Click to Enlarge.
General Motors today announced a more than $71 million investment to establish a new campus in Pasadena, California, for GM’s Advanced Design Center operations, a move that will substantially increase the center’s capacity. The new 8-acre site is closer to technology centers on the West Coast and creates a recruiting opportunity with its proximity to leading universities and design schools. The facility’s relocation from its existing space in North Hollywood to a149,000-square-foot campus will make room for expanded advanced technology teams that will help accelerate GM’s goal of “zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.” The current North Hollywood Design Center will continue to be utilized for advanced design operations as work on the new facility is completed through the second half of 2022.
GM claims it has a long-term commitment to maintain a physical presence in one of North America’s largest hubs for multi-disciplinary design and innovation. The new campus, which sits on 8 acres, will expand GM’s capacity to support emerging business opportunities in areas of advanced technology, software integration and future mobility solutions.
The announcement of the technology campus in Pasadena is part of GM Design’s broader global expansion. GM’s new Design West facility is currently under construction at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, and GM recently announced the expansion of the Advanced Design Center in Shanghai, China.
GM’s advanced design team focuses on developing concept and future mobility projects that fall outside the scope of existing production vehicle programs. GM cites recent examples of innovation and design work linked to growth strategy including:
- BrightDrop – the newly established commercial delivery and logistics business, backed by GM – and its all-electric ecosystem of products, software and services
- Cadillac’s personal autonomous concept vehicle and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
- The lunar rover concept developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin
The new facility will amplify GM’s role in connected mobility, it’s claimed by:
- A more efficient layout, designed to mitigate disruptions and increase efficiency of the various paint, metal and plastic workshops
- An increased footprint allowing for improved output of physical and virtual proof of concepts and show cars
- The ability to rapidly pilot visualization and immersive technology, including augmented and virtual reality
- An innovation lab for designing, implementing and validating new design tools
- An advanced user experience/user interface design studio
- Dedicated collaboration, research and development space for strategic internal and external GM partnerships
The additional space enables GM to expand output, using – it’s hoped – the new location to recruit top regional talent in disciplines of aerospace engineering, defense, automotive design, software development and advanced technology.
Previous GM Design facilities in California include the Advanced Concept Studio in Newbury Park, from 1983-1996, and the current North Hollywood Studio, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020.
“Having a physical presence in Southern California’s technology epicenter is an integral part of our global design operations and this new innovation campus will not only expand our operations twofold but offers access to the rich cultural diversity and talent in the region,” said Michael Simcoe, GM vice president of Global Design. “Our positioning will allow us to attract dynamic candidates in fields that will bolster GM’s proven design capabilities and challenge conventional thinking of what our future portfolio of connected products and services can encompass.”
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
GM Design Jettisons North Hollywood for Pasadena
Click to Enlarge.
General Motors today announced a more than $71 million investment to establish a new campus in Pasadena, California, for GM’s Advanced Design Center operations, a move that will substantially increase the center’s capacity. The new 8-acre site is closer to technology centers on the West Coast and creates a recruiting opportunity with its proximity to leading universities and design schools. The facility’s relocation from its existing space in North Hollywood to a149,000-square-foot campus will make room for expanded advanced technology teams that will help accelerate GM’s goal of “zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.” The current North Hollywood Design Center will continue to be utilized for advanced design operations as work on the new facility is completed through the second half of 2022.
GM claims it has a long-term commitment to maintain a physical presence in one of North America’s largest hubs for multi-disciplinary design and innovation. The new campus, which sits on 8 acres, will expand GM’s capacity to support emerging business opportunities in areas of advanced technology, software integration and future mobility solutions.
The announcement of the technology campus in Pasadena is part of GM Design’s broader global expansion. GM’s new Design West facility is currently under construction at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, and GM recently announced the expansion of the Advanced Design Center in Shanghai, China.
GM’s advanced design team focuses on developing concept and future mobility projects that fall outside the scope of existing production vehicle programs. GM cites recent examples of innovation and design work linked to growth strategy including:
The new facility will amplify GM’s role in connected mobility, it’s claimed by:
The additional space enables GM to expand output, using – it’s hoped – the new location to recruit top regional talent in disciplines of aerospace engineering, defense, automotive design, software development and advanced technology.
Previous GM Design facilities in California include the Advanced Concept Studio in Newbury Park, from 1983-1996, and the current North Hollywood Studio, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020.
“Having a physical presence in Southern California’s technology epicenter is an integral part of our global design operations and this new innovation campus will not only expand our operations twofold but offers access to the rich cultural diversity and talent in the region,” said Michael Simcoe, GM vice president of Global Design. “Our positioning will allow us to attract dynamic candidates in fields that will bolster GM’s proven design capabilities and challenge conventional thinking of what our future portfolio of connected products and services can encompass.”
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.