It’s no secret that American automakers like General Motors and Ford have significant international operations. Those business activities have become potential liabilities as the rapidly evolving tariff situation progresses
leading GM to announce expected losses in the billions of dollars
CEO Mary Barra told investors the automaker expects “tariff exposure of $4 to $5 billion,” a significant portion of which
Mexico also accounts for around $2 billion
and another bill comes from “indirect material imports.”
While some of GM’s prices climbed considerably heading into the 2025 model year
the automaker isn’t planning another price hike to account for tariffs
CFO Paul Jacobson said President Trump’s order to temporarily reduce some tariffs would help
“One of Tuesday’s presidential actions will provide a tariff offset based on the more than 1.5 million vehicles we build in the US each year
This will help mitigate a substantial portion of the tariffs on parts going into those vehicles
and help avoid added costs on US vehicle production.”
It also imports the Buick Envision from China and builds trucks in Canada
so it’s not surprising to see the automaker adjust its financial guidance
so it will be interesting to see how their projections change
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter
but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer
After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school
Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week
He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader
Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches
More by Chris Teague
here are some highlights from the earnings call transcript:
Assembled vehicles is more than 80% USMCA compliant
we have reduced our direct material spend in China for U.S
b) "we have grown to become the largest battery cell manufacturer in the U.S
through our joint venture plants in Ohio and Tennessee" and "we are increasing production of U
we increased full size pickup production at our Fort Wayne truck plant
which was already running three shifts by approximately 50,000 units on an annualized basis." [this already happened
d) "GM teams are also working directly with our suppliers to further increase their U.S
content and drive even higher levels of USMCA compliance." [as any intelligent OEM will]
e) GM expects to offset at least 30% of the $4-5 billion tariff exposure
f) "The industry undoubtedly benefited from some pull ahead demand from customers purchasing vehicles ahead of potential tariff impacts
but this strong demand has continued into April."
our manufacturing and supply chain teams have been focused on developing strategies to help mitigate the impact of potential tariffs
These strategies are now actively being put into action."
h) The new guidance does not include any price increases
i) "We understood from the early discussions I had directly with the President that he had a very strong goal to strengthen manufacturing in this country
We want to be a part of it." (and some discussion of economic security and national security)
j) "I’d say the conversation’s been very productive and I do want to thank the President and the administration for taking the time
investing their time to understand our industry so we can accomplish our shared goals of growing the U.S
auto industry which will be good for America in the long term."
the usual suspects will not let facts and reason get in the way of their tantrums
You're upsetting FreedMike--and in his world
that's nothing more than flat-out bullying
Presidents have too much power as these "executive orders" are way out of hand
The come out of the blue and force harm upon people like demands of a tyrannical king
From forcing injections of experimental gene therapies to billions in losses for businesses as the rules change often and overnight
It's ridiculous and Congress needs to fix it..
"It would be easy to say General Motors killed off the Chevy Malibu because nobody wants sedans anymore
Although production of the Malibu ended in November
it’s currently GM’s fifth best-selling nameplate
Many GM enthusiasts are upset about the sedan’s demise
prove that there’s still a market for non-luxury sedans
General Motors is unwilling or unable to challenge their dominance and failed to keep the Malibu competitive
and not everyone who wants a sedan has a Cadillac budget
It wasn’t that long ago that Chevy had a full lineup of four-door passenger cars: Spark
The Trump administration’s tariffs on imported cars and auto parts will cost General Motors between $4 billion and $5 billion this year
CNN's Erin Burnett interviews GM CEO Mary Barra about the impact of Trump's tariffs
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an oil-loving president and Elon Musk in the White House
Although the plants aren’t near full capacity
they already produce more cells than Tesla Inc
Listen to the story
If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was bad for the auto industry
that conflict might seem like a speed bump compared with the chaos unleashed by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
It takes about 30,000 parts to make the typical General Motors car
President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on cars and automotive parts
coupled with triple-digit levies on any components from China
who — after more than a decade as GM’s CEO — is leading her industry’s efforts to cushion the potential blow
her task is to persuade the administration that what’s good for GM is good for America
She’s starting by emphasizing where her agenda and the president’s agenda converge
It can take five or six years to bring out a new vehicle
and to make such long-term investments without gambling its shareholders’ capital
“I need to understand what the policy is.” Automotive supply chains can’t be redesigned overnight
and we have to do it in a manner where we’re still competitive globally.”
But she’s mingling that message with praise for the White House
and stressing that GM is listening as well as lobbying
“I think there’s been a lot of effort to really understand our industry — and for us to understand what they’re trying to achieve.”
Her task is not to change the president’s mind
she implies — “I don’t think I would use the term persuadable.” Instead
she points to “the goals he stated all along
of wanting to have a strong manufacturing base in this country and a strong auto industry.” From that perspective
The US government sold the stake it acquired in GM’s bankruptcy before Barra took the wheel
but she is keen to remind Washington of her industry’s importance in the country’s wider geostrategic contest with China
“Our message is making sure they understand what the auto industry is [and] how it operates
so we can be competitive and not be put at a disadvantage to our foreign competitors,” she says
Chinese rivals including BYD and Geely have seized a majority of their domestic market — the world’s largest — and are posing a greater challenge internationally
technology to technology… I would say we stack up quite well,” Barra says
“I definitely believe that the US can still win.”
But she notes the progress she has seen on her regular visits to China — which is “a formidable competitor.”
Barra noted that GM has already overhauled its supply chain to be more resilient after the pandemic and the ensuing semiconductor shortage
It is responding now by using its production capacity in different markets to the most rational effect
But she is also using this moment of pressure to push her company to tighten up
by getting rid of bureaucracy and making sure “what we’re spending money on is really going to lead to our longer-term vision.”
One of her priorities “is to really be challenging the whole organization to be efficient,” she says
former President Joe Biden hailed Barra’s leadership in bringing Detroit into the EV era
“You electrified the entire automobile industry.” That comment reportedly infuriated Tesla’s Elon Musk
Biden’s successor has shown little love for electric cars: Trump signed an executive order to eliminate Biden’s tax credits for consumers buying EVs
Barra has bet billions on GM’s electric transition. But as domestic demand for EVs has disappointed, her pitch has become one of consumer choice. She still thinks drivers are going to prefer EVs “over the longer period of time,” but GM isn’t abandoning the internal combustion engine.
