Are you interested in discovering the secret behind the success of General Motors?
This company is a leader in the motor vehicle industry and is among the top ten multinational corporations in the Fortune 500. The company serves customers on six continents and is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world.
General Motors operates in more than 160 countries and boasts more than 155,000 employees around the world. The company owns eighteen brands, including Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Opel, and GMC.
So, let’s conduct an in-depth General Motors mission and vision statement analysis to find out why the company is so successful.
The Company History
General Motors was founded by William Durant in 1908. At this time, there were fewer than eight thousand cars in the United States, and most were powered by steam. Durant originally manufactured horse-drawn vehicles before realizing there was a growing demand for faster transportation methods.
In the beginning, General Motors simply owned the Buick Motor Company. Before long, the company’s success in manufacturing quality motor vehicles allowed it to acquire more than twenty other companies. These included Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Vauxhall, and Opel from Germany.
Supporting the war effort…
During World War II, General Motors turned its attention to supporting the war effort in the United States. The company supplied tanks, lorries, and airplanes to the allies.
After the war, the company utilized its new expertise to develop innovative machinery. This included the iconic single-piece steel roof, unibody construction, and independent front-wheel suspension.
The golden age of motor design…
1949 saw the start of the golden age of motor car design. General Motors was a leader during this period with unique and eye-catching automotive styling. The company’s most popular vehicles from this period include the Chevrolet Corvette, the Buick Roadmaster, and the 1959 Cadillac El Dorado.
In 1971, General Motors was the first company to create engines that could run on low-lead or unleaded petrol. Just two years later, General Motors was the first company to offer cars with airbags. This was followed in 1974 with the introduction of the catalytic converter, which dramatically reduced emissions.
They even drove on the moon!
The company has made a number of other impressive innovations over the years. General Motors helped develop the navigation and guidance system for Apollo 11. It also designed and manufactured the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which was the first-ever vehicle driven on the moon.
Innovative and eco-friendly…
Increasing environmental concerns have led General Motors to produce more fuel-efficient petrol engines. It also takes the lead in creating new biofuels and hybrid vehicles.
It can be seen from the company’s history that it has always taken the lead in innovations. General Motors employs some of the brightest minds in the automotive industry and invests substantial amounts in research and design. This has allowed the company to stay ahead of constantly changing trends and make a significant impact.
General Motors Mission Statement
The company’s mission statement starts with ‘to earn customers for life by building brands that inspire passion and loyalty.’ It continues with ‘by serving and improving the communities in which we live and work around the world.’
This mission statement can be broken down into two main parts that we can explore in more detail.
Distinguished services
It can be seen from the mission statement that General Motors is committed to quality. Over the years, the company has developed the best brands and services for customers all over the world. This commitment to excellence has helped the company to grow and thrive.
Improving communities
The company is constantly creating innovative designs and improving on older systems and components. In recent years, the company has turned its attention to the environment and social protection. This helps to build healthy communities and allows customers to have faith in the company.
General Motors Vision Statement
‘To create a future of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion, and we have committed ourselves to lead the way toward this future.’ This is the current vision statement of General Motors.
It can be seen that the company is focused on safety and protecting the planet. There are several key ways that General Motors works to achieve this vision for its customers and the planet.
Create a future
This shows the company’s commitment to driving innovation in the automotive industry. It can be seen from the company’s long and rich history that this has always been an important motivator. General Motors continues to do this by employing a highly creative and diverse team of experts in different areas.
Leading the way towards this future
This further highlights the fact that General Motors is determined to remain a leader in the industry. The company utilizes innovations and applies them to the complete growth of the sector. The company strives to lead by example and encourages other companies to help create a better world.
Electrification
General Motors continues to be committed to reducing emissions to combat global warming. The company recently launched the Ultium Platform to help make electric vehicles cheaper and more accessible. This is designed to ensure that everyone can afford to drive an electric vehicle.
