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GM Ultifi Platform Seeks To Reimagine Vehicle Ownership

General Motors is expanding its product offerings to include far more than just vehicles and hardware. To that end, GM just announced Ultifi, a new end-to-end software platform designed to wirelessly deliver a wealth of software-defined features, apps and services to customers

The new Ultifi software is based on the latest Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP), also known as the Global B electric architecture, which acts as the central nervous system of a vehicle. Using this robust new foundation, the Ultifi platform will enable “accelerated development and deployment of software and applications over the air to millions of customers, without affecting based hardware controls.”

Essentially, the Ultifi platform will provide customers with new over-the-air upgrades, customization options, apps, and services, offering the very latest features and capabilities without the need to purchase a new vehicle or pay a visit to the local dealer. Some of the upgrades will even be transferable between similarly equipped GM vehicles.

Cadillac Lyriq

Cadillac Lyriq

Some of the features may include facial recognition to start the engine, or teen driver settings that activate in certain locations (such as in a school zone). Vehicles could also coordinate with a smart home system to deactivate security systems or adjust the home temperature. More broadly speaking, cloud connectivity could enable vehicle-to-everything applications in pursuit of GM’s “zero crashes, zero congestion” goals.

Ultifi is developed in-house by General Motors, but is based on Linux software, and will include accessibility for external developers.

“Increased flexibility and faster software development are two major benefits of this new technology,” said GM’s vice president of Software-Defined Vehicle, Scott Miller. “Our in-house developers are designing Ultifi to maximize software reuse, which frees up more time to create value-adding features and services for our customers.”

Cadillac Lyriq

Cadillac Lyriq

The Ultifi platform is expected to hit the road with “select next-generation products” by 2023, including both internal-combustion products as well as GM’s upcoming range of all-electric vehicles.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. gm is like Biden, they both suck. Quit spending money on useless crap, invest in dependable, up to date vehicles. Quit decontenting ICE vehicles to pay for fire prone Lectrics!

    Reply
    1. Somehow, I’ll be blamed for this post. Oh well…

      Reply
      1. You sound desperate for attention.

        Reply
    2. Gee, I thought you might simmer down when the Silverado got the updated interior.

      Reply
  2. The new platform wants to bring a similar feel with a totally new experience that it can provide.

    I expect all the electronic options and they will play well with the younger buyers.

    My hope is the flexibility will bring back larger cars, coupes in lower numbers but still very profitable and let automakers take more chances on new and different models that today they can’t afford to risk spending money on.

    While I will miss the engines, shifting and other things I expect many things that we have already lost due to cafe will come back and the many new things we will gain.

    As the investments are paid off I see companies working to try to lower cost on some models like Apples does on their older phones. Or they may keep prices the same and add more content.

    Just losing the astronomical development cost they are seeing now is a game changer.

    Reply
  3. Yet another press release to take attention off of pathetic management and planning! Vehicles are crap… Drove a new Suburban the other day and felt like I was in a Rubbermaid tub. I learned to drive in a Suburban and this was awful. Styling is 1/2 azzed and lazy! GM certainly isn’t the company I got $250,000 in student loan debt to work for! So sad!

    Reply
    1. Maybe should have figured out what compensation you could earn before pissing away $250k on an education that you wouldn’t be able to repay. And now you expect the govt to forgive your loan.

      Paints a very clear picture of you.

      Reply
      1. How can you talk about anybody getting the government to forgive a loan when you constantly praise a company that should of been gone in 2008. But the president signed an EO bailing these clowns out even though 80% of the population and the senate did not want them to get bailed out.

        Reply
  4. Nothing spectacular. BMW has been doing this for several years now… $39/year for the integrated dashcam, similar subscriptions for adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, Office 365 integration, etc.

    Reply
  5. Looks like gm is trying to keep up with Tesla. Tesla already has this feature. This will appeal to the younger vehicle buyers for sure.

    Reply
  6. Everyone who is dismissing this announcement, was GM not suppose to offer this type of connectivity in their new electric cars? Or would we be slamming them for not keeping up?

    Reply
  7. Everyone who is dismissing it are mad because GM is offering it.
    It took their edge away from being able to slam GM for it.

    Reply
  8. Im just wondering what cars the haters will buy if they keep at it with GM and Ford? Oh maybe a chinese car! hahahaha. Now that would really be unamerican.

    Reply
    1. Your an idiot if you think gm and ford are the only “American” car makers. Your name suits you well you really are junk.

      Reply

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