GM Named Automotive Innovation Leader

Automaker receives top ranking in Patent Board's quarterly industry scorecard

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May 13, 2011, 02:29 ET

DETROIT, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patent Board has ranked General Motors as the No. 1 innovator of 182 companies in its quarterly automotive and transportation industry scorecard.

The organization analyzes intellectual property performance across 17 industries and determines the leader in each sector based on measurements that include the number of patents, impact on the industry, and technology and science strength. GM also ranked first in the automotive/transportation sector in the previous scorecard, published in January.

"We focus on inventions that make our vehicles more sustainable," said Alan Taub, GM's vice president of R&D. "Our engineers are developing advanced technologies that increase fuel efficiency and ensure safety while maintaining the excitement of personal mobility."

GM operates global engineering centers and R&D labs around the world and collaborates with academia, suppliers and startups to identify and develop new technologies. During the past 10 years, it increased its patent filings six-fold.

The Patent Board announcement follows recent news that GM received more clean-energy patents last year than any other organization, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index of U.S. patents. GM also received 940 U.S. patents in 2010, which placed it in the top 25 of all companies.

About General Motors – General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.