For most people, she notes, a car is the second-biggest thing they buy after a house, so “giving that customer choice is what will lead to our success.”
Barra started at GM in 1980, inspecting the fenders of Pontiacs for quality defects. But she is not just counting on her lifelong auto industry colleagues to position it for a future of electric — and autonomous — vehicles. She has brought in a head of software from Apple, a chief AI officer from Cisco, and a new battery lead from Tesla.
“You have to have the best talent,” she says, and “you can’t afford to get it wrong.” Nor can a company like GM afford to have new arrivals rejected by the culture of the organization they are joining. So while she notes how much longstanding team members have learned from the tech industry alumni, she adds how much the newcomers have learned from the people who know how to make great vehicles. There’s a shared mission, she says: “They just want to win.”
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none of that was enough to offset what would be a bite into GM’s profits from the tariffs
we are updating our full-year EBIT-adjusted guidance to a range of $10 billion-$12.5 billion
including a current tariff exposure of $4 billion-$5 billion,” Barra wrote
She added that GM will continue to engage with the administration on trade and other policies as they continue to change
there are ongoing discussions with key trade partners that may also have an impact,” Barra wrote
“We will continue to be nimble and disciplined and update you as we know more.”
She struck optimistic notes about the future in her letter
“GM’s business is growing and fundamentally strong as we adapt to the new trade policy environment
In an interview with CNN (WBD-2.74%)
Barra waved off the possibility of higher prices for customers
“We believe… pricing is going to stay at about the same level as it is,” Barra said
“Pricing changes in our industry at least monthly
Other GM executives have been more pointed in their fears of tariff-induced economic problems
GM earlier this week pulled its 2025 profit guidance due to uncertainty caused by the tariffs
GM also announced it was halting its stock buyback program, with Jacobson saying it is awaiting “more clarity” on tariff policies before buying any more stock.
The Detroit firm reported its first-quarter earnings Tuesday morning, beating expectations with adjusted EPS of $2.78 on $44.02 billion in revenue. But its stock was down a little more than 2% Tuesday morning.
Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.
The nation’s largest automaker needs to walk a delicate line of placating the president while also assuring investors it can weather the storm ahead
by Andrew J. Hawkins
automotive industry.” Several paragraphs later
with Barra projecting an impact of $4 billion to $5 billion as a result of Trump’s ever-changing tariffs
Barra’s letter was evidence of the delicate line the automaker needs to tread in order to placate the president while also assuring investors that it can weather the financial storm ahead
GM says it has a lot of evidence in its favor
Revenue is up 2 percent year over year, and it’s making more progress in improving the profitability of its electric vehicle lineup. In that respect, Barra declared that GM had “solidified” its position as the number two seller of EVs in the US, behind Tesla. (With Tesla’s sales and revenue cratering
it’s not outside the realm of possibility that GM continues to make progress in this department.) Chevy
is now the “fastest growing EV brand,” she said
And GM is the largest producer of lithium-ion batteries in the US
GM is now the number two EV seller in the US
But the effect of Trump’s tariffs looms like a noxious cloud over all that good news
The nation’s largest automaker was expecting a pretty robust year of profits until Trump blew everything up with his tariffs. Earlier this week, GM pulled its guidance, explaining that any prediction of profits at this point would be “a guess,” according to The New York Times
The company also postponed its conference call with financial analysts to discuss its first-quarter results by a couple of days
while it assessed the impact of the latest curveball from the White House
On Tuesday, Trump signed a new executive order walking back some of the auto tariffs he claimed just weeks before would lead to a manufacturing renaissance in the US
car companies that pay a 25 percent tariff on auto imports won’t have to pay other levies
or on certain imports from Canada and Mexico
the rules don’t appear to protect automakers from tariffs on steel and aluminum that their suppliers pay and then pass on to them
But Barra’s letter makes no mention of price hikes, panic shopping, or cratering demand. She projects optimism about Trump’s willingness to bend on tariffs, which he has demonstrated repeatedly over the past few weeks. And that’s all she can really do right now.
“We look forward to maintaining our strong dialogue with the Administration on trade and other policies as they continue to evolve,” she wrote. “As you know, there are ongoing discussions with key trade partners that may also have an impact. We will continue to be nimble and disciplined and update you as we know more.”
A weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.
Compensation for General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra spiked about 6% last year to $29.5 million due to the company reaching several performance targets and achieving record profits
the company said in its annual executive compensation report
GM also noted that most other corporate officers reported modest gains
is broken down into these categories: $2.1 million in salary
with $19.5 million in stock awards from record financial gains in the year
$6.6 million in incentive plan compensation
and the balance of $1.2 million in other payments for items such as benefits
GM Compensation Committee Chair Wesley Bush said in a letter to shareholders included in the filing that he believed the company's payment program played a significant role in GM's record financial performance
“Disciplined execution in our core internal combustion engine business while demonstrating that the strategic investments we made in electric vehicles and our software capabilities are paying off,” Bush wrote
“Investors have taken notice of our recent performance
Barra's targets — and her compensation — improved from a year ago
putting her back in the top slot in executive compensation among the Detroit Three
In case you missed it: GM reports 2025 pretax profit of $14.9 billion; takes $4 billion charge on China struggles
Yet Bush warned shareholders that positive growth does not mean employees should rest on their laurels
“While we’ve had a great year at General Motors
we’d like to echo something our chair and CEO
often reminds her team: ‘Don’t mistake progress for winning,’ ” Bush wrote
“Your Compensation Committee recognizes there is more work to do and believes that our shareholders will benefit greatly from that work.”
