TRANSITIONINGGMAnalysis: 2026-01-19

General Motors

GPI SCORE
5.90
Market Cap: ~$76B
Employees: 162,000
Revenue: $187.4B
THE PATTERN

The Detroit Paradox

GM is simultaneously too big to pivot quickly and too profitable to fail slowly. Record profits ($14.9B), record stock (+55%), and U.S. sales leadership mean no burning platform forces transformation. Yet $7.6B in EV write-downs reveals the cost of moving slower than the market.

DIMENSION SCORES
Decision Latency
6

Glassdoor cites "approval from multiple teams for small changes," but Barra consolidated leadership enables strategic pivots.

Error Correction
5

Taking $7.6B in EV write-downs shows adaptation, but relies on layoffs rather than process change.

Knowledge Location
5

Building "data factory" with NVIDIA digital twins, but four brand divisions create natural silos.

Structural Lock-In
7

116-year legacy, billions in factory infrastructure, $7.6B write-down shows cost of direction change.

Talent Flow
6

UAW structure limits flexibility, Glassdoor shows "declining trust in leadership."

Capital Intensity
8

Manufacturing requires massive physical assets, every pivot costs billions.

Knowledge Velocity
5

Ultifi platform enables OTA updates, but "lack of transparency" persists per Glassdoor.

KEY NUMBERS
EV write-downs: $7.6B in 2025
EV sales: 169,887 units (+48% YoY)
ICT spending: $10.9B annually
Stock: +55% in 2025
2024 profit: $14.9B (record)
116 years old
TRANSFORMATION SIGNALS
ENABLERS
  • +Mary Barra leadership continuity
  • +$10.9B annual ICT spending
  • +Ultifi software platform
  • +Google Gemini integration (2026)
  • +Record profitability provides capital
FRICTION
  • 116-year legacy creating lock-in
  • 162,000 employees and four divisions
  • UAW union structure limiting flexibility
  • Capital intensity: every pivot costs billions
  • Reliance on layoffs as adaptation
"The Detroit Paradox: too big to pivot quickly, too profitable to fail slowly."

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