No single owner controls General Motors. It is a widely held public company with one class of common stock, and the table of 5% owners in its 2026 proxy statement lists BlackRock (8.3%) and State Street (5.2%), based on their filings for 31 March 2025 and 30 September 2025. Chair and CEO Mary Barra beneficially owned 1,658,807 shares, including options, which is less than 1%. The US Treasury, which rescued GM in 2009, sold its final stake in December 2013.
GM has a single class of common stock listed on the NYSE. There were 903,967,853 shares outstanding on 15 January 2026 and 877,451,541 on 10 July 2026.
02
Large holders are fund managers
BlackRock reported 74,909,069 shares (8.3%) as of 31 March 2025 and State Street 46,594,475 shares (5.2%) as of 30 September 2025. The proxy's related-party section also names The Vanguard Group among holders of 5% or more in 2025.
03
Insiders own little
Directors and current executive officers as a group (17 people) beneficially owned 3,941,869 shares in the 2026 proxy, each below 1%. Barra's 1,658,807 include 840,262 stock options.
04
The state has left
Treasury put about $51 billion into GM through TARP, took it through a 2009 bankruptcy, and sold its final shares in December 2013, recouping about $39 billion.
What changed in 2025-26
Cruise folded back in
In December 2024 GM said it would stop funding Cruise’s robotaxi work. In February 2025 it bought out the minority holders of Cruise for an insignificant amount, wound down the robotaxi service and merged the two autonomy teams into GM North America.
Buybacks keep shrinking the base
An accelerated buyback retired 43 million shares in 2025. In January 2026 the board added $6.0 billion of buyback capacity, and in the first half of 2026 GM repurchased 36 million shares for $2.8 billion.
AI aimed at personal cars
GM’s 2025 10-K says it uses software, hardware, artificial intelligence and sensors in its vehicles. Super Cruise, its hands-free driver assistance, works on more than 600,000 miles of compatible roads in the US and Canada.
Stakes come from the holders' own filings
BlackRock’s figure comes from a Schedule 13G/A filed in April 2025 and State Street’s from a Schedule 13G filed in November 2025. Percentages move as funds trade and as buybacks cut the share count, so each one is only true as of its date.
Who holds GM shares
BlackRock, Inc.
Stake74,909,069 shares, 8.3%
Source and dateSchedule 13G/A, as of 31 Mar 2025 (2026 proxy)
State Street Corporation
Stake46,594,475 shares, 5.2%
Source and dateSchedule 13G, as of 30 Sep 2025 (2026 proxy)
The Vanguard Group
StakeNamed among holders of 5% or more in 2025
Source and date2026 proxy, related-party section
Mary Barra, Chair and CEO
Stake1,658,807 shares incl. options, under 1%
Source and date2026 proxy
US Treasury
StakeNone since December 2013
Source and dateUS Treasury, TARP auto programs
What it means for you
Investors: treat GM as a widely held company; no family or state can block a decision, so the board and the share price carry the discipline.
Read the 5% table with its dates: each stake is as of the holder's latest 13G filing, not today.
Track the share count in each 10-Q; buybacks raise every remaining holder's slice without anyone buying more.
Judge GM's AI plans by where the money goes: driver assistance in personal cars, after the robotaxi wind-down.
When a page lists 'top shareholders' without a filing date, check the latest proxy before you use it.
The Business Engineer lens
When index funds own a company, strategy is set by management and judged quarterly through the share price. GM’s shift from Cruise robotaxis to driver assistance in its own cars shows how such owners push AI bets toward products that already sell.
The complete explainer, cleaned up and reformatted for mobile.
In short
General Motors is widely held. Its 2026 proxy lists only two holders above 5%: BlackRock (8.3%) and State Street (5.2%). CEO Mary Barra beneficially owns about 1.66 million shares, including exercisable options, less than 1%. GM made $185.0 billion of revenue in 2025.
Sources: GM 2026 proxy. Analysis by The Business Engineer.