General Motors news: GM announces layoff of 200 auto workers, unrelated to tariffs, as it adjusts production
CEO of East Lansing-based consultancy Anderson Economic Group
said his team spent a week doing the math and projected that the Detroit Three will see a reduction of about $5 billion in “operating profits” in North America for the rest of this year due to tariffs
The company reported in March Farley's total compensation of $24.8 million was down from $26.5 million in 2023
when a record year allowed the executive to collect about 518 times that of the average Stellantis employee
but still suffered a net loss of $133 million in the second half
GM's executive compensation strategy echoes that of the other automakers aiming to hold executives accountable for their own performance and the performance of the company as a whole
GM announced that it would be changing the formula in its executive variable compensation structure to align more closely with the company's four strategic growth areas — internal combustion engine vehicles
software and services and autonomous vehicles
Failure to progress in electric vehicle production and autonomous vehicle development accounted for declines in Barra's compensation from 2022 to 2023
CFO Paul Jacobson and President Mark Reuss
had total compensation of $13.1 million and $18.5 million
The report also discloses the ratio of executive compensation against the median of all General Motors employees
which is required in the annual executive compensation report
The median annual total compensation of all GM employees last year
Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press
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a 2011 film loosely inspired by the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis (and absolutely worth watching if you haven’t)
Jeremy Irons’ character delivers a memorable line to his boardroom: “There are three ways to make money in business: be first
GM CEO Mary Barra didn’t get to where she is by cutting corners
As the first woman to lead a Detroit Big Three automaker
her rise wasn’t about breaking glass ceilings for the sake of optics
and she’s clearly not just riding a wave of luck
let’s just say she’s the smarter one
More: Mary Barra Says GM Is “Goal-Aligned” With Trump Despite Looming Tariff Nightmare
she certainly did something right last year to be paid $29.5 million
the estimated median employee pay at GM was $95,111 in the same year
meaning Barra earned roughly 310 times more than the average worker
The number was divulged in GM’s annual executive compensation report that was filed to the SEC last Friday
which states that Barra received a raise because she met many performance targets and helped the company achieve record profits
Barra’s performance indeed improved and, thus, so did her compensation, which put her at the top of Detroit’s Big Three list as the highest paid chief executive officer. According to a Detroit Free Press report
in 2023 that number fell by 4% to a measly $27.8 million compared to the previous year because GM did not meet shareholder value targets
The 63-year-old’s compensation is reportedly broken down in four categories: $2.1 million in salary
$19.5 million in stock awards from record financial gains in 2024
and $1.2 million in other payments including benefits
GM Compensation Committee Chair Wesley Bush explained in a letter to shareholders that the company’s payment program contributed significantly in GM’s record profits: “Disciplined execution in our core internal combustion engine business while demonstrating that the strategic investments we made in electric vehicles and our software capabilities are paying off,” he wrote
“Investors have taken notice of our recent performance
More: GM Just Blinked After Trump’s Tariff War Escalated
Bush warned shareholders that there’s absolutely no room for complacency going forward
“While we’ve had a great year at General Motors
we’d like to echo something our chair and CEO
often reminds her team: ‘Don’t mistake progress for winning,’ ” he added
“Your Compensation Committee recognizes there is more work to do and believes that our shareholders will benefit greatly from that work.”
Tesla and Stellantis somehow managed to perform even worse and overtake it
You almost have to feel sorry for Farley
especially when you consider that Carlos Tavares
who resigned last December after falling wide of the mark regarding Stellantis’ goals
photo credit: CLEVELAND JENNINGS / @EATTHECANVASLLC
Mariana Trabanino
The next time an unprompted craving for citrusy fish and giant mussels pops into your head, go here. Barra Callao is a small ceviche counter in North Miami Beach that turns Tuesday’s casual dinner plans into a salsa party featuring some of the best classic ceviche you can get in this city.
Even though the chef prepares food quickly, he’s doing it with just one other person—and sometimes all alone. So when this place gets packed, be prepared to hang around for a while and enjoy the salsa music constantly playing on the TV. Barra Callao is casual enough to show up in sweatpants, but the food is plated so elegantly, it makes us feel like we could come here in a tux and it wouldn’t be that weird.
Passion Fruit Pisco This passion fruit pisco is not on the menu, but just ask the chef and he’ll make it. The egg white is blended all together with the pisco creating a frothy texture like a fruity, edible shampoo.
How to eat your way across the tastiest street in Miami
Mariana is a Hialeah native who uses her degree in French studies to discover Miami’s best croissants
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The Detroit Free Press has learned that at least one top executive from a Detroit automaker is heading to the nation's capital this week to meet with the Trump administration ahead of expected major tariff announcements next week
which could include 25% levies on autos and parts entering the United States from Canada and Mexico
The auto industry has pushed back against the tariffs — which are the taxes importers pay when goods cross borders — and in early March won a 30-day reprieve
President Donald Trump granted the temporary exemption to auto companies that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Trump has signaled he will likely impose significant tariffs
In an effort to win either another reprieve or some mitigation from the tariffs
Ford Motor Co.'s Executive Chair Bill Ford is traveling to Washington
to meet with administration officials this week
according to people familiar with the plan
CEO Jim Farley will not be accompanying Ford
General Motors CEO and Chair Mary Barra will be having meetings with members of the administration
Ford's and Barra's meetings will be independent of each other
but the intention is the same: To address the impact tariffs would have on their companies
will also have a top executive in administration meetings
The information comes from four different people who are familiar with the situation
all of whom insisted on anonymity because they are not authorized to share this information publicly
Ford and Stellantis each declined to comment when the Free Press asked about their executives' engagement with the administration regarding tariffs
The automaker leaders have explained to the administration the dire impact tariffs would have across the industry
Even when a vehicle is made in the United States
and sometimes one part can cross the borders of all three countries multiple times before it reaches final assembly in the vehicle
For example, auto industry expert Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of Market Research at Telemetry Insights, told the Free Press in a February article that one automaker
gets the materials to make wire harnesses from Japan
Those materials go to Mexico to be made into the harness
then those harnesses are shipped to Texas to be attached to an air bag
Those are then shipped back to the automaker's plant in Mexico to be installed into a car seat
Then the vehicle is shipped back into the United States
If those parts are taxed each time they cross those borders
the bill could run into tens of thousands of dollars for this automaker
To build a new factory in the United States takes years and billions of dollars. Also, automakers would need to find new sources for parts, and all of that takes time, meaning they cannot pivot their production plans quickly
Ford is already building battery plants and electric vehicle assembly plants throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Farley has said the automaker is not planning to build more factories in the near term. He has said 25% tariffs across the Mexico and Canada borders "would blow a hole in the U.S. industry that we've never seen." Already
the talk of tariffs has created "cost and chaos" in the industry
that has added to the challenge of running the company
The stock prices for the Detroit carmakers did get a bounce earlier in the week over reports that automakers might dodge the most dreaded tariffs — the 25% levies on all Canadian and Mexican goods
News reports over the weekend said Trump might exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on April 2