Vehicle Safety
General Motors is committed to helping to create a future with zero vehicle crashes. This is achieved through the company’s Periscope program, which takes an all-inclusive approach to engineering safety. The program exposes the dangers of drink-driving and other elements that can lead to road accidents.
Collaboration
General Motors works closely with different groups like MADD to better understand the issue of driving under the influence. The group’s research shows that one in five people have driven while affected by alcohol or drugs. General Motors also works with NHTSA to develop new technologies that detect driver alcohol use.
Advocacy
Through its Periscope program, G Motors works with nonprofit organizations to help raise awareness of the risks of teen driving. The company has launched campaigns that encouraged more than 63,000 teenagers to speak up if they see drink-driving. This helps to keep the roads safer for everyone and reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents.
The Core Values
The core values of General Motors include innovation, responsibility, teamwork, and continuous improvement. All employees are expected to understand and to embrace these values at all times. This helps to ensure that all employees work together to achieve a clear set of goals based on the core values.
Customers
The needs and desires of customers should be put first at all times. Employees are expected to listen closely to customers to determine their needs. This helps General Motors to anticipate the needs of customers and take the lead in developing new solutions.
Excellence
It can be seen that innovation and ingenuity are the driving forces of General Motors. Employees are expected to overcome all challenges with enthusiasm. This commitment to excellence allows the company to remain relevant and original.
Relationships
The success of any large company depends on the strength of the relationships within it. Employees are encouraged to work closely together and collaborate on different projects. This helps the company to utilize knowledge in a range of different ways and benefit from special collaborations.
Seek Truth
Employees are given a set of clear objectives to follow when working on any project. Employees are expected to pursue facts rather than make assumptions. When conflicts arise in the workplace, employees are expected to resolve them by listening to different points of view.
The Company Culture
General Motors boasts a unique company culture that makes employees responsible for their actions. Employees are encouraged to act independently to utilize their knowledge and skills in the best ways possible. This has helped General Motors to create innovative products and components that change the automotive industry.
Be Inclusive
General Motors focuses on creating a working environment where the voices of all employees can be heard. It has announced its intention of being the world’s most inclusive company. Today, the company’s workforce is extremely diverse, and more than 75 languages are spoken in the global branches.
Think Customer
The needs of the customer are at the heart of every decision that is made. This helps to ensure that General Motors works to meet and even exceed customer expectations.
Innovate Now
Innovation has always been at the heart of the company’s mission. By weaving it into the company culture, General Motors ensures that this element is always present.
One Team
Today, General Motors boasts offices in more than 22 different countries. However, employees all over the world are expected to act and think like a single team. This helps the company to remain focused on the main mission and vision statements.
More About The Famous General Motors!
Well, General Motors sure have an interesting history with quite a collection of books online! Let’s check out Billy, Alfred, & General Motors: The Story of Two Unique Men, a Legendary Company, & a Remarkable Time in American History, or perhaps My Years with General Motors, which was written by Alfred Sloan himself.
Next we, highly recommend reading General Motors: A Photographic History, the Midnight in Vehicle City: General Motors, Flint, and the Strike That Created the Middle Class, or how about The Art and Colour of General Motors, or especially Fins: Harley Earl, the Rise of General Motors, and the Glory Days of Detroit all available online 2023.
In addition, we found My Life and Work (The Autobiography of Henry Ford), which makes for an exciting read, and The Sack of Detroit: General Motors and the End of American Enterprise, or even The Other Side of the Fence: Six Decades of Motorsport Photography and lastly our favorite for obvious reasons, If Aristotle Ran General Motors!
Final Thoughts
For more than a century, the General Motors Company has been producing high-quality motor vehicles. The company’s commitment to the highest of standards has helped it to become and remain an industry leader. The mission statement clearly shows the standards that have allowed General Motors to grow.
The company’s vision statement reveals the value that General Motors places on being an industry leader. They also boast a strong set of core values that speak directly to the company culture.
This reinforces the excellence of the company’s eighteen brands, which are instantly recognizable for their style and uncompromising quality.
Good luck, and enjoy working at General Motors!
