GM boasts 20% range boost from new EV platform at Forward event

General Motors recently hosted its second annual GM Forward event in New York, where the company revealed details on its fourth-generation EV powertrains, AI officially coming to OnStar, and its pathway to autonomy.

An all-new EV powertrain

To start things off, GM showed off its fourth-generation EV platform, which GM says sports a “world’s first” production lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery, alongside more efficient electric propulsion and centralized computing. The company says the platform delivers 20 per cent more range.

According to GM, the LMR cells were produced by its Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Energy Solutions. The company plans to use it in its “highest-volume” EV segments, citing range, durability, and affordability, so expect GM’s mainline EVs to get it in the near future.

Interestingly, the company also noted that it is simplifying the powertrain, and that the new family of motors and electronics reduces the number of parts inside each unit by 40 per cent; a move that the company says will improve the interior space and lower production costs (yay).

OnStar now has AI

Second, GM announced it is expanding its OnStar service into an AI assistant. The automotive giant says the assistant will combine “conversation with vehicle understanding” to deliver personalized assistance and deeper insights, guided by permissions and privacy controls.

With the new OnStar AI Assistant, users can adjust the car (including opening some hatches, compartments, and ports), get real-time updates, get answers specific to their vehicle, and get helpful answers within the OnStar app. The good news, though, is that OnStar’s human advisors aren’t going away; GM says that if you need assistance, the OnStar AI assistant can connect you with an OnStar Advisor.

The feature will debut with the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq in the coming months through over-the-air updates, with other GM vehicles following soon after.

Intelligence and automation

Shifting from that, GM also shared more insight into personal autonomy and how it is expanding the tech. Mainly, GM will expand autonomous highway driving to its top-selling vehicles, including full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups.

Alongside this, the company also debuted a new centralized computing and electrical architecture that, in addition to being liquid-cooled, will roll out across both gas and EV models.

Images credit: GM