GM Defense
GM Defense is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors that designs, validates, and manufactures military vehicles and equipment — primarily the Infantry Squad Vehicle family — for the U.S. Army, Department of State, NASA, and allied governments including the UK Ministry of Defence.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GM Defense does
GM Defense L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors that designs, validates, manufactures, and sustains military vehicles, power systems, and related equipment for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments, and select federal agencies. The company was re-established in 2017 after GM's prior defense business was divested to General Dynamics in 2003, and operates a production facility in Concord, North Carolina alongside its Detroit, Michigan headquarters and a UK subsidiary. Its core product lines include the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) family — a light nine-passenger troop transporter based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, the heavier ISV-H built on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD platform with hybrid-electric power export for directed-energy weapons, and the ISV-Utility variant — plus the X-PEM battlefield energy system leveraging GM's commercial EV batteries, the Chevrolet Suburban HD armored government security vehicle, and battery technology contributed to NASA's Pegasus lunar rover for the Artemis program.
The underlying technology architecture is built directly on General Motors' commercial platforms and components, including NCMA cathode batteries, Hydrotec fuel cell systems, and Chevrolet truck chassis. This "commercial-to-defense" model is the central differentiator: GM Defense repurposes GM's high-volume automotive manufacturing processes, EV powertrain development, and supply chains for low-rate defense production, claiming that the Concord facility was constructed and began producing ISVs in just over 90 days. The company also holds historic claim as "the largest commercial provider of military vehicles in history" based on GM's continuous support to U.S. armed forces since 1914 across WWI, WWII, Korea, and subsequent conflicts.
GM Defense's business model is concentrated almost entirely on long-cycle government procurement. Revenue is generated through competitive defense contracts (e.g., $214.3M ISV contract, $36.4M Department of State Large Support Utility contract, ~$280M ISV-H pursuit at ~$463,000 per vehicle) and strategic teaming arrangements with defense primes including Lockheed Martin (munitions manufacturing), L3Harris (VAMPIRE counter-drone integration), and the Team LionStrike consortium (NP Aerospace, BAE Systems) for international pursuits. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Department of State, NASA, and the UK Ministry of Defence, supported by participation in defense exhibitions (AUSA, Eurosatory), direct procurement channels, and brand-building charity events. Sub-brands include the ISV platform family, X-PEM, VAMPIRE integration, and SURUS (an unmanned fuel-cell concept).
GM Defense firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GM Defense
- Legal name
- GM Defense L.L.C.
- Website
- https://gmdefensellc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- GM Defense is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors that designs, validates, and manufactures military vehicles and equipment — primarily the Infantry Squad Vehicle family — for the U.S. Army, Department of State, NASA, and allied governments including the UK Ministry of Defence.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GM Defense industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Vehicle Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing (336992), Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (3361)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Military Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (Light/Medium/Heavy) (IMABAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration (IMABAJAI), Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD), Military & Tactical Off-Highway Vehicles (Armored, Tactical Mobility) (IMAHAIAJ)
Keywords
Where GM Defense is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
GM Defense business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Defense Vehicle Manufacturing: GM Defense earns revenue through government defense contracts to design, build, field, and sustain military vehicles. Major contracts include the $214.3M ISV contract for the U.S. Army, $36.4M Large Support Utility Commercial Vehicle contract for the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, and pursuit of the 606-vehicle ISV-H contract valued at approximately $280M.
- Technology Licensing and Integration: Revenue generated through licensing GM's advanced battery and propulsion technologies for defense applications, including fuel cell systems for lunar rovers and EV battery systems for military power applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | ISV-Heavy (ISV-H) tactical vehicle unit price |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GM Defense product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GM Defense designs, validates, and manufactures military vehicles, power and propulsion systems, and equipment for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied government customers. Its core products are built primarily on commercial Chevrolet platforms adapted for tactical use, including the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) family, Next Gen prototype, General Support Utility Platform, armored Suburban HD, and the X-PEM battlefield energy system leveraging GM's EV battery technology.
