What was the first computer your family owned? For me, it was a clunky beige cube that my parents bought in the early 1990s. It took up a whole bookshelf and hogged the phone line.
If you grew up in a Buick household, your family’s history with computers might reach all the way back to 1971. That’s when General Motors introduced the world’s first computerized traction control system, capable of detecting and preventing wheelspin when driving in slippery conditions. Dubbed Max Trac, the system debuted on the 1971 Buick Riviera, kicking off more than 50 years of GM advancement in computerized safety systems.
On GM News, Chris Perkins delves into the past, present, and future of traction-aiding technology. From the rudimentary beginnings of Max Trac to today’s astoundingly capable GM EVs, the evolution of traction control encapsulates the spirit of continual innovation that drives everything we do at GM.
Innovation, in the form of Super Cruise1 driver assistance technology, also powered a cross-Canada road trip. Drivers of Super Cruise-equipped GM vehicles toured from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland, almost entirely hands-free.
Continuing the patriotic celebration of America 250, this week GM celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Fairfax Assembly & Stamping Plant in Kansas City. Fairfax is where the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is assembled, and the plant pulled together 350 red, white and blue Bolts to create what might possibly be the largest American flag made of parked EVs. It was quite the spectacle.
Finally, this week marked the end of GM’s 2026 summer internship program. Four of GM’s stellar interns celebrated by exploring Detroit with the help of available Google Gemini2 built into a Chevrolet Blazer EV SS. From finding a great coffee shop to curating the perfect playlist, Gemini proved itself to be the ultimate driving companion.
We’ve come a long way from those boxy beige computers and the early days of Max Trac. Technology, innovation, and the constant pursuit of improvement – that’s the story at GM, this week and always.
–Bob Sorokanich, Senior Editor, GM News
