General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, is a cornerstone of the company's global engineering and design operations.
Size
The campus encompasses approximately 330 acres. It features over 130 individual buildings with millions of square feet of combined workspace. Key structures include the iconic Design Dome and a multi-story Design building.
History
- Concept & Design (1944-1949): Planned by architect Eero Saarinen, construction began in 1949.
- Opening (1956): Officially dedicated on May 16, 1956.
- Design Significance: Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2014.
- 1959 Expansion: GM acquired an adjacent facility, establishing the General Motors Proving Grounds (later renamed Milford Proving Grounds) and building new Technical Center structures on the acquired land.
What They Build Now (Primary Activities)
- Vehicle Design: Conceptualizing, sketching, and developing full-scale clay models and digital designs for future GM vehicles.
- Advanced Engineering: Pioneering innovations in propulsion systems (electric motors, battery systems, internal combustion engines), vehicle structures, advanced materials (lightweight metals, composites), and safety technologies.
- Research & Development: Conducting cutting-edge research in electrification, autonomous driving technology, connected vehicle systems, and sustainability.
- Manufacturing Engineering: Developing and refining manufacturing processes, tooling, and automation for global GM assembly plants.
- Validation & Testing: Extensive labs and facilities for testing components, subsystems, and vehicle prototypes for durability, noise/vibration/harshness (NVH), climate performance, and safety.
- IT & Cybersecurity: Developing critical software systems for vehicles and enterprise functions.
The GM Tech Center Warren remains a vital hub for driving General Motors' future product portfolio and technological advancements.