Product overview
GM Defense offers a portfolio of military vehicles and power systems built on commercial General Motors platforms adapted for defense applications. The core product line includes the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) family (standard ISV, heavy ISV-H, and utility ISV-U variants) based on Chevrolet platforms, along with the Next Gen prototype featuring silent operation and advanced sensors. Supporting this vehicle portfolio are power solutions including the X-PEM energy system using EV batteries for battlefield power, and battery technology for NASA's Pegasus lunar rover. The company also partners with Lockheed Martin on munitions manufacturing and supplies armored vehicles like the Suburban HD for government security services. International offerings include the General Support Utility Platform (GSUP) for UK defense programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV): Light and agile nine passenger troop transporter for the U.S. Army based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
- ISV-Heavy (ISV-H)
- Infantry Squad Vehicle-Utility (ISV-U)
- X-PEM Energy System
- VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Integration
Products and services
- Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) A light and agile nine-passenger troop transporter for the U.S. Army based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, designed for rapid deployment and tactical mobility.
- Infantry Squad Vehicle-Heavy (ISV-H) A heavier hybrid-powered variant of the ISV built on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD platform, designed to generate and export up to 60 kW of continuous high-voltage DC power, 15 kW of 28V DC, and 4.8 kW of 120V AC power for directed energy weapons and field equipment. Planned U.S. Army procurement of 606 vehicles at approximately $463,000 per unit.
- Infantry Squad Vehicle-Utility (ISV-U) A militarized version of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, equipped with a Duramax turbodiesel engine for military off-road use; first publicly-sold unit auctioned for charity at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach.
- Next Gen Military Vehicle Prototype Prototype vehicle featuring silent operation modes and advanced sensor capabilities based on a commercial Chevrolet Silverado chassis.
- X-PEM Energy System An energy system using GM's EV batteries to provide a quieter, fuel-efficient battlefield power alternative, capable of operating in various modes including microgrid and hybrid configurations.
- General Support Utility Platform (GSUP) A diesel truck based on the Chevrolet S10 using nearly 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf parts, offered as a platform option for the UK Ministry of Defence's Land Mobility Programme through Team LionStrike consortium with NP Aerospace and BAE Systems.
- Chevrolet Suburban HD (Heavy Duty) Armored SUV originally built for U.S. government security services under a $36.4 million contract awarded in September 2021, featuring LT4 V8 supercharged engine producing around 650 HP for diplomatic security missions.
- Pegasus Lunar Rover Battery Technology Advanced battery technology including NCMA cathode developed by GM Defense for the Pegasus lunar rover being developed by Lunar Outpost for NASA's Artemis mission targeting a 2028 crewed moon landing.
Quantifiable outcome
- ISV facility constructed and producing vehicles in over 90 days from start of construction
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GM Defense
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GM Defense technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
GM Defense partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered potential, flagship, core, minor and major.
- RTX (Raytheon Technologies)potentialGM has held separate talks with RTX and L3Harris about similar production-boosting arrangements beyond the Lockheed Martin MOU, as part of broader efforts to strengthen US defense manufacturing and munitions supply chains.
- L3Harris Technologies (Production Talks)potentialBeyond the VAMPIRE integration partnership, GM has held separate discussions with L3Harris about production-boosting arrangements to expand manufacturing capacity for defense products.
- Lockheed MartinflagshipStrategic partnership under MOU facilitated by U.S. Department of War to strengthen America's manufacturing and defense industrial base. The collaboration combines Lockheed Martin's defense production expertise with GM's advanced industrial capabilities, focusing on strengthening defense supply chains, advancing manufacturing and design capabilities, and expanding production capacity. Initial efforts explore accelerating production readiness and applying commercial manufacturing approaches to missile systems including PAC-3 MSE and THAAD interceptors.
- NASA / Lunar OutpostcoreGM Defense contributing advanced battery technology including NCMA cathode to the Pegasus lunar rover being developed by Lunar Outpost for NASA's Artemis mission targeting a 2028 crewed moon landing. The space program partnership enhances GM's vehicle electrification credibility alongside its commercial EV battery roadmap.
- Hendrick Technical SolutionsminorHendrick Technical Solutions co-manufactures the rollover protection system and chassis exoskeleton for the Infantry Squad Vehicle. Rick Hendrick (owner of Hendrick Motorsports and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group) won the auction for the first publicly-sold ISV-U at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction.
- L3Harris TechnologiescoreL3Harris VAMPIRE counter-unmanned system (C-UxS) successfully integrated onto GM Defense's Infantry Squad Vehicle, creating a mobile counter-drone solution meeting U.S. Army requirements for rapid deployment and tactical mobility. The production facility features flexible assembly and testing capabilities that can scale as demand grows.