Correction (10 Oct 2026): the data card at the top of this page showed undated, unsourced shareholder figures. It is replaced by figures from GM’s 2026 proxy; the rest of the article is kept as it was.
How we source: figures on this page come from the company’s own filings (SEC 10-K, 10-Q, prospectus and earnings releases, or its annual report), with the period stated next to each number; outside estimates appear only labelled, with their source and date. Last refreshed October 2026. Our methodology.
Mary Barra’s figure includes 840,262 shares she can acquire through options exercisable within 60 days of 1 April 2026.
Who owns General Motors today?
General Motors is a public company with a single class of common stock and no controlling owner. Its 2026 proxy statement lists BlackRock (74.9 million shares, 8.3%) and State Street (46.6 million, 5.2%) as the only holders above 5%. Directors and executive officers together own about 3.9 million shares, most of them through options.
Chair and CEO Mary Barra beneficially owns 1,658,807 shares, including 840,262 she can acquire through exercisable options: well under 1% of the company. The US Treasury, which took a majority stake in the 2009 restructuring, sold its last GM shares in 2013.
The Business Engineer view
GM is a classic widely held company: its owners are index funds, its management sets strategy, and the board answers to shareholders mainly through the share price. That puts pressure on capital allocation, from electric-vehicle spending to buybacks, rather than on ownership changes.
The full story
Top shareholders include institutional investors, named executive officers, and sure other beneficial owners.
Updated 6 October 2026: we refreshed 5 figures on this page, now taken from SEC EDGAR filings. Anything we could not check against a current source keeps its original year, so you can see how old it is.
Latest figures · checked 6 October 2026
General Motors had 877,451,541 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 10, 2026, according to its Q2 2026 Form 10-Q. SEC EDGAR filings
General Motors reported total net sales and revenue of $48,026 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026. SEC EDGAR filings
For full-year 2026, General Motors expects net income attributable to stockholders of $8.4 billion to $9.8 billion and EBIT-adjusted of $14.0 billion to $16.0 billion (guidance in its Q2 2026 10-Q). SEC EDGAR filings
At December 31, 2025, General Motors employed approximately 88,000 hourly employees and approximately 68,000 salaried employees. SEC EDGAR filings
Aspect · Description · Analysis · Examples
Products and Services
Description. General Motors (GM) is a global automotive company that manufactures and markets a variety of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, under various brand names such as Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick. The core offerings include a range of vehicles catering to different market segments and customer preferences. GM has also ventured into electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous technology development. The company offers financial services, including vehicle financing and leasing options.
Analysis. GM’s primary products and services consist of a diverse portfolio of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, marketed under multiple brand names. The company aims to meet the varied needs and preferences of consumers across different market segments. GM’s commitment to electric vehicles and autonomous technology reflects its forward-looking approach. Financial services, such as vehicle financing and leasing, enhance the customer buying experience.
Examples. Diverse portfolio of vehicles (e.g, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade), multiple brand names (e.g, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick), commitment to electric vehicles (e.g, Chevrolet Bolt EV) and autonomous technology development, financial services (e.g, vehicle financing, leasing).
Revenue Streams
Description. General Motors generates revenue primarily through the sale of its vehicles. Customers purchase these vehicles through authorized dealerships. The company also earns income from after-sales services, including maintenance and repair. Additionally, GM benefits from its financial services division, which provides vehicle financing and leasing options.
Analysis. Revenue sources encompass sales of GM vehicles, available through authorized dealerships. Income is also generated from after-sales services, including maintenance and repair, contributing to customer satisfaction and loyalty. The financial services division provides additional revenue streams through vehicle financing and leasing options.
Examples. Revenue from sales of GM vehicles (e.g, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Sierra), income from after-sales services (e.g, maintenance, repair), revenue from the financial services division, including vehicle financing and leasing options.
Customer Segments
Description. General Motors serves a diverse customer base, including individuals, families, and businesses looking for a wide range of transportation solutions. The company’s vehicles cater to consumers seeking reliable and innovative vehicles for personal and professional use. GM’s offerings target various market segments, including those interested in electric and autonomous vehicles.
