General Motors Company will change its name to General Mobility, the automaker announced in a press release dated April 1, 2019.
The new name marks a historic change for the 110-year-old company, which has been known by the General Motors name since its founding in 1908. The name better reflects GM’s strategy and direction in a rapidly changing world of vehicle sharing and other new-age technologies.
“General Mobility reflects where we are going, rather than where we’ve been,” said Barry Marra, Chairman and CEO of General Mobility, in a written statement. “Under this new name, GM will shape the next century of transportation around the world while realizing our vision of zero congestion, zero accidents, and zero emissions.”
A Chevrolet Bolt EV in the Maven Gig service fleet
That direction appears to be a trifecta of electric cars such as the Chevy Bolt EV, autonomous vehicles via GM’s Cruise subsidiary, and various mobility efforts such as GM’s Maven car-sharing service, as well as the upcoming Ariv bike-sharing venture.
“We are capitalizing on the tremendous opportunity in new-age transportation and mobility – businesses that, in due time, will become exponentially larger and more lucrative than the traditional auto business as we know it today,” said Mack Fouss, President of the new General Mobility Company. “The vehicle ownership model is changing before our eyes, and the new GM will benefit from a first-mover advantage. Our new name reflects who we are in the new world.”
GM Compact eBike expected to be part of the Ariv bike outfit
General Motors’ decision to rename itself has various similarities to a move by California-based tech giant Apple, which in 2007 changed its name from Apple Computer Inc. to Apple Inc. According to the company’s late founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. better reflected the firm’s shifted focus toward consumer electronics.
For its part, General Motors filed to trademark the General Mobility name in March 2016 – so the move was clearly in the works for quite some time.
But before you get overly excited, we’d advise you to look at your calendar and note that it’s April Fools’ Day!
Comments
this is almost laughable. quite possible the worst April fools joke ever.
So glad that you liked it! Care to expand on your so-called “opinion”?
Sure its April fools but I think this story is right on the mark. GM did file an actual trademark for GENERAL MOBILITY like you mentioned so a name change from General Motors to General Mobility would not be that far fetched specially considering the direction GM is going in – EV, AV, car sharing services etc.
Hats off to you for thinking of it Alex. And I chuckled at Barry Marra (obvious) and Mack Fouss (I’m guessing Mark Reuss). Nicely done. Loving this site.
Thanks so much for reading and glad you enjoyed it! I get some good ideas, now and again 🙂
You almost absolutely got me with this one. Great job to the team, though I’m relieved they aren’t changing their name!
Some people are easily fooled.
Others aren’t.
Sad when “the Team” has to pose as readers to support a bad joke attempt.
i’m only mad i fell for it, lolol
You just knew little insecure Alex would have to chime in and complain about a reader’s opinion. Guess the joke didn’t sell itself that he has to justify it again, just like the new Chevy Blazer isn’t going to sell either.
I am starting to understand why Alex is not working at GM anymore and instead running a blog. ??
Hey, Alex, an “opinion” is just that, AN OPINION. People are entitled to them no matter how insecure you are with yourself.
And I agree, it was a sad attempt at a joke. Not funny unless simple things amuse you.
I’m pretty sure the point of a joke is to be silly and make people laugh. It made me smile, so I would say it was a success.
April Fools!
Oh yeah you got me. I thought it was pretty stupid. Likes a guy that said a few years back that they should not use The name Chevy, it’s Chevrolet not Chevy.
Hahahahaha. Barry Marra!!
Barry Marra was the first clue
I laughed but I wouldn’t be surprised “Barry” wouldn’t try this.
Lol! Why not. General Motors was a misnomer for 110-years. Should have been General Engines. Now that we are moving into the EV era, General Motors finally makes sense.
It’s motor. Do you call a Harley an engine cycle?
“engine cycle” xD
So glad you read my comment, Lynn.
The technical term for a ‘ICE’, is engine, as so stated in ‘ICE’.
The term for an electric motor… is ‘Motor’. Your typical ignorance of technical terms is excused.
Regards… Tre.
U never answered my question and I never heard anything about racing called engine racing. Have you?
No, Lynn, I call it a Harley whatever. Dou-Glide. Sportster. Etc. Kawasaki Hayabusa, Honda Benly, etc. I call cycles… ‘cycles’.
I call drag racing… drag racing, road racing, road racing, Indy Car, Indy Car, and so on, not motor racing.
The news culture, incorrectly and ignorantly started to use the term years ago. Just like now the auto companies now call 4-dr. sedans… Coupes! There aren’t.
Relax, Lynn, the First Amendment allows you to call it whatever you want, even if it is incorrect.
Ward’s annual 10 Best Engines, uses the correct term ‘Engine’, not 10 Best motors.
Sounds like a great name for an electric wheel chair company.
Hey, don’t give Mary and ideas.
Damn it, don’t put the idea in Mad Mary’s head! As crazy as she is, she’ll love the name! But, the direction she is steering GM, the name actually fits. Too, sad, so mad, so bad.
The way Machete Mary is hacking up the company and loosing market share, you will soon be able to call it Junior Motors.
Sort of like General Mills changing its name to General Meals because it better focuses on what folks do with the stuff…
I wouldn’t put anything past her though after the past several months.
get rid of her before she does it, it wouldn’t be the first time she did something stupid
Good one Alex. AEV articles make for interesting reading.
Very funny.
But I wonder if it’s not too far from possible at some point in the future.
I actually fell for this for a moment or two, but it does fall right into line with the bone-headed management decisions emanating like bad gas from GM these days.
Why not just call it General Trucks and Crossovers?