Jalopnik, GM 's New Logo Sucks But So Did the Old One

[AVANTI R5]

https://jalopnik.com/before-you-tras...one-1846021099

GM unveils new logo to emphasize its pivot to electric vehicles

Nothing says ‘zero emissions’ like soft blue lowercase letters

General Motors debuted a new logo meant to convey the automaker’s renewed commitment to the production and sale of electric vehicles. The company is also launching a new marketing campaign to underscore that commitment, as it seeks to compete with Tesla and other automakers that are rushing new EVs to market.

It’s been about a decade since GM has last tweaked its logo, but this update represents the starkest change in the company’s 113-year history. The most obvious change is the use of a lowercase “gm” in the logo, after previously only using capital letters. The underline has been shortened to just the “m,” in a nod to the company’s recently announced Ultium electric vehicle battery and platform.

The blue square has been rounded at the corners, giving the logo more of a smartphone app appearance. The blue is used as an outline rather than to fill the entire square, and the negative space in the “m” is meant to evoke the shape of an electrical plug.

“This is only the fifth logo change in 113 years,” said Deborah Wahl, chief marketing officer of GM, in a briefing with reporters Friday. “And probably the most progressive thing that we’ve done since 1964.”

“THIS IS ONLY THE FIFTH LOGO CHANGE IN 113 YEARS”

A new marketing campaign will punctuate GM’s shift to electric vehicles. Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell has been tapped as a spokesperson for the automaker.


As an umbrella company for a family of auto brands, GM’s logo isn’t as recognizable as some of its rivals like Ford or Tesla. For example, the new logo won’t appear on any of its new EVs, from the Cadillac Lyriq to the GMC Hummer EV. As such, the new marketing campaign is intended to push the message of the company’s overall commitment to electrification rather than sell any one vehicle.

GM has been loudly trumpeting its multibillion-dollar pivot to electrification for months now, while keeping an eye on the meteoric rise of Tesla’s stock price. On Thursday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk saw his own net worth surpass Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, making him the richest man in the world. And today, for the first time, Tesla’s stock value eclipsed the combined values of GM and Ford.

GM has been trying to convince investors of its own commitment to electric vehicles. The company recently committed to spending $27 billion on electric and autonomous vehicles through 2025 — up from the $20 billion it announced before the COVID-19 pandemic. GM has also said it will launch 30 new electric vehicles around the world, more than two-thirds of which will be available in North America.

GM unveiled two new EVs in 2020: the Cadillac Lyriq SUV, expected to go into production in late 2022, and the GMC Hummer EV, slated for late 2021. But the auto giant has been criticized for bringing vehicles to market too late, while other automakers are racing to get their EVs to customers much sooner.

Up next will be two new versions of the Chevy Bolt, the automaker’s mass-market electric car that has been on sale since 2017. A refreshed Bolt and a larger Bolt Electric Utility Vehicle were first announced at the automaker’s “EV Day” earlier this year and are expected to enter production in summer 2021. GM has also said it would release an electric Chevy pickup truck with 400 miles of range.

The new ad campaign, relying on Gladwell and a bevy of actors to proclaim the “inclusiveness” of electric cars, is a far cry from GM’s first commercial for an electric vehicle in 1995. The ill-fated EV1 was the automaker’s first battery-powered vehicle, but was later killed off in a series of corporate decisions documented in the film Who Killed the Electric Car?

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[subyski]

I'm sure GM spent millions on the design of this logo.

The Volt should still exist (updated) or its phev tech should have been implemented in other mainstream products by now to build their portfolio.

[oichan]

If anyone has seen a typical GM assembly plant, that logo is like at the polar opposite end to represent it.
So I suppose if the folks there are truly committed to change its ways, then it can be good.

[Skunkers]

Originally Posted by oichan

If anyone has seen a typical GM assembly plant, that logo is like at the polar opposite end to represent it.
So I suppose if the folks there are truly committed to change its ways, then it can be good.

Dunno what that means, most assembly plants I've seen look pretty similar; other than that one busted warehouse-looking joint Mitsubishi used to have.

[Yotsuya]

Still not as bad as the current Jalopnik website.

[20WRX20]

Looks like the Intel Inside patent finally expired.

[Hondaslayer]

GM: Now available at Toys r Us, Walmart and anywhere anal play toys are sold.

[hooziewhatsit]

As seen on the twitters:

If you rotate the logo left 90°, it almost spells Elon

[Pre]

Naga, Naga, well not gonna work here. Do not care, not going to buy anything from them anyway.

[20WRX20]

I'd rather push a Subaru than drive another GM.

[Integra96]

Well, it's...unimaginative. But, whatever, they're doing some good things and I'd probably guy a GM EV at some point. The Bolt is impressive.

[mhoward1]

The bolt seems to be well made and thought out, but it isn’t the platform to use to get traditional GM buyers to switch. Make an EV Vette or Silverado to win your buyers over.

[AVANTI R5]

Hi up there Howard ..

I saw an article stating about new Corvette hybrid already out and about. Could not find the new article in my history..there was an article motor trend about hybrid and EV.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/chev...-e-ray-hybrid/.

[mhoward1]

yes, GM is working on it, but imaging the difference if the bolt was a hot hatch, or there was a good Hybrid truck.

I think the F150 will sell like hot cakes if the battery size and range numbers rumors are true.

[Calamity Jesus]

GM should have made a convertible 2-door version of the Bolt. That's all it needed to turn it from a frumpy sub-compact into a "sports car" in the eyes of the average buyer.

[Sid03SVT]

Originally Posted by Calamity Jesus

GM should have made a convertible 2-door version of the Bolt. That's all it needed to turn it from a frumpy sub-compact into a "sports car" in the eyes of the average buyer.

If the Bolt were offered in RWD I would have definitely gone with it, even in FWD trim I almost did; kinda glad the salesperson fumbled the deal though, as every time I drive my wife's 6mt Corolla hatch I get angry at it for being FF; worth noting that if her car were RWD I would probably buy one though; cheap, ~3,000lbs with Toyota reliability, I'd slap a turbo on it and flog it till the cows come home. I miss lightweight cars.

To the new GM logo - IDGAF, not like it lands on the outside of any vehicles or anything, and even if it did, I wouldn't care.

[arghx7]

I bet 95% of the general car buying public would like at that and not realize it's any different. like it's the same letters, just lower case, and still blue, just a bit different blue.