Analysis. GM’s customer segments encompass individuals, families, and businesses seeking diverse transportation solutions. The company’s vehicles resonate with consumers looking for reliable, innovative, and technologically advanced options for personal and professional use. GM addresses various market segments, including those interested in electric and autonomous vehicles, offering a comprehensive range of choices.
Examples. Individuals, families, businesses, consumers seeking diverse transportation solutions, those valuing reliability, innovation, and technological advancement in vehicles for personal and professional use, market segments interested in electric and autonomous vehicles.
Distribution Channels
Description. General Motors distributes its vehicles through a vast network of authorized dealerships and showrooms worldwide. Customers can visit these dealerships to explore and purchase GM vehicles. The company also maintains an online presence, allowing customers to configure vehicles, access information, and inquire about available models.
Analysis. Distribution channels encompass authorized GM dealerships and showrooms located globally, where customers can physically explore and purchase GM vehicles. An online presence extends accessibility, enabling customers to configure vehicles, access information, and inquire about available models conveniently. A combination of physical and digital channels ensures broad accessibility to customers.
Examples. Distribution through authorized GM dealerships and showrooms worldwide for in-person vehicle exploration and purchase. Online presence for vehicle configuration, information access, and inquiries, catering to customers’ convenience. A combination of physical and digital channels extends customer accessibility.
Key Partnerships
Description. General Motors collaborates with authorized dealerships and showrooms as key partners to distribute and promote its vehicles. The company may also form partnerships with technology companies for innovative infotainment systems and safety features. Additionally, GM partners with suppliers for automotive components and materials. Collaborations with charging infrastructure providers support electric vehicle adoption.
Analysis. Collaborations with authorized dealerships and showrooms ensure the distribution and promotion of GM’s vehicles, extending the brand’s reach. Partnerships with technology companies contribute to innovative infotainment systems and safety features, enhancing the driving experience. Relationships with suppliers for automotive components and materials are crucial for vehicle manufacturing. Collaborations with charging infrastructure providers support the growth of electric vehicle adoption.
Examples. Collaborations with authorized dealerships and showrooms (e.g, Chevrolet dealers), partnerships with technology companies (e.g, infotainment systems, safety features), relationships with suppliers for automotive components and materials, collaborations with charging infrastructure providers (e.g, electric vehicle charging networks).
Key Resources
Description. General Motors’ key resources include its diverse portfolio of vehicles, manufacturing facilities, a strong brand identity associated with innovation and reliability, research and development (R&D) capabilities for vehicle design and technology advancement, marketing and advertising campaigns, and partnerships with suppliers. The company values technological innovation and sustainability.
Analysis. The diverse portfolio of vehicles forms the core resource, reflecting GM’s commitment to meeting various consumer needs and preferences. Manufacturing facilities ensure the production of high-quality vehicles. A strong brand identity fosters recognition and trust. R&D capabilities drive vehicle design and technology advancement. Marketing and advertising campaigns promote GM’s values and offerings. Partnerships with suppliers are vital for securing automotive components and materials. Technological innovation and sustainability are highly valued resources.
Examples. Diverse portfolio of vehicles (e.g, GMC Yukon, Cadillac CT5), manufacturing facilities for vehicle production, strong brand identity associated with innovation and reliability, research and development (R&D) capabilities for vehicle design and technology advancement, marketing and advertising campaigns (e.g, “Everybody In” campaign for electric vehicles), partnerships with suppliers for automotive components and materials, emphasis on technological innovation and sustainability.
Cost Structure
Description. General Motors incurs costs related to vehicle manufacturing, including materials, labor, and technology for safety features and innovation. The company invests in research and development (R&D) to enhance vehicle design, sustainability, and technology. Marketing and advertising expenses are significant for promoting GM’s brand and values. Employee salaries and benefits, including engineers and design teams, are essential costs. Investments in dealer support and infrastructure are also substantial.
