainable Personal Mobility
2019-06-27
OSHAWA, Ontario (June 27, 2019) – Today, General Motors (U.S.) released “Transformation in Progress,” its ninth annual sustainability report that highlights the aggressive moves the company made in 2018 to achieve its vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. General Motors Canada supported the company’s vision by continuing to lead in electric vehicle sales, launching the Maven city car sharing program in Toronto, growing the largest automotive software engineering workforce in Canada and supporting students through its C$1.8-million GM Canada STEM Fund.
“For years, we have said that the auto industry is experiencing more change today than in the past 50 years. That pace of change is only accelerating,” said Mary Barra, General Motors chairman and CEO. “With the right team, technology, resources and scale to achieve our vision, I believe the only thing that can stop us is not acting quickly enough. Disruption creates uncertainty, but it also creates vast possibilities that will lead to a better world.”
“We are in the midst of a transportation revolution – and GM Canada has a big role to play in this transformation,” said Travis Hester, GM Canada president and managing director. “Guided by GM’s vision, we are committed to creating the safer, better and more sustainable world we all want for generations to come.”
2018 Canadian Sustainability Highlights:
Driving an all-electric future: For the past decade, GM has sold the most plug-in electric vehicles (EV) in Canada. Last year, GM Canada had its best EV sales year ever with total sales up +7.2 per cent. The Chevrolet Bolt EV won the annual Double Clutch Awards’ 2018 Green Car of the Year and the 2018 Canadian Green Car of the Year.
Driving technology of the future: In January, GM Canada officially opened its newest engineering facility, the Canadian Technical Centre (CTC) Markham Campus, and became the largest automotive software engineering workforce in Canada. With a goal to reach 1,000 engineers and a focus on advanced mobility innovations, CTC is developing the next-generation of autonomous vehicle software and controls, active safety, vehicle dynamics systems, infotainment and connected vehicle technologies.
Driving the next-generation of technological innovators: The GM Canada STEM Fund is a C$1.8-million commitment to educational programs that encourage students in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) to inspire the next generation of Canadian innovators. Last year, the GM Canada STEM Fund reached more than 127,000 children, particularly young girls, through exposure to STEM education and mentorship opportunities.
Driving a world of shared mobility: In early 2018, Maven launched in Canada’s largest city, making car sharing easier for Torontonians by giving them a smart, simple way to reserve a car when they need one. Car sharing reduces congestion and helps everyone get to where they need to go, faster, as each shared vehicle takes about 10 private cars off the road.
Driving a future with zero waste: GM Canada celebrated its 10-year anniversary since its first site, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant, became landfill-free. Since then, Oshawa Assembly, CAMI Assembly, GM Canada Headquarters, Parts Distribution Centres in Woodstock, Ontario and Langley, British Columbia, and the Canadian Technical Centre – Oshawa Campus all joined the growing global list of landfill-free facilities.
GM Canada 2018 Sustainability Awards:
Learn more about the ways General Motors is driving value through environmental, community and governance factors at www.GMSustainability.com.
About General Motors in Canada General Motors of Canada markets Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles through Canada’s impressive dealer network, as well as OnStar and MAVEN services. Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, GM Canada employs more than 7,700 people across the country and is a recognized leader in advanced manufacturing, green operations, active safety, and autonomous and connected vehicle technology research and development. For more information about General Motors Canada, please visit www.gm.ca, or follow @GMcanada on Twitter.