General Motors Corporation

Introduction:
American automaker General Motors (GM) has a truck and utility vehicle division called
GMC (previously the General Motors Truck Company, or the GMC Truck & Coach Division).
SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and light-duty vehicles are now produced by GMC. Previously,
GMC manufactured transit buses, RVs, fire trucks, ambulances, heavy-duty trucks, and
medium-duty trucks. While many of their vehicles are mechanically similar, GMC is
positioned as a premium offering to the mainstream Chevrolet brand and includes the luxury
trim Denali. In North America, GMC vehicles are always sold alongside Buick (another
premium brand) vehicles at multi-brand dealerships. By sales GMC is the largest automaker
in USA for more than a decade and was largest in the world for 77 years before losing the
first place with Toyota in 2008.

During the Pandemic

As covid pandemic hits in 2019 many organizations and corporations were affected due to
lockdown and safety issues. Among them General Motors was one. General Motors
manufacture vehicles and motors parts but during pandemic the demand for vehicles and its
part were less so it directly affected the production and sales of motor parts and motor
vehicles. At first it wasn’t affecting it but as pandemic continues it began affecting more and
more due to lockdown. Due to this General Motors, they faced the loss of $806 Million in
second quarter of 2020. In previous year they gain $2.58 Billion in the same period. Their
sales also fell 34% during the pandemic which was very huge for companies like GM. Their
many dealerships also got lost due to the recessions during the pandemic. During the
pandemic they only sold 484,200 vehicles which is way less than their pervious year where
they were in millions. To overcome the loss, they were facing due to Covid-19 they came up
with a strategy to invest in medical field so General Motors manufactured medical supplies
like ventilators, masks. Which is very successful, and it was almost a ray of hope in the loss
they were facing due to pandemic. These products helped during the pandemic to treat
seriously ill patients.

Strategies Used :

During the COVID-19 pandemic, General Motors (GM) employed multiple critical tactics to
effectively manage the difficulties presented by the unparalleled emergency. GM first and
foremost understood the critical need for life-saving medical products, like masks and
ventilators, to support the healthcare systems that the epidemic had overtaken. GM quickly
moved its production plants to produce these essential goods by utilising its manufacturing
knowledge and capabilities. In addition to helping with the global pandemic response, this
calculated decision helped GM diversify its revenue sources and lessen the impact of falling
car sales. GM placed a high value on operational flexibility and agility in order to quickly
adjust to changing market conditions. The organisation demonstrated its capacity to react
quickly to urgent needs by repurposing its manufacturing facilities and supply chain activities
to support the production of medical goods. GM made sure that the move to producing vital
medical equipment went smoothly by reorganising production lines, reallocating resources,
and retraining staff. This reduced operational interruption and increased GM's ability to
support the pandemic response.

Success Evaluation:
In terms of corporate resilience and societal effect, General Motors' (GM) COVID-19
pandemic response methods were a considerable success. First off, during a time when
demand for automobiles was dropping, General Motors' diversification into the
manufacturing of necessary medical items, such masks and ventilators, was a vital source of
income. GM showed financial resilience and flexibility in responding to shifting market
conditions by using its manufacturing skills to meet urgent healthcare demands.
Additionally, GM was able to accommodate the growing demand for medical supplies while
continuing to run its business thanks to its operational efficiency and flexibility. Efficient
production facilities and supply chain management procedures facilitated a smooth shift to
producing vital medical equipment while maximising resource efficiency and reducing
disturbance. In addition to bolstering GM's ability to withstand the pandemic, this
operational agility also put the business in a position for future development and recovery.
In summary, General Motors has demonstrated its ability to adapt, be creative, and be
committed to fostering positive societal effect through its tactical response to the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition to surviving the crisis and playing a significant role in the global
pandemic response, General Motors cemented its reputation as a leading carmaker with a
strong sense of corporate responsibility by utilising its connections, resources, and abilities
to the fullest.