General Motors (GM) currently offers approximately 35-40 distinct vehicle models in the United States across its four core brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. This number can change slightly each year with new releases or discontinuations, and it expands significantly when considering global markets and different trim levels for each model.
Have you ever stood at a busy intersection, watched the cars go by, and wondered just how many different kinds of vehicles a giant company like General Motors actually makes? It’s a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer. You see Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac badges everywhere, but figuring out the total number of models can feel like a puzzle.
If you’ve ever felt a little overwhelmed by the sheer variety, you’re not alone. It can be confusing! But don’t worry. We’re going to break it down together, piece by piece. In this guide, I’ll walk you through GM’s current lineup in a clear, simple way. We’ll explore each brand, count up their models, and uncover the real number. Let’s get started and solve this mystery.
First, What Exactly Is General Motors (GM)?
Before we can count the cars, it helps to know who we’re talking about. Think of General Motors, or GM, as a large family. Under the main GM name, there are several smaller brand families, each with its own personality and purpose. For a very long time, GM has been one of the biggest car makers in the world, building vehicles that millions of people drive every day.
In the United States, the GM family currently has four main members. You probably know them well:
- Chevrolet: Often called “Chevy,” this is GM’s largest brand, offering everything from small cars and SUVs to hardworking trucks.
- GMC: This brand focuses on trucks and SUVs, often with a more premium or heavy-duty feel than their Chevy cousins.
- Buick: Buick sits in a comfortable middle ground, offering premium SUVs known for their quiet rides and upscale features.
- Cadillac: This is GM’s luxury brand, known for bold designs, advanced technology, and high-performance vehicles.
Each of these brands operates under the GM umbrella, sharing engineering and technology. However, they each design and sell their own unique list of vehicle models. To find our grand total, we need to look at each brand’s lineup one by one.
Breaking It Down: A Look at Each GM Brand’s Lineup
Counting every single model requires us to visit each branch of the GM family. The number of models can change slightly from year to year as new vehicles are introduced and older ones are retired. Here is a snapshot of the approximate number of models for each brand currently available in the U.S.
Chevrolet: The Heartbeat of America
Chevrolet has the largest and most diverse lineup of all the GM brands. They truly make a vehicle for almost everyone. From compact SUVs perfect for city driving to massive trucks that can tow just about anything, Chevy covers all the bases. Their focus is on providing reliable, practical, and affordable vehicles for American families.
Here’s how their models are generally categorized:
| Category | Approx. Number of Models | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| SUVs & Crossovers | 7 | Trax, Trailblazer, Equinox, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban |
| Trucks | 3 | Colorado, Silverado 1500, Silverado HD (2500/3500) |
| Cars | 2 | Malibu, Camaro |
| Performance Cars | 1 | Corvette |
| Electric Vehicles (EVs) | 4 | Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Silverado EV, Bolt (phasing out) |
Adding these up, Chevrolet offers roughly 17 distinct models. It’s the biggest contributor to GM’s total count and offers a huge range of choices for buyers.
GMC: Professional Grade and Ready for Anything
GMC shares many of its vehicle platforms with Chevrolet, but it carves out its own identity by focusing exclusively on trucks and SUVs with a more premium, rugged feel. When you see a GMC, you can expect strong capabilities, refined interiors, and a commanding presence on the road. They are built for people who need to get work done but also want a comfortable and well-equipped ride.
GMC’s lineup is more focused than Chevrolet’s:
- Trucks: The Canyon is their mid-size truck, while the Sierra (1500 and HD models) is their full-size workhorse. The Sierra line often includes the luxurious Denali trim.
- SUVs: The Terrain is a popular compact SUV, the Acadia is a three-row family hauler, and the Yukon (and larger Yukon XL) is a full-size SUV known for its space and power.
- Electric Vehicles (EVs): GMC made a huge splash by reviving a famous name for its electric supertruck, the Hummer EV, which comes in both a pickup and an SUV version. The Sierra EV is also joining the lineup.
In total, GMC offers approximately 8 models. While fewer than Chevy, each one is built with a clear purpose in mind.
Buick: Approachable, Quiet Luxury
Buick has streamlined its lineup in recent years to focus entirely on what it does best: creating premium crossover SUVs. Buicks are designed for drivers who want a step up from the mainstream brands without moving into full luxury territory. The brand is known for its “QuietTuning” technology, which makes for a remarkably peaceful ride, along with stylish designs and user-friendly tech.
Today, the Buick family in the U.S. is small but strong, consisting of four SUV models:
- Envista: A sleek, coupe-styled crossover that’s new to the lineup.
- Encore GX: A small, versatile SUV perfect for navigating city streets.
- Envision: A stylish and comfortable compact SUV with premium features.
- Enclave: A spacious, three-row SUV that is perfect for families wanting a touch of luxury.
With its focused lineup of 4 models, Buick knows exactly who its customer is and what they are looking for in a vehicle.
Cadillac: The Peak of GM Luxury and Performance
Cadillac is GM’s flagship luxury brand. For over a century, it has represented the best of American automotive design, technology, and performance. Today’s Cadillacs are known for their sharp, distinctive styling, powerful engines, and cutting-edge features. The brand competes with luxury automakers from around the world.
