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GM: Without LG Chem, we couldn't build Bolt EV [UPDATE]

It's absolutely no surprise that General Motors has a thing for LG Corp. The Detroit automaker and the Korean parts supplier have been working in public on electric vehicles ever since it was announced that LG Chem would supply the battery cells for the Chevy Volt in 2009. LG Chem was even named GM's 2010 Supplier of the Year. But, yesterday, the connection between the two companies was strengthened with the announcement that LG Electronics would be supplying a number of components for the upcoming Chevy Bolt electric vehicle. The Bolt is expected to be able to go about 200 miles and will carry a price tag of about $30,000 (after incentives) when it arrives in 2017 or so. LG's new components can be found almost everywhere in the Bolt. They include the battery pack and the battery heater, a new motor, the power inverter module, the electric climate control system compressor, the on-board charger, high-power distribution module, the accessory power module, and power line communication module. Oh, and then there are LG Electronics' advanced display technologies like the new instrument cluster and a new infotainment cluster. LG Electronics also supplies parts for the 4G LTE OnStar system, just like it does in other new Chevys. If that all sounds like a lot of components to you, you're right. Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, said that without the expanded relationship with LG, GM would not be able to bring the Bolt to market (insert old ironic quote link here). "I think GM was lacking that [electrification knowledge] in a very complete way for many years, I'll just be frank about that," Reuss said. "I also think that on an electrified basis, this requires a long-term commitment and trust that sometimes is violated on a more short-term, regular, traditional basis. I think we have found something completely different with LG and I think that has become a widely talked about and duplicated want from our purchasing and corporate standpoint with our supply base." The "this" that Reuss is talking about here is the OEM-supplier relationship, something has evolved with the LG-GM situation. Previously, the automaker-supplier relationship used to be more like a dictator telling underlings what he needed, Reuss said, and that was a bad idea. "Today's competitive landscape requires a different approach, especially in electrified vehicles," he said.

2016 Chevy Volt to make auto show debut this season

Ever since we saw that spy shots of the 2016 Chevy Volt, we've been hungering for more information on the next-gen version of GM's green halo car. It appears we might not have long to wait, at least for an official tease. An inside source that wishes to remain anonymous told AutoblogGreen that GM will make two announcements regarding the second-gen Volt at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI next week. The first, and most intriguing, is that that we will get our first glimpse of the new Volt at some point during the upcoming auto show season. That means either Los Angeles later this year or else Detroit, Chicago or New York in early 2015. The second bit of news is that GM will be moving production of the electric motors from Mexico to Michigan. Details and official confirmation are, of course, missing and Chevrolet declined comment to AutoblogGreen. We should know more next week.

2021 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban/Tahoe recalled for stall risk

General Motors is recalling just shy of 15,000 2021 Cadillac Escalade & Escalade ESVs, Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs that were shipped with fuel pumps that were built with a batch of what may be faulty electronic control modules. A pump with a bad module can result in intermittent function, resulting in drivability issues and potential stalls. No serious incidents or injuries have been associated with the issue.  GM says it discovered the issue after analyzing early recall data for the 2021 model SUVs and discovering an unusually high failure rate for fuel pumps manufactured by a single supplier – Vitesco. The company was able to identify the batch and initiate a recall campaign targeting just those vehicles.  "After reviewing the field data, GM determined there were 617 potentially relevant complaints, which were received between April 15, 2020 and August 24, 2021," the company's recall report said. "229 of these complaints reported a stall while standing or moving. No accidents or injuries associated with this condition were found." Any SUVs built with pumps from that batch but not yet sold are being held at dealers for replacement parts. It may take some time for GM to source replacements due to the ongoing electronic parts shortages.  "We are working with the supplier to obtain the required parts as quickly as possible," GM said in its notice to dealers. "When sufficient quantity of parts are available, the recall bulletin will be released and dealers can begin repairing vehicles."