Return

1980

• GM announces a worldwide program from 1980 through 1984 to redesign its vehicles and modernize its assembly plants

• GM announces plans to build five new plants in Europe to manufacture automotive components –three in Spain, one in Austria, and one in Northern Ireland

1981

• GM introduces new front-wheel-drive subcompacts –the Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac J2000, and Cadillac Cimarron

1982

• GM opens its newest European assembly plant near Zaragoza, Spain, the largest overseas expansion project ever undertaken by the Corporation producing the front-wheel-drive Opel Corsa, the smallest car ever produced by GM

• GM introduces the redesigned front-wheel-drive 1983 Buick Century, Chevrolet Celebrity, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Pontiac 6000

• GM’s World of Motion Exhibit opens in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. recording its one-millionth visitor before the year is out

1983

• GM observes its 75th anniversary (Sept. 16)

• GM and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to form a joint venture under the name of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) to produce a small Chevrolet automobile in Fremont, California

• GM and Isuzu Motors Limited form a joint venture to produce light-duty and medium-duty trucks and bus chassis at a manufacturing operation near Cairo, Egypt

• The 1984 Chevrolet Corvette is introduced with its first major styling change in 15 years

• Chevrolet S-10 Blazer is introduced and becomes America’s number One Sport Utility Vehicle

• GM announces its Saturn Project –a “no-year” developmental program for a new family of subcompacts it plans to produce in this country, using start-to-finish innovation

1984

• The world’s first electrically driven, fuel-saving, integral power brake system for cars and light trucks –Powermaster- is unveiled

• GM introduces its redesigned front-wheel-drive 1985 Buick Electra, Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency, and Cadillac DeVilles and Fleetwood sedan

• GM and Electronic Data Systems –one of the leading data processing and telecommunications companies in the world- announce an agreement for acquisition of EDS by General Motors

1985

• GM announces the addition of a new automotive operating unit –Saturn- to its passenger car divisions. Saturn Corporation, created as a separate subsidiary, will add a sixth nameplate to GM's North American passenger car lineup

• Cadillac names its new two-seater convertible Allante

• GM Building, Detroit, named National Historic Landmark

• GM acquires Hughes Aircraft Company, regarded as one of the leading defense electronics firms in the world

1986

• GM establishes GM Europe, located in Zurich, Switzerland

• GM and Volvo form a joint venture in the U.S. to develop, produce, and market heavy-duty trucks for North America

• General Motors of Canada and Suzuki announce a joint venture to manufacture small cars and sport utility vehicles in Canada - CAMI -

• General Motors withdraws from South Africa and sells the manufacturing operations there to a group headed by local management

1987

• Chevrolet introduces Beretta and Corsica. GMC and Chevrolet unveil completely redesigned full-size pickup trucks

• GM establishes new office of Latin American Operations

• GM Sunraycer –designed and built by team of GM, Hughes Aircraft and AeroVironment, Inc.- wins 1,950-mile inaugural World Solar Challenge Race across Australia; finishes 2 ½ days ahead of runner-up

• GM and Toyota announce plans to establish joint venture in Australia

1988

• GM introduces its newly redesigned mid-size cars, the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and the Pontiac Grand Prix

• GMAC introduces new corporation-wide GM consumer leasing program called “SmartLease by GMAC” to respond to growing market in retail leasing of vehicles for personal transportation

• Chevrolet introduces Geo line of small vehicles with Geo Metro, Spectrum and Tracker

1989

• Chevrolet introduces its Lumina family of vehicles, and Geo Storm and Prizm

• Pontiac TransSport and Oldsmobile Silhouette –GM’s highly styled, all-purpose vehicles- also debut. These models feature the largest plastic panels ever put on any vehicle

• Buick introduces Reatta convertible

• GM offers its driver-side supplemental inflatable restraint system on 15 passenger cars for 1990 model year

• Electro-Motive Division introduces the first U.S.-built and operated diesel-electric locomotive to use alternating current (AC) technology

• GM begins operation in Turkey

• Cadillac Allante Traction Control System named Automotive Technology Innovation of the Year

• GM and other automakers join oil companies in joint venture to develop reformulated fuels to reduce vehicle emissions

• GM and Isuzu form joint venture company in Australia, Isuzu-General Motors Australia Limited