General Motors has appointed its vice president of global commercial operations as new executive VP and president of GM China to speed up the electrification of the US auto giant's models in the country.

Effective June 1, Steve Hill will succeed Julian Blissett, who has decided to retire, GM China announced yesterday.

Hill has held leadership roles across global marketing, sales, and aftersales through his outstanding career with GM, the Detroit-based firm noted. He has served as VP of US sales, service, and marketing and global VP of customer care and aftersales.

"With his deep commercial acumen and focus on customers, Steve (Hill) has a clear mandate to fully leverage the opportunity presented by accelerating the electrification of our portfolio in China and deploying new technologies," said Rory Harvey, executive VP and president of GM.

Blissett, who began his career at GM in 1996, led GM China through significant growth and change in the domestic sector, navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and making significant contributions to the company's success in the Chinese market, the firm noted.

"Julian (Blissett) has laid important foundations for GM in China, focusing on product competitiveness, technology, and strategic partnerships. His leadership has been crucial in our 27-year journey in this dynamic market," said Harvey.

GM has two joint ventures with SAIC Motor in China, with SAIC-GM operating under the Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac brands, while SAIC-GM-Wuling manages the Baojun and Wuling brands. GM has stayed committed to the Chinese market,  a significant source of its global profits, despite its market share shrinking from 15 percent in 2015 to 8.6 percent last year.

GM focuses on new energy vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid autos, to meet market demand, Chief Executive Mary Barra said at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. It has debuted several new models in China, including the popular Buick GL8 PHEV and Chevrolet Equinox crossover, she added.