A White Official told the Free Press on Monday, though, that no final decision had yet been made on whether the tariffs against Canada and Mexico would or would not be applied to the auto industry. Later in the day, Trump did not add any clarity to the question when speaking during an announcement of a Hyundai steel plant planned in Louisiana
“Not all tariffs are included that day," Trump said Monday
"For instance we’ll do some — as you know we’ve already done steel and aluminum and that’s at a 25% level and we are going to be doing automobiles
Here's where tariffs stand: Trump has increased tariffs on goods imported from China to 20%
He has imposed tariffs of 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods
but has exempted auto industry companies that are compliant with the USMCA from the tariffs until April 2
he announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all countries
Many countries have responded with imposing retaliatory tariffs on goods coming from the United States
More: Tariffs threaten to cut US auto sales by 700,000 in 2025 amid recession uncertainty
More: Major US steel manufacturer laying off 600 in Dearborn, citing weak auto demand
In the meantime, Ford and GM have been hustling autos and parts across the Canadian border as quickly as possible ahead of potential 25% tariffs on April 2
the union that represents Canada's autoworkers
Free Press staff writer Todd Spangler contributed to this report
Momentum34.50Growth78.39Quality-Value90.30Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGeneral Motors Co
President Donald Trump's tariffs on the automotive industry will cost the company over $5 billion
but assures that GM’s pricing will remain the same
What Happened: The company expects a tariff exposure of anywhere between “$4 to $5 billion,” GM said in a call with investors
the company does not expect to pass the costs on to the customer
"We believe …pricing is going to stay at about the same level as it is," Barra said in an interview with CNN on Thursday
"Pricing changes in our industry at least monthly
We're going to respond to the market," she said
Why It Matters: The news comes in as GM cuts its 2025 forecast
citing uncertainty in the auto industry as a result of Trump's auto tariffs
The company also lowered its Earnings Per Share or EPS guidance to $8.25 – $10.00
However, the Detroit-based automaker isn't the only company that isn't hiking prices for its vehicles. Recently, Ford Motor Co. F CEO Jim Farley announced the company would not hike its prices
but instead would extend the employee pricing program
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Elsewhere, President Trump's announcement that the administration will alleviate some of the tariffs levied on the auto industry and prevent ‘stacking' of tariffs could provide the sector with a boost
GM Stock scores well on Value and Quality metrics, and has a satisfactory score on Momentum and Growth metrics. For more such insights, sign up for Benzinga Edge today
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.
Photo courtesy: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com
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Barra became the first woman to head a global automaker
As a senior engineer at the Pontiac Fiero plant
Mary Barra gained hands-on experience in manufacturing and quality control
was GM’s first mass-produced mid-engine car and an ambitious attempt to blend fuel efficiency with sports car design
It featured plastic body panels over a steel frame
a lightweight structure that was ahead of its time
Early models had reliability issues and lacked the power and handling expected of a sports car
GM made improvements to the Fiero during its production
the Fiero remains notable for its innovative design and as one of GM’s early mid-engine experiments
Growing up in suburban Detroit, Barra was immersed in the automotive industry from an early age. Her father worked as a skilled die maker for GM for 39 years, and the new vehicles he would occasionally bring home helped spark her early interest in engineering and the company
she was captivated by a cousin’s late-’60s red Chevrolet Camaro convertible
After graduating, Barra became a senior engineer at GM’s Pontiac Fiero plant. Recognizing her leadership potential, General Motors awarded her a fellowship to attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Barra graduated with an MBA in 1990 and returned to GM, where she led manufacturing planning
Barra headed GM’s internal communications team
she became the plant manager for the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant
she was selected to serve as the company’s executive director of vehicle manufacturing engineering
and in 2008 she advanced to the position of vice president for GM’s global manufacturing engineering division
She continued to gain experience in diverse sectors within the company
working as GM’s vice president for global human resources beginning in 2009
she returned to the product and engineering side as senior vice president of global product development
and quality of the company’s vehicles worldwide
earning praise from industry leaders and making her the highest-ranking woman in the automotive industry
she was promoted to executive vice president for global product development
Barra was named the automaker’s CEO on December 10, 2013, and officially began her role January 15, 2014. At the time, Barra was just one of 23 women to head a Fortune 500 company
Her rise through the ranks of product development marked a shift from GM’s tradition of appointing CEOs from its finance division
When Mary Barra became GM’s CEO in 2014, she was one of just 23 women leading a Fortune 500 company. Although that number has grown, women still make up a small percentage of top executives
In 2024, 52 women led Fortune 500 companies, down slightly from a record 53 in 2023, representing just 10.4% of all companies on the list. Barra is among the longest-serving female CEOs, having surpassed 11 years in the role as of January 2025. Her tenure as top executive is the second longest in GM’s history, following Alfred P. Sloan, Jr.
who was president from 1923 to 1937 and chairman until 1956
She assumed leadership during a turbulent time for the company
she participated in congressional hearings about GM’s mishandling of faulty ignition switches installed in the Chevrolet Cobalt
a defect linked to more than 120 fatalities
GM acknowledged its role in failing to address the issue sooner and established a compensation fund for victims
Barra introduced a renewed focus on safety, transparency, and accountability
implementing new safety measures including a “speak up for safety” campaign to encourage employees to report unsafe practices
Barra was credited with guiding GM through what has been called the biggest safety crisis in its history
just one year after Barra took over as head
She was elected chairman of the board the following year and later adopted the gender-neutral title “chair.”
General Motors acquired robotaxi company Cruise in 2016
making it a key part of its autonomous vehicle strategy
GM shut down the unit in 2024 and shifted its focus to developing autonomous technologies rather than operating a taxi service
Barra set a goal for GM to become the most inclusive company in the world
prioritizing a diverse workforce and launching a new diversity
the company had reached a significant milestone
with women holding a majority of seats on the board of directors and expanded opportunities for women in executive roles and skilled trades
In 2021, under Barra’s leadership, GM became the first major U.S. automaker to set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. She spearheaded the company’s pledge to phase out production of vehicles using internal-combustion engines and transition to an all-electric lineup by 2035
As of January 2025, GM remained committed to these goals while other automakers, including Ford Motor Company (F), Volvo, and Jaguar Land Rover, have pushed back their timelines, citing moderating consumer demand for EVs and other factors
The airport is the only beach runway on the earth
relying on low tide to be open for take-offs and landings
there are now two daily flights between Barra and Glasgow
With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region and its high spatial resolution of about 50 to 300 feet (15 to 90 meters)
ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet
ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched Dec
The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of Economy
A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and data products
The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER provides scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring of dynamic conditions and temporal change
Example applications are monitoring glacial advances and retreats; monitoring potentially active volcanoes; identifying crop stress; determining cloud morphology and physical properties; wetlands evaluation; thermal pollution monitoring; coral reef degradation; surface temperature mapping of soils and geology; and measuring surface heat balance
science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena
The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate
More information about ASTER is available at http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/.