Analysis. Costs related to vehicle manufacturing encompass expenses for high-quality materials, skilled labor, and technology for advanced safety features and innovation. Investments in R&D drive enhancements in vehicle design, sustainability, and technology. Marketing and advertising expenses promote GM’s brand identity and values, including innovation and sustainability. Employee salaries and benefits cover staff in various roles, including engineers and design teams. Expenses associated with dealer support and infrastructure contribute to customer service.
Examples. Costs related to vehicle manufacturing (e.g, materials, labor, technology for safety features and innovation), investments in research and development (R&D) for vehicle design, sustainability, and technology advancement, marketing and advertising expenses (e.g, brand promotion, innovation, sustainability messaging), employee salaries and benefits (e.g, engineers, design teams), expenses associated with dealer support and infrastructure for customer service.
Description. General Motors’ competitive advantage lies in its extensive portfolio of vehicles catering to diverse customer needs, a strong global presence with authorized dealerships, a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and electric vehicles, ownership of advanced technology, and partnerships with suppliers for reliable automotive components. The company’s strong brand identity enhances its position in the automotive industry.
Analysis. An extensive portfolio of vehicles reflects GM’s competitive strength, catering to diverse customer needs and preferences. A strong global presence through authorized dealerships ensures accessibility for customers worldwide. GM’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and electric vehicles positions it as a forward-looking player in the industry. Ownership of advanced technology enhances the quality and features of its vehicles. Collaborations with suppliers secure reliable automotive components. GM’s strong brand identity reinforces its standing in the competitive automotive industry.
Examples. Extensive portfolio of vehicles catering to diverse customer needs (e.g, Chevrolet Tahoe for families, Chevrolet Silverado for truck enthusiasts), strong global presence with authorized dealerships for wide accessibility, commitment to innovation, sustainability, and electric vehicles, ownership of advanced technology for vehicle features, partnerships with suppliers for reliable automotive components, strong brand identity in the automotive industry.
Organizational Structure:
General Motors (GM) operates as a multinational automotive company with a complex organizational structure.
The company is divided into different business units, each focusing on specific brands or regions.
GM has a corporate headquarters overseeing the overall strategy and operations of the company.
The company has a global presence with manufacturing facilities and sales operations in various countries.
Business Model:
GM’s business model revolves around designing, manufacturing, and selling vehicles, automotive parts, and related services.
The company produces a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles (EVs).
GM offers its vehicles under various brands, such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick, catering to different market segments.
In recent years, GM has also been investing in autonomous and electric vehicle technologies to align with future mobility trends.
The company also provides financial services like vehicle financing and insurance through GM Financial.
Ownership Structure:
GM’s ownership is distributed among various institutional investors, named executive officers, and other beneficial owners.
Key Takeaways:
General Motors is a major player in the automotive industry with a diverse portfolio of vehicle brands.
The company’s business model focuses on manufacturing and selling a wide range of vehicles and automotive parts.
GM is actively investing in emerging technologies like EVs and autonomous vehicles to stay competitive in the evolving automotive landscape.
The ownership structure of GM is characterized by significant institutional investor presence, with BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group being the top shareholders.
GM’s leadership, including its CEO Mary T. Barra, plays a critical role in shaping the company’s direction and strategy.
Key Highlights
Top Shareholders: The top shareholders of General Motors (GM) include institutional investors like BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group. These two entities collectively hold a significant portion of the company’s outstanding shares.
Organizational Structure: GM operates as a multinational automotive company with a complex organizational structure. It’s divided into different business units, each focused on specific brands or regions. The corporate headquarters oversees the company’s overall strategy and operations.
Business Model: GM’s core business model involves designing, manufacturing, and selling vehicles, along with automotive parts and related services. The company offers a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles under various brands.
Investment in Future Technologies: GM is investing in emerging technologies like electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles. This strategic move aims to align with the changing trends in the automotive industry and maintain competitiveness.
Financial Services: GM also provides financial services through GM Financial, offering vehicle financing and insurance.
Ownership Structure: GM’s ownership is spread among institutional investors, named executive officers, and other beneficial owners.
