Software Engineer - Early Careers

General Motors and Ford may benefit from Washington's decision to relax fuel economy standards, a shift that could favour their profitable truck and SUV lines. The policy change reduces regulatory pressure on petrol-powered vehicles, potentially allowing both manufacturers to maintain higher-margin workhorses in their product mix for longer. GM generates $153.8 billion from its North American operations and holds a $72.5 billion market capitalisation, whilst Ford produces $145.9 billion through its Ford Blue division and carries a $50.7 billion market cap. Analysts suggest the relaxed rules could reshape profit expectations for legacy automakers heavily invested in large vehicles. Both companies' truck and SUV portfolios face significant exposure to US fuel economy regulations, making the regulatory shift particularly relevant to their earnings outlook.

GM and PG&E turn EV owners into grid assets with free chargers and monthly payments. GM and PG&E's new Smart Charge Bundle offers California EV buyers a free home charger worth up to $1,999 plus monthly bill credits for participating in managed charging. The program builds toward 52,000 grid-supporting vehicles by 2030 while lowering ownership costs and easing grid strain. It reflects growing coordination between automakers and utilities. Friday, September 25, 2026 General Motors and Pacific Gas and Electric have spent years talking about how electric vehicles could stabilize the power grid instead of overwhelming it. Now they are putting real money behind the idea. Buyers of new Chevrolet, GMC or Cadillac EVs in Northern and Central California can walk out of a dealership with a home charger worth up to $1,999 at no extra hardware cost. They also gain access to monthly bill credits simply for letting the utility decide when their car charges. The Smart Charge Bundle, announced September 23, 2026, bundles the purchase process with enrollment in PG&E's EV Charge Manager program. Customers still cover installation, permits and any electrical upgrades. They need an active OnStar subscription. But once set up, participation delivers a $15 monthly credit. Additional savings of up to $50 a month can come from shifting charging to periods when electricity costs and demand sit lower. Electrek reported the details the same day. But this California offer builds on something broader. Months earlier, GM and PG&E set an ambitious target. By 2030 they aim to have 52,000 of the automaker's vehicles actively supporting grid balance in the utility's service territory. That fleet, GM and PG&E say, could supply enough power to run every home in San Francisco for half a day. The claim underscores how seriously both organizations view EVs as flexible energy resources. And the foundation rests on managed charging. Drivers simply plug in when they get home. Software from WeaveGrid then schedules the session based on grid conditions, customer preferences, battery state and electricity prices. Owners can override any schedule. The approach avoids adding load during peak evening hours when many Californians return from work and plug in their cars at once. GM Energy vice president Wade Sheffer has described the shift plainly. In remarks tied to the company's June 2026 V2G announcement, he positioned EVs as more than transportation. "This is really where EVs start to matter, even for those that don't own them," Sheffer said, according to Ars Technica. PG&E chief executive Patti Poppe went further. "Our grid desperately needs EVs, particularly bi-directional EVs that we can optimize and contribute to the grid," she told an audience at the same event. The utility already manages roughly 900,000 EVs on its system. Its longer-term vision calls for millions participating in both managed charging and vehicle-to-grid export over the next five to 10 years. The September bundle takes the concept one step closer to mainstream. It folds utility enrollment into the car-buying conversation at the dealership. That matters. Many first-time EV buyers worry most about home charging logistics. Removing the charger cost and handling paperwork at point of sale lowers the barrier. The program runs through February 2027 or until it reaches capacity. Yet the real ambition lies beyond these incentives. GM released a firmware update in June 2026 that turns existing vehicle-to-home systems into vehicle-to-grid capable without new hardware. More than 250,000 bidirectional GM EVs already drive American roads. Pair them with GM Energy's PowerShift charger - the higher-end option in the bundle that supports bidirectional flow when combined with additional equipment - and the pieces align for true two-way power movement. Tests continue. GM works with PG&E on pilots that could evolve into full commercial programs where owners earn money by sending power back during high-demand periods. Similar work proceeds with DTE Energy in Michigan using employee homes as proving grounds. The goal remains practical: prove the technology works at scale, satisfy regulators, and create tariffs that reward participation without complexity. Earlier coverage highlighted European dimensions of the same strategy. The Next Web examined how GM and PG&E explored managed charging approaches on the continent, testing algorithms that balance local grid constraints with driver needs. Those efforts informed the software now deployed in California. Lessons from Europe on customer acceptance and override frequency shaped the current opt-out design that keeps drivers in control. Recent reporting adds context on the pressure building on the grid. Data centers and artificial intelligence demand keep climbing. Utilities face tight supply in some regions. California, with its aggressive renewable targets and high EV adoption, sits at the sharp end. Managed charging offers a low-cost lever. It requires no new power plants. It uses batteries already paid for by drivers. Executives at both companies speak of this moment as foundational. The Smart Charge Bundle represents the first time GM has tied a free charger and recurring credits directly to a specific utility program at the point of sale. Success here could