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General Motors CEO Mary Barra said her experience with President-elect Donald Trump is that he listens "intently" to input from industry — and she's counting on that as the automaker prepares to navigate potential regulatory policy changes next year that could impact GM's profits
Barra was asked Wednesday night at an Automotive Press Association event how she anticipates being able to work with Trump during his second term in the White House considering he has disdain for electric vehicles
GM is on a path to go all-electric by 2035
Trump has also talked about repealing the $7,500 federal tax credit that consumers get on certain EV purchases
Barra said the tax credit is driving EV demand and if it is taken away
Barra said she is looking forward to working with the new administration because she believes it shares many of the same goals as GM
"I think we’re very goal-aligned," Barra said
We want a strong manufacturing base in this country
I think there’s a lot that we could work on
But we’ve worked with many administrations for decades."
Barra was part of an economic policy team that met regularly with Trump to advise him on government policy and its impact on economic growth
Barra was a target of Trump's vitriol on what then was Twitter after GM announced plans to close several plants
Barra said GM could have executed the plant closures better by communicating its plans for employees to continue with the company at other facilities
Barra also talked about billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk
who has been tasked with leading Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not a real agency
and he and I have talked on a number of occasions," Barra said
"If you look at some of the bureaucracy that is hampering many industries and organizations ..
Barra said certain industrial processes can be made more efficient and still create jobs
She's confident the Trump administration will recognize GM's role in the auto industry along with all other automakers equally
“We’ll have to see what the policies will be," Barra said
"It’s hard for me to predict what will happen
If Trump does remove the federal tax credit
GM has other actions going on across the company to ensure its EVs get closer to profitability
GM has predicted that its losses from EV sales will lessen by $2 billion to $4 billion next year
it’s additional work we have to do," Barra said
"But it’s not changing our plan to do it quickly."
Barra also was asked about Trump's threat to impose heavy tariffs on goods made in Mexico and Canada and sold in the United States
GM builds vehicles in both countries to sell in the states
"(Higher tariffs) could have a very substantial impact," Barra said
"But this is part of the negotiations to accomplish these goals ..
how he responded in the past to industry input
"My experience has been that he listens intently
Barra described 2024 as a "great year of progress" for GM and said 2025 will be "an exciting year for General Motors" too
"We doubled our EV sales from last year to this year
… We expect to set another EV sales record in the fourth quarter," Barra said
More: GM's latest moves signal to experts restructuring ahead of an uncertain 2025
Barra said GM is being proactive to adjust to the changes it expects will keep happening as the industry evolves
GM is in the midst of a massive restructuring of its operations in China that is funded by its partners there
GM expects to be profitable in the world's largest auto market again
GM is the largest stakeholder in the self-driving technology company Cruise
Barra said GM is no longer approaching the market as a legacy automaker doing the same things it always did; now it asks
We’re going to be around for the next 100 years.”
More: The last new car you can buy for less than $20,000 — and it's going away soon
This story was updated to add correct information
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Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast
6 of the Heaviest Waves in the World
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Known as a “defender of the land” Cristino Castro Peres was murdered in Barra de La Cruz at 63 years old
The sleepy surf community of Barra de La Cruz is not where you’d expect to hear of any serious crimes
Only modest homestays and rentals that are all owned collectively by the community
The murder of 63 year-old Cristino Castro Perea
a community elder and environmental activist
has rocked the small surf town to its core
“We are mourning the loss of Cristino Castro Peres
murdered for his strong defense of one of the world’s most important leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches
a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and National Sea Turtle Reserve and a globally known surf spot
“We stand in solidarity with the indigenous community of Barra de la Cruz
who have resisted efforts to develop their communally owned coastline
but have suffered violence at the hands of speculators and would-be developers
but the very nature of the coastline we have come to love
“The indigenous land ownership is what has prevented the development of Oaxaca from the tropical forests of the mountains
That’s why Oaxaca doesn’t look like the rest of the Pacific Coast of Mexico.”
There have now been two murders of activists in recent months
a clear sign that speculators and would-be developers have major interests in the area
foul play could continue until the communities feel pressured to vote against their own interests
Land grabs can happen quickly when developers have dollar signs in their eyes
the international community that loves Oaxaca needs to stay vigilant to support the preservation of the land
Over the years, the community of Barra de La Cruz has resisted these efforts despite being a world-class wave and popular surf destination. Barra, as it is known, exists in stark contrast to its famous cousin to the north, Puerto Escondido
that is suffering from overdevelopment that threatens to ruin the very wave that made it famous
To learn more about the history of Puerto Escondido
and how development is threatening the wave
we highly recommend watching Place of Thorns
Barra has stayed true to its puebla roots and everyone in the community knows each other
even though they don’t always agree–there have been attempts over the years to develop the town
there is really no need to develop the coast–that’s exactly the appeal of Oaxaca
a wildness and raw beauty of pristine beaches
While she refrained from commenting on Musk's role as an auto industry ambassador
she pointed out potential opportunities for improving government processes
General Motors Co. Chair and CEO Mary Barra has been named Fortune's most powerful woman in business
The 27th edition of the Fortune Most Powerful Women in business list recognizes 100 global leaders. The list includes 65 female CEOs and the ranking is based on company size and health
influence beyond their organization and how they wield power
Fortune described Barra as a "trailblazer in the auto industry" and noted that among the 55 women currently leading Fortune 500 companies, Barra is one of only nine who have been CEO for a decade or more
Below are the top 10 "Most Powerful Women":
Fortune published its first "Most Powerful Women" list in 1998 to recognize the women leading some of the biggest companies in a business world still dominated by men
More GM news: GM reports 2.2% US sales dip in 3rd quarter, cites lower fleet demand
More on GM: GM is ready to let go of scores of factory temps due to a disagreement with local UAW
Barra will speak at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit on Oct
Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com
CEO Mary Barra acknowledged Wednesday that higher tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada under the incoming Trump administration "could have a very substantial impact" on the automaker
But she added that President-elect Donald Trump's recent statements calling for 25% tariffs on goods imported from the two countries "is part of the negotiation
to accomplish goals," and that she understands there had been recent productive conversations between him and the leaders of Canada and Mexico
"We're providing input in the background to what certain things would (do)
That's our role as new policy is considered."
