General Motors recently tips its corporate cap to suppliers who kept production afloat during uncertain times during 2021. At the car and truck manufacturer’s 30th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony held in Phoenix, Arizona, businesses earned GM’s Overdrive Award for supply chain excellence.
Now considered almost exclusively a car, SUV, and lightweight truck maker, GM has enjoyed an on-and-off relationship with heavy-duty commercial truck manufacturing. It scuttled production of its Class 8 trucks known as the GMC General and Brigadier decades ago. Recent reports indicate GM flirted with getting into bed with battery-electric semi-truck maker Nikola at some level. Although GM appears to be tapping the brakes, its suppliers rely on CDL professionals to move necessary parts and materials.
“This year’s Supplier of the Year event was special not only because it’s the 30th anniversary of the program, but because it provided us with the opportunity to recognize our suppliers for persevering through one of the most challenging years the industry has ever faced,” GM’s Global Purchasing and Supply Chain vice president Shilpan Amin reportedly said. “These top suppliers showed resilience and reinforced their commitment to pursuing sustainability and innovation. Through our strong relationships and collaboration, GM and our suppliers are poised to build a brighter future for generations to come.”
Company leaders may have been on the podium accepting Overdrive Awards, but wheels on the highway truckers got the job done. GM’s Overdrive Award recipients include the following.
- Allegis Global Solutions
- American Axle & Manufacturing
- Aspen Aerogels
- BADER Leather Group
- BASF
- Bauer Controls
- CarUX Technology PTE.
- Chunil Engineering Co.
- Dana Incorporated
- CARAT
- ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants
The Overdrive Award was first announced in 2012 to honor outstanding achievements in the global supply chain. Award winners are generally measured by metrics that involve sustainability, innovation, relationships, total enterprise cost, launch excellence, and safety.
Aspen Aerogels, a technology outfit in sustainable electrification with Massachusetts and Rhode Island facilities, earned an Overdrive Award for its work in the car and truck battery sector.
“We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition from GM. The Aspen team values our deep and productive relationship with GM, and we are particularly proud to play an important role in the Ultium battery platform,” Aspen CEO Don Young reportedly said. “For over two decades, we have leveraged our Aerogel Technology Platform to bring sustainability solutions into large, important markets. Aspen’s focus on enhancing EV battery performance and safety is well aligned with the rapid acceleration towards an electrified future.”
The much-heralded, Ohio-based Dana Incorporated was again recognized for its long-standing relationship with GM.
“Dana is honored to once again be named a top supplier to General Motors with the prestigious Overdrive Award as we continue to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative driveline, sealing, and thermal-management solutions for both internal-combustion and electrified vehicles,” Dana Incorporated CEO James Kamsickas reportedly said. “We are proud of our more than 116-year relationship with GM and look forward to continuing to collaborate with them as they drive toward a more sustainable and electrified future.”
Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, Dana’s 2021 sales reportedly topped $8.9 billion with distribution across 32 countries and six continents. Newsweek also dubbed Dana one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2022.”
Sources: gm.com, prnewswire.com
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