spawn similar deals across other territories. PG&E has already expanded its vehicle-to-everything program to include more GM models alongside vehicles from Kia, Volvo, Polestar and Nissan. Critics note limitations. Not every driver lives in a single-family home with convenient utility service. Apartment dwellers face different obstacles. Installation costs can still reach thousands depending on panel upgrades. And actual savings vary with driving habits, electricity rates and how often the utility calls on the vehicle. The $15 credit is fixed. The extra $50 remains an upper bound. Still, the numbers add up for many households. A $1,999 charger credit plus $180 a year in guaranteed bill credits and potential additional savings change the ownership math. For GM, the program accelerates fleet electrification while creating a data-rich network of connected vehicles. For PG&E, every participating EV becomes a virtual power plant asset that can absorb surplus solar during the day and reduce evening peaks. So the partnership signals a shift in how automakers and utilities view their relationship. No longer does the utility simply supply electricity to charge cars. The car becomes part of the utility's resource stack. GM's OnStar connectivity, once mainly a safety and convenience feature, now serves as the communication link that makes orchestration possible. WeaveGrid's platform translates utility signals into charger commands that respect driver schedules. Industry observers watch closely. If enrollment hits targets and customer satisfaction stays high, expect more utilities to seek similar arrangements. Other automakers already partner with ChargeScape and similar platforms. The competitive dynamic favors those who integrate earliest and deepest with utilities. GM and PG&E have moved past pilots. They now scale a system that pays drivers to behave in ways that help the grid. The free charger sweetens the deal. The monthly credit keeps them engaged. And the underlying software prepares the fleet for future bidirectional services that could pay even more. Whether this model spreads nationwide depends on regulatory approval, tariff design and consumer trust. For now, in PG&E territory, a new Chevrolet Equinox EV or Cadillac Lyriq buyer can leave the dealership with hardware in hand, a simpler path to lower energy bills, and the knowledge that their parked car contributes to grid stability. That combination didn't exist a year ago. It does today. Subscribe for Updates

GM introduces all-new Duramax 8.3L Turbo-Diesel V-8 for heavy-duty trucks. An all-new GM diesel delivers 555 horsepower & 1,230 pound-feet of torque as the automaker upgrades towing, steering & braking for its 2027 HD trucks... General Motors unveiled updates for its new 2027 heavy-duty truck lineup, which will launch this year on the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD. Central to the updates are GM's first all-new, in-house-designed heavy-duty Duramax 8.3L Turbo-Diesel V-8 engine option, segment-first rack-and-pinion Electric Power Steering (EPS) and a new electronic brake-boost architecture. "For 2027, we took GM's proven HD validation playbook and turned up the capability - integrating new powertrain, braking, steering and chassis technologies for serious customers who push their trucks hard every day," said Mark Dickens, executive chief engineer for GM full-size trucks and SUVs. "HD customers don't hold back - and neither did we." New 8.3L diesel & updated 6.6L gas V-8. The all-new Duramax 8.3L Turbo-Diesel is GM's first clean-sheet HD V-8 designed, developed and manufactured in-house for heavy-duty pickup applications. Key benefits include: * All-new, GM-developed HD diesel architecture, designed specifically around heavy-duty pickup customers, with a compacted graphite iron cylinder block and fully forged crankshaft, connecting rods and steel pistons forming the foundation for strength and durability. * More confident power and towing, with 555 horsepower and 1,230 pound-feet of torque, supported by a broad torque curve, high-flow fuel injection and vehicle integration focused on launching heavy trailers, climbing grades and maintaining control under load. * Advanced cooling and turbocharging systems built for towing, including a compact dual-stage air-to-water charge cooling system, high-efficiency variable-geometry turbocharger and upgraded engine-cooling strategy to help deliver consistent performance. * Improved refinement and drivability, with the new engine architecture, integrated intake design, advanced combustion system and crankshaft isolation hardware helping reduce noise and vibration while supporting a more confident HD driving experience. * Integrated diesel system engineered as a complete package, pairing the engine with the Allison 10-speed transmission, upgraded exhaust braking capability and a new aftertreatment layout designed to support heavy-duty performance, regeneration functionality and customer confidence over long-distance towing. "This new diesel engine is the culmination of decades of GM diesel development and integration," said Norman Peralta, executive chief engineer, Global Engine and Battery Systems. "From the clean-sheet architecture and combustion system to the cooling, aftertreatment and transmission calibration, this is a powertrain built with heavy-duty purpose and pride." The new engine will be built at GM's expanded DMAX facility in Brookville, Ohio, a 1.4-million-square-foot plant that brings machining and assembly for the engine together under one roof. GM had previously invested $920 million to grow the DMAX to handle this high-volume engine program, the release noted. The standard, enhanced 6.6L gas V-8, assembled at GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant in New York, now delivers 412 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, with improved low-end pull and updated emissions hardware supported by a new Turbo-Jet intake manifold, revised lubrication system, engine-mounted oil cooler and digital oil-level display. Both the new diesel and updated 6.6L gas V-8 are paired with the Allison 10-speed 10L1000 transmission and advanced shift logic to