Is General Motors an ethical company?

Ethics and Sustainability of General Motors

As social and environmental issues have become much more tangible over the past year, the need to use one’s purchasing power to persuade companies to follow ethical paths has become more apparent than ever. As consumers, it’s up to us to show companies that we are willing to go out of our way to pay for products that have been produced in sustainable, ethical ways by an organization that recognizes the importance of doing the right thing.

We at Carl Black Orlando are certainly aware of this necessity, as neglecting the climate for much longer will likely result in our poor little state of Florida being battered into oblivion by hurricanes, heat waves, and whatever else Mother Earth can dream up to rid herself of what she, if inclined towards conscious linguistic conceptions, would probably conceive as something along the lines of “the festering curse that is the human race.”

When shopping for a new car, it can be hard to tell which companies are truly working towards a better future that brings the universe and the human race into greater harmony. Is General Motors an ethical company?

Electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Bolt EUV shown here, are an important part of GM’s future strategy.

Yes, we’re happy to report that General Motors is an ethical company, and that it has gotten a fair amount of acclaim for it over the past couple of years. In fact, GM was recently recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This is the second year in a row that the brand has received this award.

A total of 135 honorees were recognized by Ethisphere for 2021, spanning 22 countries and 47 industries. We’re proud to say that General Motors was the only automotive OEM on the list.

In addition to a clean conscience, there are a slew of additional unique benefits that come from owning a GM vehicle.

What makes General Motors an ethical company?

Over the course of the past year, General Motors produced millions of face masks and 30,000 critical-care ventilators to combat COVID-19, explicitly condemned racism, designated $10 million to support organizations that promote inclusion and racial justice, and worked to accelerate its movement toward its planned all-electric future in efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. It also continues to work to become nothing less than “the most inclusive company in the world.”

By 2025, General Motors aims to offer 30 new EVs globally. To this end, it will invest $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle development by that time. By 2040, the organization aims to be completely carbon neutral in its global products and operations.

“GM’s Code of Conduct sets forth our fundamental commitment to conduct business openly, ethically and honestly, even when it is difficult to do so. The World’s Most Ethical Company designation is an external validation of GM’s core principles and yet another instance of GM leading by example on the path to transform the industry.” – Michael Ortwein, Assistant General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at GM.

Ever Wonder: How long will it be until every GM is electric?