GM's Final Bet: All-In on Hybrid Simulating Software

As part of its efforts to avoid bankruptcy, General Motors is now turning its attention to a different market strategy, namely the hybrid sector which, according to analysts, may represent the future of automotive industry. General Motors, however, concentrates on hybrid development in its unique way, according to an Autonews report, with the American carmaker using simulating software that could help it reduce the total time needed to design a new car.

In other words, General Motors hopes to simulate the control system of a new model without using any hardware device which basically means reduced costs and faster development. GM currently uses a software solution called Simulink based on technology provided by MathWorks Inc.

"I don't think you could do a hybrid control system without model-based design and development. You can't make an engine and a transmission separately anymore and then integrate them at the last minute. This has to be conceptualized as a family, as a system. If the system isn't conceptualized well, your end product's not going to work very well,” Kent Helfrich, director of software engineering in GM Powertrain, told Autonews.

This is not the first time when General Motors uses simulating software as both GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs are based on similar technology. However, GM sees the new platform as a potential method to revamp sales but also as a solution to comply with government requirements who demand Detroit companies to focus on fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly engines.

"We can now do those iterations virtually, and then commit ourselves to hardware later in the design center. It saved us a lot of money in terms of eliminated prototypes and rework,” Helfrich described General Motors' new market strategy.