help keep each engine in its optimal range for smoother acceleration, stronger grade performance and more confident control with heavy trailers, the company said. Segment-First Electric Power Steering for HD trucks. For 2027, GM's HD pickups move to an all-new rack-and-pinion Electric Power Steering system - a segment-first for heavy-duty trucks, replacing the previous hydraulic-assisted steering system with an all-new Electric Power Steering architecture designed specifically for heavy-duty truck demands, officials stated. The Electric Power Steering system helps to deliver: * Higher steering output with approximately 30% more power than the current HD hydraulic steering gear to support heavy front-axle loads, low-speed maneuvering, towing and demanding work-truck use. * More precise, consistent steering in demanding conditions, with expanded drive-mode tuning, improved on-center feel and reduced kickback. * A cleaner, quieter and lower-maintenance system, eliminating hydraulic pumps, hoses, fluid and related hardware to reduce traditional steering noise and lower system complexity. * HD-grade durability and protection, with built-in system redundancy plus corrosion- and impact-resistant hardware designed for harsh heavy-duty truck environments, including rough terrain, road debris and severe-duty use. * Independent functionality: electric steering allows full steering assist capability regardless of engine speed or brake assist utilization, helping to optimize vehicle maneuverability and performance for driver confidence. Together, the new EPS system provides GM's HD trucks a modern steering foundation that is stronger, quieter and more precisely tuned. From tight low-speed maneuvers and heavy towing to rough roads and off-road terrain, the system is designed to help drivers feel more connected, more in control and more confident behind the wheel, according to GM. Electronic brake-boost & upgraded HD brake hardware. Featuring a segment-first electronic brake-boost system in a heavy-duty pickup, GM is introducing modern brake technology to the HD segment. Benefits include: * First-ever electronic braking for an HD pickup, designed for heavy-duty capability and control. * Stronger, more consistent stopping performance, with larger 14.6-inch front rotors, new four-piston fixed front calipers and upgraded rear hardware that help improve thermal capacity, brake pedal stiffness and braking confidence with big trailers. * More linear, predictable pedal feel, with reduced pedal travel, a new pedal position and a refined pedal feel make braking feel smoother. * Smarter braking integration, supporting advanced driver-assistance features like Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic Emergency Braking, while enhanced diagnostics help detect conditions such as brake fade or leaks sooner. * Cleaner, lighter and more refined system architecture, eliminating the shared hydraulic source for steering and braking to reduce complexity, remove weight, improve low-speed steering feel and support more consistent brake-control tuning on pavement and off-road. Together, the new brake system gives GM's HD trucks a modern, confidence-inspiring braking foundation - one that reacts more precisely and works seamlessly with the truck's steering, chassis and driver-assistance technologies, the company said. Tow/Haul, Off-Road & New Terrain drive modes. The 2027 HD lineup expands GM's coordinated drive-mode strategy, so powertrain, steering, braking and chassis systems respond together to towing, hauling, highway driving and off-road demands. Available modes include: * Normal - Everyday calibration for commuting and unloaded driving. * Tow/Haul - Tailors engine mapping, shifting, exhaust brake, grade-braking, EPS assist and electronic brake-boost tuning to support heavy towing and hauling with more stability and control. * Off-Road - Adjusts ABS, traction control and stability control to allow more wheel slip and side slip on loose surfaces, supported by EPS and eBoost tuning that cuts harsh feedback. * New Terrain Mode (ZR2 / AT4X), a first for GM's HD trucks, enabling one-pedal off-road driving in 4HI and 4LO; lifting off the accelerator automatically applies braking for precise control on steep grades and technical obstacles. Up to 38,000 pounds of max trailering. GM says the 2027 HD models are engineered to offer serious towing, with capability of up to 46,500 pounds GCWR and up to 38,000 pounds max trailering on select configurations. Core updates include: * Higher max available trailering capability, with properly equipped models offering up to 38,000 pounds max trailering and every diesel dually model capable of towing up to an available 30,000 pounds or more. * More confidence with heavy loads, with revised chassis, suspension, steering and braking systems tuned together to help the truck feel stable, predictable and controlled when towing at or near maximum ratings. * Powertrains built to pull, pairing the available all-new Duramax 8.3L Turbo-Diesel V-8 and enhanced 6.6L gas V-8 engines with the Allison 10-speed transmission and updated shift strategies to help launch heavy trailers, climb grades and manage downhill control. * Available visibility technology for easier towing, including up to 14 available camera views such as Transparent Trailer View, Bed View and Surround Vision to help with hitching, lane changes, reversing and trailer monitoring. * Integrated trailering support from setup to the road, with the available in-vehicle trailering app, available Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert and available trailer tire pressure and temperature monitoring helping drivers prepare, connect and stay aware while towing. The 2027 HD lineup is engineered to make heavy towing feel easier, smarter and more secure - combining added capability with integrated technologies that help drivers hitch, maneuver, climb, descend and tow big loads with greater confidence, according to the release. Availability. The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD are expected to arrive at U.S. dealers beginning late 2026. MSRP and additional product information will be announced in future updates.