makes gas-powered Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty trucks
the all-electric Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer and the gas-powered Equinox and Blazer
the GMC Terrain and the coming Cadillac Optiq EV
engines and parts of the EV powertrain system in Mexico
GM produces light and heavy-duty trucks and Chevrolet BrightDrop EVs
More: Ontario premier: US energy exports will be cut off if Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on Canada
she and the company at times drew the ire of Trump — related to producing ventilators during the pandemic
she notably didn't say anything that might put GM in the crosshairs again
and noted that the company and Trump are "goal aligned" on wanting a strong manufacturing base and building up the auto industry in general
"Any time you have an administrative change
there's policy changes that occur," she said
"We've been working with any every administration for the last several decades
and General Motors will continue to do that
But I'm actually looking forward to working with the president and with the administration
because I think we can grow the importance of the auto industry and manufacturing
and so I think there's a lot that we have in common."
With both President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump
"you're having factual conversations," she said
and views her role as CEO as someone who can help politicians understand "the implications and realities" of policies they might be considering
Barra also briefly weighed in on Elon Musk
who has become a key adviser to Trump and will spearhead the new Department of Government Efficiency
which aims to cut regulations and government spending
She acknowledged she does not know what his "complete priorities" might be
and avoided answering a question about whether he would be a good ambassador for the auto industry in the new administration
but said there could be some positive aspects to DOGE
"If you look at some of the bureaucracy and regulations that are impacting many
there is ample room to have streamlined processes," Barra said
right now the permitting process is done very serially
No one's trying to do something that's not right for the environment or not right for the community
but if everything has to be done in series
that's when you find you're in a situation where it takes you 10 years to get the permits approved to do something."
Trump has pledged to roll back Biden's Inflation Reduction Act policies that have helped increase EV adoption
And he also has promised to cut back on more stringent federal and state emissions requirements that have spurred automakers to develop more EVs
Barra said all of that was sure to affect EV demand and the profitability of GM's expanding electric lineup
The Detroit automaker's EV sales increased 60% year-over-year in the third quarter and were up 46% from the second quarter of 2024
GM reported record electric-vehicle deliveries of 32,095
making the automaker the second-best EV seller behind Tesla
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Mary Barra is the second longest-tenured CEO at General Motors
her relationship with incoming President Donald Trump
the influence of Elon Musk and enormous challenges in China
DETROIT – Mary Barra is closing out her 10th year as CEO of General Motors with several challenges looming: the bumpy transition to EVs; restructuring GM’s China operations; a history of conflict with incoming President Donal Trump; and a change of direction in the company’s autonomous-driving investments
Barra addressed the issues at a meeting with media at a gathering of the Automotive Press Assn
Barra acknowledges some friction in Trump’s first term
especially over the closing of GM’s Lordstown
but says she looks forward to meeting with Trump and his policy advisers
"I think we’re very goal-aligned," Barra says
having such an influential role in auto industry policy
Barra says: “I can’t really speak to his (Musk’s) intentions
and he and I have talked on a number of occasions
If you look at some of the bureaucracy that is hampering many industries and organizations...there is room for streamlining."
Barra points to the intentions of Musk and other Trump choices to make permitting of everything from plants to EV chargers faster as a positive change
GM just announced a $5 billion charge in the fourth quarter to pay for restructuring costs in China
and says the automaker is committed to staying in the communist country
Barra also announced this week that the company has changed direction with regard to its investments in the Cruise robo-taxi venture on which it has spent billions
Barra says she decided robo-taxis are not GM’s core business
but learnings from Cruise will be applied to autonomous-driving technology in GM’s passenger vehicles
Barra has led General Motors as CEO since January 2014
marking over a decade of significant transformation and achievement at the automaker
She is also GM’s longest-tenured CEO since Alfred Sloan
Barra took over a GM that had already gone through a bankruptcy reorganization
shedding the legacy expenses and obligations that had long burdened the automaker’s cash flow and earnings
Some of the heavy lifting of reorganization was led by two CEOs from outside the company and industry: Dan Akerson (2010-2014) and Edward Whitacre Jr
But Barra was a key figure working under Akerson in strategizing the future and was tapped as his successor to continue the work
This path differed markedly from many of her predecessors – G
who rose to the CEO’s office through the company’s Treasury office
It was thought in those days that one had to be a finance expert to run GM rather than a business leader
Barra has focused GM on building quality vehicles and maintaining industry-leading efficiency
GM’s GMAC division became one of the country’s leading mortgage companies
Roger Smith acquired information technology company EDS (Electronic Data Systems)
Saab and Hummer – that were bogging down the company’s efficiency and enterprise performance
she sold GM Europe to what would become Stellantis
turning the page on a perennial money-losing region
GM leads all legacy automakers in headcount-to-vehicles-produced efficiency
compared with 29 for Toyota and 14 for Volkswagen
and the first woman to lead a major automaker
the company has become a model in the area of diversity-equity-inclusion management practices
Despite the current backlash against DEI by business leaders like Tesla’s Musk and many politicians
Barra’s commitment shows DEI practices are not just good citizenship
EV Transition: While setting an aggressive agenda to transform GM’s lineup to EVs
she has kept the company agile enough to adapt to the slowdown in EV demand and rollback in EV mandates while keeping competitive offerings as GM protects its robust profits from gasoline-powered pickups and SUVs
GM set an EV sales record in the third quarter of this year
GM reported revenue of $147 billion in 2018
the last year before a UAW strike and two years before the COVID pandemic curtailed growth
$157 billion (2022) and $171 billion (2023)
Shareholder Return: Investors would have done better investing in Tesla rather than GM over the past 10 years
but they also would have been better off investing in GM than cross-town rival Ford
Considering both stock price appreciation and cumulative dividends
total shareholder return for GM is 71.4% versus a decline of 10.2% for Ford over the same period
GM beat Wall Street earnings expectations 37 out of 38 quarters
Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion: GM has had a long history of forging disastrous joint ventures
Fiat and Toyota to supply or provide GM with what it could not do on its own
such as collaborating with Honda on EV development – with Honda utilizing GM’s Ultium EV platform – and now a new and developing JV with Hyundai Group
Product Innovation and Quality: GM has streamlined its vehicle platforms and emphasized design and quality
resulting in a more competitive and appealing product lineup
Chevrolet ranked second overall with a score of 160 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100)
outperforming the industry average of 195 PP100
securing the fifth position with 164 PP100
GM led the industry with six model-level awards
Chevrolet ranked fourth overall with a score of 174 PP100
better than the industry average of 190 PP100
showcasing GM's focus on long-term reliability
Poise Under Fire: Barra has effectively navigated GM through various challenges
including restructuring operations in China
addressing issues within the Cruise autonomous-vehicle unit and addressing the ignition-failure recall and government investigation that she faced early in her tenure
Wall Street analysts have noted her ability to manage crises and implement strategic changes as a core strength
Smart Investments in Hydrogen: Barra has continued to make smart investments in hydrogen power technology that began at GM in the 1960s
Despite lack of returns into the 1990s and 2000s
Barra recognizes that scaled hydrogen power is an inevitability that could be a significant revenue stream for GM
Geopolitical conflicts with fossil fuels at their core have moved the U.S.
