Vrooming back through 2020: GM’s highlights

As we all look ahead to new journeys and greater paths in 2021, we are grateful for all the good things that happened this year. For us, even with many unknowns, this year ultimately culminated in several new launches and milestone news from General Motors and its brands, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. Let’s take a look back at everything 2020 had to offer.

March: The unveiling of our Ultium batteries and the regional recognition of the 2020 Cadillac XT6

Flexible, cost-effective and efficient, our innovative Ultium batteries were unveiled in March, revolutionizing the way forward with our electric vehicle line-up. This architecture will allow General Motors to compete for nearly every customer in the market today, whether they are looking for affordable transportation, a luxury experience, work trucks or a high-performance machine.

April: COVID-19 relief

While 2020 had other plans, it also served as an opportunity to demonstrate resilience and our commitment to supporting the communities we operate in. General Motors rose to the occasion, supporting its customers through these unprecedented times.

By teaming up with its dealer partners, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac crafted a plan to alleviate any additional worries from its customers, by extending warranties on all their vehicles. Ensuring no customer was left stranded while on a vital trip, we also extended 24/7 roadside assistance to further improve road safety and reduce vehicle breakdown concerns.

May: Shop.Click.Drive. goes fully online and Chevrolet Captiva redefines what an SUV should be

Digital experiences and trends were also on the rise this year, as more consumers switched to online sales channels to engage with businesses, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Chevrolet was among the first manufacturers in the region to capitalize on this shift in behavior and introduce an e-commerce platform in 2017.

This year however, Chevrolet elevated the online purchasing experience, Shop.Click.Drive., to enable customers to view and apply for finance packages directly on the website, through a strategic partnership with Emirates NBD. GMC and Cadillac quickly followed suit and for the first time launched their respective Shop.Click.Drive. portals to offer customers a new, virtual touchpoint.

The success of the recently launched all-new 2021 Chevrolet Captiva, took the region by storm. An SUV that encompasses all of the brand’s global SUV experience while maintaining its position as one of the most affordable seven-seaters in its segment. With cutting-edge styling, versatile interior space and smart technologies, the Captiva encapsulates Chevrolet’s SUV philosophy, marking a new era for the nameplate in the Middle East. Boasting a large cargo space at 1,051 liters, the Chevrolet Captiva ensures you can focus on the things you love.

June: A game changer in the Luxury-Sedan segment arrives

Cadillac introduced the first-ever CT4 sport sedan to the Middle East taking the next step in the realignment of its sedan portfolio. Equipped with a unique engine, referred to as a “torque monster” by Cadillac engineering team, its rear-wheel-drive-based architecture, transmission and near-perfect weight distribution, the CT4 delivers outstanding performance.

August: Seat belts fastened for the arrival of the Cadillac V-Series and a glimpse into the luxury brand’s all electric future

Continuing to build on the brand’s product offensive, Cadillac brought the first-ever CT4-V and CT5-V to the Middle East. The latest V variants of Cadillac’s dynamic duo, offer customers a higher benchmark of performance, sportier enhancements to the design and is packed with all the safety and technology features seen in the CT5 and CT4.

Additionally, Cadillac officially took its first step into its all-electric future, with the introduction of the LYRIQ show car, a dynamic, modern and fully electric luxury crossover. The LYRIQ is based on GM’s next-generation, modular electric vehicle platform and driven by the Ultium propulsion system, allowing Cadillac to deliver customers a variety of range and performance options.

September: Luay Al Shurafa appointed to lead GM in the region

As the first locally born and raised leader of General Motors, Luay Al Shurafa became the new President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East in September. Just three months into his tenure, Luay ranked in the Forbes list of most influential local leaders of global companies, setting the pace for long and successful leadership.

October: The arrival of a masterpiece and an electrifying reveal

One that needs no introduction, a mid-engine masterpiece, the 2020 Corvette Stingray has been engineered to be a true supercar that makes a powerful statement. The all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray won the title as the 2020 North American Car of the Year and it’s easy to see why. From 0-100 km/h run in just over three seconds, Corvette customers in the region can experience the ultimate in ride performance with thrilling lateral grip.

Following a series of teasers that kept its audience at the edge of their seats, the much-anticipated GMC Hummer EV was revealed in October. With Ultimate Capability and Revolutionary Performance, the 2022 HUMMER EV Edition 1 is a first-of-its kind supertruck, developed to forge new paths with zero emissions.

November: The month of three SUV launches, packed with segment-leading and industry-first technologies  

The all-new 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, the Official SUV of Action, is always ready to tackle the toughest dunes and fiercest adventures. Redesigned from the ground up, the Tahoe offers best-in-class* interior, technologies and driving dynamics with transformed off-road capability. Made for the Middle East, with more regional input than ever before, Chevrolet is now offering the Z71 as a standalone trim. With seating for up to nine people; this means The Tahoe can level up your next big family road trip.

Packed with several industry-first technologies and features that stamp Cadillac’s authority on the luxury SUV segment, the iconic 2021 Cadillac Escalade, takes on new levels of leadership. The full-size SUV features exclusive, first-to-market technology advances including a curved, 4K Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen and the industry-first AKG automotive audio system.

But that’s not all, GMC’s flagship SUV the 2021 GMC Yukon went on sale across the region. GMC’s full-size premium SUV that’s made to be used offers class-leading technology, more spacious interior and bolder design, complemented by state-of-the-art engineering and performance. With a more upscaled pinnacle trim, the Denali and a first-ever AT4 trim, the perfect off-roading companion, the GMC Yukon raises the bar in its segment.

December: GM outline the future is all-electric at GITEX

Closing the year as we mean to go on, General Motors announced a $27B investment in electric and autonomous vehicle development along with the commitment to launch 30 EVs around the world by 2025. Here’s to the all-electric future!

We're looking forward to winding down this year but even more excited for what's to come in 2021. Be sure to watch this space for even more from General Motors!