Cadillac’s lineup is a mix of traditional sedans and modern SUVs, along with a growing number of electric vehicles:
| Category | Approx. Number of Models | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| SUVs | 4 | XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade / Escalade-V |
| Sedans | 2 | CT4 / CT4-V, CT5 / CT5-V |
| Electric Vehicles (EVs) | 3 | LYRIQ, CELESTIQ, ESCALADE IQ |
Counting the core models, Cadillac offers about 9 models. This number grows if you count the high-performance V-Series and Blackwing variants as separate models, which many enthusiasts do.
So, What’s the Grand Total?
Now it’s time for the big reveal! Let’s add up the numbers from each of GM’s four U.S. brands:
- Chevrolet: ~17 models
- GMC: ~8 models
- Buick: 4 models
- Cadillac: ~9 models
Adding them all together, we get a grand total of approximately 38 models available from General Motors in the United States. This is the “surprising answer”—it’s a big number, but it’s organized across four very different brands, each with a specific job to do.
The number is not set in stone. It can fluctuate. A company like GM is always innovating, so new models like the Cadillac Escalade IQ or Chevy Equinox EV are added, while others like the Chevrolet Bolt EV are phased out. It’s a living, breathing lineup that changes with customer needs and new technology.
A Look Back: The GM Brands of Yesterday
For those who have been around cars for a while, you might remember a time when the GM family was even bigger. To fully appreciate GM’s current lineup, it’s interesting to remember the brands that are no longer with us. These brands had loyal followings and produced some truly iconic cars.
- Pontiac: Known for performance and excitement, Pontiac gave us legendary cars like the GTO and the Firebird. The brand was discontinued in 2010.
- Oldsmobile: One of America’s oldest car brands, Oldsmobile was known for innovation and produced popular models like the Cutlass and the 442. It was phased out in 2004.
- Saturn: Launched as “a different kind of car company,” Saturn was known for its no-haggle pricing and plastic body panels. It ceased operations in 2010.
- Hummer: Originally a military vehicle, the civilian Hummer was known for its massive size and off-road ability. The original brand was shut down in 2010, but as we saw, GM has revived the name for its new electric supertrucks under the GMC brand.
Knowing about these past brands helps explain why GM decided to focus on its four strongest core brands today. It was a move to become more efficient and build better cars for the future.
The Road Ahead: GM’s Electric Future
The automotive world is changing fast, and the biggest change is the move toward electric vehicles (EVs). GM is investing billions of dollars to be a leader in this new era. The key to their plan is the Ultium battery platform. Think of Ultium as a flexible set of building blocks—a battery and motor system that can be used to power all sorts of different vehicles, from small SUVs to large pickup trucks.
You can already see this plan in action:
- The GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV show how Ultium can power big, capable trucks.
- The Cadillac LYRIQ and Chevrolet Blazer EV prove it can be used for stylish, modern SUVs.
As we move forward, you can expect to see even more of GM’s model count made up of EVs. This focus on electrification will shape the company’s lineup for decades to come. Many experts believe this transition is essential for the future, and government resources like the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office provide extensive research on the benefits of this shift.
Conclusion: A Giant with a Clear Focus
So, how many vehicle models does GM have? While the exact number hovers around 38 in the U.S., the real story is in how those models are organized. GM isn’t just one company making a massive, confusing list of cars. It’s a carefully managed family of four distinct brands, each with its own mission.
From the everyday reliability of a Chevy Equinox to the rugged power of a GMC Sierra, the quiet comfort of a Buick Enclave, and the bold luxury of a Cadillac Escalade, there’s a GM vehicle for nearly every need and budget. Understanding this structure makes the massive world of General Motors much easier to navigate.
Next time you’re on the road, you’ll be able to see those different badges and know exactly where they fit in the great GM family. It’s a big lineup, but now you know how it all works together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are GM’s four main brands in the US?
General Motors’ four main brands currently sold in the United States are Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac.
2. Which GM brand sells the most models?
Chevrolet sells the most models by far. With a diverse lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles, Chevy offers around 17 different models to suit a wide range of customers.
3. Does GM still make cars, or just SUVs and trucks?
While GM has significantly reduced its car lineup to focus on more popular SUVs and trucks, it does still make cars. Chevrolet offers the Malibu sedan and the Camaro and Corvette sports cars. Cadillac offers the CT4 and CT5 luxury sedans.
4. What happened to brands like Pontiac and Saturn?
During a major restructuring in 2009-2010, General Motors decided to focus on its strongest and most profitable brands. As a result, brands like Pontiac, Saturn, and Hummer (in its original form) were discontinued to make the company more efficient.
5. Are GMC and Chevrolet trucks the same?
GMC and Chevrolet trucks share the same basic platform, engines, and transmissions. However, they are not identical. GMC models typically have different styling, more premium interior materials, and sometimes offer features not available on their Chevy counterparts. Think of them as cousins—related, but with their own unique personalities.
6. Is GM making electric cars?
Yes, absolutely. GM is heavily invested in an all-electric future. It is rolling out a wide range of electric vehicles (EVs) across all its brands, such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, Buick Electra (coming soon), and Cadillac LYRIQ. These vehicles are built on GM’s new Ultium battery platform.
7. What is GM’s luxury brand?
Cadillac is the official luxury brand of General Motors. It competes with other high-end brands from around the world and is known for its bold design, advanced technology, and powerful performance.