- Team LionStrike Consortium (NP Aerospace, BAE Systems)majorUK-based subsidiary operating under Team LionStrike consortium alongside NP Aerospace and BAE Systems to support British defence priorities and sovereign capabilities. Primary target is UK Ministry of Defence's Land Mobility Programme valued at approximately £4.8 billion, offering the General Support Utility Platform and Infantry Squad Vehicle.
- Medal of Honor FoundationminorStrategic partnership announced at the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition to advance warfighter readiness and inspire citizenship. Joint commitment highlighting valor and innovation, with GM Defense auctioning vehicles to raise funds for the foundation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GM Defense competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Rheinmetall: Rheinmetall is a major European defense prime producing the Leopard 2 tank, Boxer, and GTK armored vehicles, directly relevant to GM Defense's pursuit of NATO and European defense opportunities through Team LionStrike.
- Nexter (KNDS): Nexter (now part of KNDS) produces the VBCI, Griffon, and Jaguar armored vehicles for the French armed forces and is a relevant regional peer for European tactical vehicle opportunities GM Defense is pursuing via consortiums.
Broad incumbents
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is both a GM Defense partner (VAMPIRE counter-drone integration onto ISV) and a broad defense incumbent building autonomous, sensing, and mission systems that increasingly intersect with the integrated vehicle platform that GM Defense is positioning its products around.
- Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a strategic partner via the June 2026 MOU focused on PAC-3 MSE and THAAD production, but as a defense prime with a broad portfolio it also represents an incumbent that GM Defense is integrating with and could compete against in adjacent mission systems.
- BAE Systems (Land & Armaments): BAE Systems is a large global defense prime producing the Bradley, CV90, and a wide portfolio of armored vehicles; it is also a Team LionStrike consortium partner with GM Defense for the UK Land Mobility Programme.
- Textron (Textron Systems / Bell): Textron Systems developed the TAPV (light tactical vehicle) for the U.S. Army and produces military vehicles alongside its broader aerospace and systems portfolio, making it a broad incumbent peer in the tactical wheeled vehicle category.
Direct peers
- Oshkosh Defense: Oshkosh Defense is the most direct U.S. competitor to GM Defense, producing the JLTV, FHTV, and a hybrid-electric eJLTV variant — directly contesting the ISV/ISV-H and is already fielded with the Marine Corps for counter-drone and light tactical missions.
- AM General: AM General manufactures the HMMWV/Humvee family of light tactical military vehicles and is pursuing next-generation light tactical vehicle programs that directly overlap with GM Defense's ISV franchise for U.S. Army and allied customers.
- General Dynamics Land Systems: General Dynamics Land Systems builds the Stryker, LAV, and Abrams platforms — competing with GM Defense in armored wheeled vehicles and also relevant because GM historically sold its defense business to General Dynamics in 2003.
Emerging players
- Navistar Defense: Navistar Defense produces MaxxPro MRAPs and tactical vehicles derived from commercial International truck platforms — a peer in commercial-platform-derived military vehicles similar to GM Defense's Chevrolet-based approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GM Defense social profiles
Digital presenceGM Defense financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GM Defense leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GM Defense subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GM Defense funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GM Defense M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GM Defense
What does GM Defense do?
GM Defense designs, validates, and manufactures military vehicles, power and propulsion systems, and equipment for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied government customers. Its core products are built primarily on commercial Chevrolet platforms adapted for tactical use, including the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) family, Next Gen prototype, General Support Utility Platform, armored Suburban HD, and the X-PEM battlefield energy system leveraging GM's EV battery technology.
Is GM Defense a public or private company?
GM Defense is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GM Defense founded?
GM Defense was founded in 2017. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is GM Defense based?
GM Defense is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does GM Defense make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense Vehicle Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and Integration.
Who are GM Defense's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Rheinmetall and Nexter (KNDS). Broad incumbents are L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems (Land & Armaments) and Textron (Textron Systems / Bell). Direct peers are Oshkosh Defense, AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems. Navistar Defense is listed as an emerging player.
Does GM Defense have an API?
No public API is recorded for GM Defense.
What industry is GM Defense in?
GM Defense's product category is Military Vehicle Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAJAK, Military Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (Light/Medium/Heavy), with a secondary code of IMABAJAI, Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration. Its NAICS code is 336992 and its SIC code is 3711.