1995 GM and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Group agreed to cooperate on car and powertrain manufacturing in China. President and CEO John Smith became GM's board chairman.
1996 Large rear-wheel drive Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac models were discontinued. EV1 electric vehicles were leased by 26 Saturn dealers in Arizona and California. This $1-billion program yielded approximately 800 cars in four years, most of which were destroyed following completion of their three-year leases. GM headquarters moved to a Renaissance Center location on the Detroit River.
1997 GM's Delphi Automotive Systems became the world's largest automotive supplier.
1998 GM's US market share dropped below 30-percent for the first time since 1926. Chevy's Geo brand was dropped. Rick Wagoner became GM's president and chief operating officer.
1999 Buick Regal and Century manufacturing began in China. Delphi Automotive Systems was spun off and became an independent enterprise. A 20-percent stake in Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) was purchased. Cadillac's general manager John Smith sent a letter of apology to Lincoln executive Mark Hutchins for fudging sales figures and claiming luxury car leadership for 1998.
2000 GM took over full ownership of Saab. Honda and GM agreed to swap Honda V6s for Isuzu-built diesels. Rick Wagoner became CEO. GM and Fiat exchanged ownership stakes.
2001 Following September 11 attacks, GM launched a successful 'Keep America Rolling' sales campaign. Former Chrysler president Bob Lutz became GM's vice chairman of global product development.
2002 Large Chevy and GMC pickups offered 4-wheel steering.
2004 Development resources were redirected from cars to pickups and SUVs scheduled for a 2007 model year introduction. Cadillac began exports to China. The final Oldsmobile left a Lansing, Michigan, assembly line, ending 107 years of manufacturing that yielded over 35-million cars and trucks.
2005 Chevrolet sales commenced in China. GM paid Fiat $2-billion to nullify the agreement established in 2000.
2006 Pontiac's Solstice sports car was the first volume use of hydroformed-steel body panels.
2007 The Fortune Global 500 list ranked GM as the world's fifth largest publicly traded firm behind Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP.
2008 Still the world's largest auto maker in terms of sales, GM employs more than a quarter-million people around the world to manufacture and sell cars and trucks in 35 countries. During the first half of this year, GM's share of the US market was 20.6 percent.
*Please note that product-related advancements are keyed to MODEL years, not the calendar year they were introduced.