the EU and China to advance development of hydrogen as a significant energy source for stationary power and mobility
GM is well-positioned to profit from the shift
Commitment to Modernity: Before Barra calls it a day as CEO
she will have moved GM out of its Renaissance Center headquarters in Detroit
known for its exterior that dominates the Detroit skyline but also an interior architecture that can best be described as labyrinthine
She has migrated many white-collar workers to the Warren
Tech Center in which she has invested millions to modernize
and committed GM to occupy considerable office space in downtown Detroit in the new Hudson’s Detroit complex
David Kiley is an award winning journalist
Kiley held senior editorial posts at USA Today
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Cars have always been more than a mode of transport for Mary Barra
where her dad worked as a die maker at General Motors
Barra recalls the thrill of seeing a brand-new automobile
and I distinctly remember the whole neighborhood would come over to check it out,” she says
it sparked an interest in GM and engineering
My father and I have over 80 years with the company
Barra is chair and CEO of GM and has led the company for more than a decade
during which time the auto industry has seen transformational changes
GM has charted an aggressive growth strategy
including investments in electric vehicle manufacturing
while beating analyst expectations in 35 of the last 36 quarters
Barra served as GM’s executive vice president for global product development
and supply chain and as senior vice president of global product development
Barra led teams responsible for the worldwide design
she served as vice president of global human resources
vice president of global manufacturing engineering
and in several other executive engineering and staff positions at GM
Adding to a long list of accolades during her career
Barra this spring received the 2024 Ernest C
presented annually for excellence in management leadership
My parents grew up during the Great Depression
Neither of them had the opportunity to go to college
but they believed in the American Dream and shared with my brother and me from a very early age that there is no substitute for hard work
My mother instilled in us that if you work hard
you can do or be anything that you set your mind to
Reflecting on that gave me a sense of purpose and confidence as I progressed throughout my career
I had the opportunity to lead global product development; I oversaw the engineering
and quality teams for every global vehicle launch
It’s an incredible job where you work hand-in-hand with the team to make decisions about each program
so I have such a connection with all of our cars
I joke that having a front-row seat to that piece of the business makes picking my favorite car like trying to pick my favorite child – and we all know you can’t
I’m really loving the all-new Chevrolet Equinox EV
and I cannot wait to hear more customer response
I truly believe it’s the vehicle that is going to make people who never would have considered an EV take a serious look at owning one
the company faced the ignition switch crisis
We had to address it by accepting full responsibility
and prioritizing the safety of our customers first and foremost
Managing this crisis was incredibly challenging and taught me a lot about leadership and culture
I strongly believe behaviors set your culture – and that’s not something you can fake
we undertook what I believe is the most comprehensive safety review in GM’s history and created a safety-first culture to ensure nothing like this could ever happen again
and the impact of that transformation is still felt today
We do our best every day to engrain safety
integrity and doing what’s right for the customer in every GM employee
And this is exactly what makes me feel confident that we will do what we need to do to set GM up for a future that is all-electric
it’s important to surround yourself with a strong leadership team where every person is empowered to lead
the leadership team and I outline our goals for the year and the benchmarks that will drive those results
Then we roll this out to the entire company so every employee understands how they fit into our strategy
We’ve seen we can do remarkable and inspiring things when we have shared a vision
It brings clarity and helps every member of the GM team prioritize the work and the results we seek
I instill the importance of always acting with integrity
this means being driven by ingenuity and innovation
having the courage to do and say what’s difficult
I would also say never taking our eyes off the customer and keeping them at the center of everything we do
Third-party forecasts see EV deliveries rising to at least 10 percent of the industry in 2024
which means another year of record EV sales
We know the growth rate may vary over time
especially as we bring more vehicles to market in high-volume segments
I’m very optimistic about the future of GM
I truly believe our product lineup has never been stronger
and I’m extremely proud of the team we’ve built
we have a diverse team that brings an array of different experiences
People are often surprised to hear that 40 percent of our team has been with us for five years or less
We’re bringing in the right talent with the right skills to help us realize our vision – and it’s our vision and purpose that draw people to work at GM
We’ve assembled a great team of very talented people who are doing exactly what we need them to do
Which is why we have focused on cultural changes that dramatically improved our quality and our ability to quickly identify and fix issues when they do happen
I always say that before I came to Stanford GSB
I was 26 years old and lived in southeast Michigan my entire life
I had worked for General Motors since I was 18
From accounting to corporate culture to entrepreneurship
and I learned to see the world from a different perspective
My experiences on campus changed my life and accelerated my career
The GSB helped me cultivate a learning mindset
which is something that resonates with me to this day
like what we see happening in the automotive industry
and an environment where every voice is valued and heard
These are all things I saw in action at the GSB
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The electric vehicle world is a graveyard of promises. A year ago
it seemed like General Motors might need to pick out a few burial plots of its own there
Certainly, GM wasn’t alone in looking at the rise of Tesla and China’s electric automakers and saying, “How hard can this be?”, only to get crushed by reality. But adding the zero-emission dreams of America’s largest automaker—and one that once vowed to go all-electric by 2035—to that graveyard felt especially bleak
GM CEO Mary Barra is still up for a good challenge
(Welcome to The Breakthrough Awards
InsideEVs' year-end awards program recognizing the EVs
people and technologies that are paving the way for our clean energy transition
Read about the awards and the other contenders below.)
