The car industry will change more in the next five to ten years than it has done in the last 50 years, according to Anthony Riemann, director — strategy and urban mobility for General Motors International. In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Riemann confirmed that he sees a “bright future for electric cars in the region.”
GM is willing to cooperate with local authorities to put the right infrastructure in place.
GM has also revealed the Chevrolet Bolt, which won an award in the US for its 380km range, which Riemann describes as a game changer in the market.
GM is also active in the car-sharing service with over 37 million miles logged users so far.
As an automaker, Reimann said, GM expects the industry to change more in the next 5-10 years than it has in the last 50.
Technology and consumer needs are constantly evolving and GM is working to help lead the change in the automotive space, he added.
General Motors offers a range of hybrid and electric vehicles in its markets around the world under the Chevrolet and Opel brands such as the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Chevrolet Spark EV, Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera-E, and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.
“We are so proud that the newly launched Chevrolet Bolt was recently named the 2016 Motor Trend Car of the Year,” Reimann said.
He said that the award recognized the car as a true game changer. “With a range of 380km, it has the highest range of any fully electric vehicle in production.”
Highlighting the prospects for electric cars in the GCC region, the GM official said: “We see a bright future for electric cars in the region. We would be happy to work with the relevant authorities to ensure robust regulations and the right infrastructure are in place to support consumers looking to make a smart move to electric vehicles.”
When asked about the future of autonomous driving considering the recent incidents including one fatal accident in Florida (in a Tesla car), Reimann said that there were many levels to autonomous driving.
He said that what we would consider as true autonomous is still a fair few years ahead. Although it will not be an overnight change, self-driving cars will be here before we know it, he said.
He told Arab News that GM was testing a fleet of autonomous Chevrolet Bolt fully electric vehicles in the US. “Safety is our number one priority, so naturally we are insisting that the testing program be extremely thorough and extensive before we look at bringing these vehicles to the public,” he explained.
“In the meantime, driver assist technologies, which are already available in many of our models, and vehicle-to-vehicle technologies will continue to develop, to be adopted, and to pave the way for autonomous driving.”
However, he stressed the need for cooperation among carmakers to unify standards for connectivity, autonomous driving and even charging outlets for electric cars.
The GM official said that the auto industry was going through a paradigm shift. He said: “It is good to see that so many automakers in this region have identified common goals in terms of what is needed to bring these technologies here. GM is proud to be collaborating with local authorities on the future of mobility in this region.”
Commenting on the prospects for future mobility in the GCC region, Riemann said: “In parts of the GCC we see tech savvy, city dwelling societies that hold a lot of potential for the adoption of future mobility solutions.”
GM, he added, has an extensive alternative propulsion program that covers a full range of technologies including fuel cell development, hybrid technology and electrification.
“We have even released a hydrogen-powered concept vehicle. We have been selling hybrid vehicles in our markets for years, and have just introduced the award-winning, Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, which has industry-leading range. Our commitment to electrification is clear. In the last six years alone, we have invested more than $2 billion in vehicle electrification across many countries.”
When asked about the concept of shared mobility work in an affluent market such as the GCC, he said that for over 100 years, the model of car ownership had been at the core of automakers’ business.
However, as societies change and people move toward a sharing economy, he said. “GM is looking at the future of mobility and understanding that we need to be a part of these changes. Not everyone wants to buy a car, but many still need to use one, even on a temporary basis.”
This is why, the GM official said, the company has have harnessed a different type of secure technology to launch its MAVEN car-sharing service in the US.
“Users can reserve, pay for and unlock their car via an app, drive it to their heart’s content, and give it back when they are done. The beauty of shared mobility, is that it can be tailored to different people; whether it is the high flyer who wants a luxury SUV during a short stay, a one car household looking for the convenience of having a second car from time to time, or someone who simply needs to get from A to B.”
The MAVEN program is doing well in the US with over 37 million miles logged users so far. General Motors is exploring ways to expand the program, geographically and with other technologies.
The official also spoke in detail about ways the carmaker is preparing itself to compete with its competitors. He said that GM was working to be at the forefront of future mobility.
“Of course, we continue to develop and launch new vehicles and in-car technologies in our markets over the years, but we are also looking at the bigger picture. We are helping to lead the broader topic of how people will get around. Hence, through programs such as MAVEN we are focusing on mobility as a service as well as alternative propulsion.”
GM: Bright future for electric cars in GCC
GM: Bright future for electric cars in GCC
