General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra participates in a discussion at the Economic Club of Washington in Washington, D.C., on the auto industry’s transition to an all-electric future, the path to self-driving vehicles and recent discussions with GM employees Negotiations”, December 13, 2023.
Elisabeth Franz | Reuters
Detroit – General Motors Chief Executive and Chairman Mary Barra said Thursday that she does not plan to retire anytime soon as she tries to ensure the company’s transformation is on “a good path.”
Barra, the company’s longest-serving CEO outside of its founder, has been asked about retirement for years. Under Barra, who served as a leading general manager for more than 10 years, problems grew as top executives at rivals came and went.
“I’m having a lot of fun and I want to make sure that our transition is on a good path,” she said during a fireside chat at the Economic Club of Detroit meeting. “So, I’m young, healthy and have a supportive family, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere anytime soon.”
During Barra’s tenure, many potential successors have come and gone within GM. Some leave the company to pursue other opportunities, while others retire or leave the company for unknown reasons.
Barra reiterated that she is happy to serve on GM’s board and that she continues to have “fun.” She said she was experiencing “the most exciting moment” in the automotive industry in her career.
General Motors, like other automakers, is investing billions of dollars to develop all-electric vehicles, although consumer adoption has been slower than many expected just a few years ago.
The Detroit automaker is also trying to restart its Cruise self-driving car business after halting public operations following an Oct. 2 incident in San Francisco in which a pedestrian was dragged 20 feet by a Cruise robotaxi.
Cruise and electric vehicles, as well as software-defined vehicles and services, have been among the biggest potential growth areas under Barra, who took over as CEO in January 2014.
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