Business schools also teach stupid things, like how short-term shareholder returns aren’t your most important concern but your only one. Instead, we gave Barra this award for what GM has done for consumers, above all else: the Equinox EV in particular is the affordable
mainstream electric option that American families have been clamoring for
helped break the electric car out of the “high-end spaceship” paradigm it’s been stuck in way too long
GM CEO Mary Barra with the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
Barra certainly delivered on her promise to make 2024 a “year of execution.”
Yet even a good CEO can only do so much herself
It’d be a mistake to say that Barra alone rolled up her sleeves
dug in and cracked the code for fixing all those problems; she is not the person that Elon Musk pretends to be online
That’s also why she deserves credit for acknowledging
one of GM’s greatest historic weaknesses: its insularity
GM's prevailing attitude was that everything produced within the company was better than without
which is why its roster of engineers and managers is so dominated by cradle-to-grave lifers
But in a world defined by batteries and software
some fresh perspectives are necessary right now
There are many more examples of high-profile hires from Tesla
a company long known for refusing to look outside of itself for answers
None of that is meant to diminish the considerable talent within GM
It remains one of the greatest engineering firms in the world
and this turnaround could not have happened without its existing talent’s vast carmaking know-how
We’ve spoken to countless engineers and product planners who have worked at GM for decades and have not only been bitten by the electric “bug,” but are determined to win the future
But it takes a leader who can see how all of those components can work together and make sure it happens
It continues to impress us that GM’s reversal came at the hands of a CEO who’s been on the job for almost 11 years and is a company “lifer” herself
Maybe it’s because she put herself through college working on a GM assembly line and rose through the ranks overseeing global manufacturing
personnel and product development; she's always been a person who can see how systems should fit together
Barra has been a beacon in countless other ways
including as one of the most powerful women leaders in the world
And besides things like sales and profits and new model launches
there's the stuff that deserves more attention than it gets
like the innovations with the hands-free driving aid Super Cruise or GM Energy’s efforts with charging and electric home power
and under Barra’s watch—until 2027 may be a troubling sign for its agility
GM CEO Mary Barra at the 2024 Cadillac Celestiq reveal
let alone for the day when companies like BYD and Xpeng and Nio arrive on GM’s home turf
The evening before this story was published
Barra announced GM was throwing in the towel on its Cruise Robotaxi service
only time will tell if GM got anything out of it besides more than $10 billion in losses
That's the game these days. For an industry as entrenched as this one
nothing in this new future is promised and promises mean nothing
seems to have a collective talent for getting up and hitting back twice as hard when it’s knocked down
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated who is leading GM's Software and Services organization
Baris Cetinok and Dave Richardson oversee this division
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talks to Whisky Magazine about the new Isle of Barra whisky distillery
and shares a preview of the brand's first whisky releases
Image: Co-founders Katie and Michael Morrison on the Isle of Barra
When Michael and Katie Morrison founded Isle of Barra Distillers in 2017
they always intended to move into whisky one day
They didn’t expect that day to come quite so soon
It was customer and community reception to their spirits (which until now has included gin
and rum) which made distilling Barra single malt a less-distant prospect
Planning for the new £12 million single malt distillery on the westerly Scottish island of Barra began in 2021
the team are due to break ground on the new site in January 2025
The work is groundbreaking in another way: it will be the first (legal) whisky distillery on the island
Barra — the filming location of 1949 whisky romp Whisky Galore
— was always going to be the perfect place for a whisky distillery
“It'll be huge for the island,” says Michael Morrison
such a kind of history with Whisky Galore!
that kind of background story… I just think Barra is screaming out for a single malt whisky distillery.”
the distillery will have its own bottling site and bonded warehouse
as well as a visitor centre with hospitality and retail offerings
Isle of Barra expects to produce around 200,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum
with capacity to fill 1,600 casks each year
Works were originally scheduled to begin in October 2024
but an archaeological discovery postponed the start
a survey uncovered pottery estimated to be 3,000 years old
A team of archaeologists is currently onsite studying the area
which they believe could have been used to dispose of rubbish from an ancient settlement nearby
Michael enjoys seeing physical work happening on the site after the years of preparation
“It's really quite nice to actually see diggers on the ground and quite a bit of movement there
because we’ve always been working towards this since we obviously started [in 2017]
but then really pushing on since early 2021,” he says
to actually see something physical happening is really nice.”
A key goal of the new distillery has been to provide value to the island’s local community
but opportunities can be limited and many people — including Michael and Katie
at one time — leave the island to seek better employment prospects and housing
In the first year of the distillery project Isle of Barra expects to create 14 new jobs
It’s a relationship of exchange: the support from the community is part of what has enabled the Morrisons to grow their Barra distillery
so vital to the whole thing,” says Michael
the community's really got behind the project… There's really nothing like this on Barra
It will be a landmark building in terms of employment opportunities
and just breathe huge amount of life into a remote community on the west of Scotland.”
“Whisky’s such a prominent thing in Scotland and across the world
and I think we owe it to the island to certainly go ahead and do it.”
the distillery expects to be running its first whisky distillation in late 2026
meaning the first Barra single malt may be coming of age in next five or six years; a huge milestone promising exciting times ahead for the island distillery
The whisky style that Morrison envisions is one that reflects the different aspects of Barra
from its rugged nature to tranquil beaches
but Michael thinks the core style is destined to be a “softer”
To whet whisky lovers’ appetites before the anticipated single malt
Isle of Barra is launching two blended whiskies
the results of its distillery team’s early forays into whisky making
The first is the non-age-statement Barra Blended Scotch
blended from whiskies aged in casks including second-fill Sauternes and first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry
The distillery says the resulting flavour profile has a balance of fruity
Released alongside the blended Scotch is the Barra 10 Years Old Blended Malt
“It's really exciting because the spirits we do already
but whisky's totally different,” Michael says
reflecting on the distillery’s first whisky releases
“You know what it is when you walk in a whisky distillery and you get the smells and stuff like that
Barra Distillers Blended Scotch (46% ABV, £45) and 10 Years Old Blended Malt (46% ABV, £70) will be available from Monday 9 December via isleofbarradistillers.com
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Gilberto Amillano said Sea Barra's brick-and-mortar location will open in the spring of 2025
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