Major Vehicle Brands: GM’s diverse portfolio includes well-known vehicle brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick, catering to various market segments.
Global Presence: With manufacturing facilities and sales operations in various countries, GM maintains a global presence in the automotive industry.
CEO’s Role: Mary T. Barra, as the CEO of GM, plays a critical role in shaping the company’s direction, strategy, and decision-making.
Industry Impact: As a significant player in the automotive industry, GM’s business decisions, technological investments, and leadership have a notable impact on the industry’s future trajectory.
How AI Is Changing This
This AI-focused pivot has drawn major tech investors like SoftBank, which invested $2.25 billion in Cruise, and Honda, which contributed $2.75 billion, stakes GM later bought out: in February 2025 GM completed the acquisition of all GM Cruise Holdings LLC common shares and Cruise Class F and Class G Preferred Shares held by noncontrolling shareholders.
Key numbersChecked 6 October 2026
$48,026 millionGeneral Motors reported total net sales and revenue of $48,026 million for the three months ended June 30…SEC EDGAR filings
$8.4 billionFor full-year 2026, General Motors expects net income attributable to stockholders of $8.4 billion to $9.8…SEC EDGAR filings
877,451,541General Motors had 877,451,541 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 10, 2026, according to its Q2…SEC EDGAR filings
88,000At December 31, 2025, General Motors employed approximately 88,000 hourly employees and approximately…SEC EDGAR filings
In one lineTop shareholders include institutional investors, named executive officers, and sure other beneficial owners.
FourWeekMBABusiness EngineerAt a glance
Layout and figures refreshed 6 October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the article.
Why it mattersFrom the article
GM is actively investing in emerging technologies like EVs and autonomous vehicles to stay competitive in the evolving automotive landscape.
By 2022, most of Tesla’s shares are still owned by Elon Musk, among the company’s co-founders and the CEO. Elon Musk is the top individual investor, with a 23.5% stake in the company, equivalent to over 244 million shares. Musk is followed by Lawrence Ellison (founder of Oracle), with a 1.5% company stake. Ellison also sits on Tesla’s board. And Antonio Gracias, among the company’s first investors, has over 1.6 million shares. Other institutional investors and mutual funds like The Vanguard Group (6%), Blackrock (5.1%), and Capital Ventures International also have a good chunk of the company’s stocks.
Bentley is owned by the Porsche family, which also owns the whole Volkswagen Group, through the Porsche Automobil Holding SE. Indeed, the entire group comprises three types of brands: volume, premium, and sport. Bentley is part of the premium segment of the Volkswagen Group, and it generated over €2.84 billion in revenue in 2021, within the overall €250 billion in revenue from the whole Volkswagen Group.
Formerly part of the Volkswagen Group, which owns iconic brands like Lamborghini, Bentley, and Ducati, Bugatti is part of a new joint venture. Indeed, Porsche (the corporation which controls Volkswagen, owned by the Porsche family) still holds a 24% stake in the holding that controls Bugatti. The brand has been spun out from Volkswagen. A majority stake of 55% is now owned by a joint venture called Rimac Group, controlled by Porsche (24%), Hyundai (12%), Mate Rimac (37%), and Other Investors. The Porsche family also holds a further 45% stake in the Bugatti | Rimac joint venture, thus playing the role of key shareholder.
The major shareholder of Volkswagen is Porsche Automobil Holding SE, a company investing in various automakers. This is the holding of the Porsche family, the primary shareholder of Volkswagen, with a 31.4% ownership stake in the company and a 53.3% voting power. Volkswagen is an automaker empire with brands that comprise Audi, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Bentley, and Ducati.
Lamborghini is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1963 by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini. Since that time, ownership of the firm has changed several times. Another financial crisis in the late 1990s saw Lamborghini sold to Volkswagen through its subsidiary Audi AG. The subsidiary remains the owner of Lamborghini today. And it’s part of the Volkswagen Group.
Tata Motors is the largest Indian automotive manufacturing company, which also owns the Jaguar Land Rover group. The Tata Family primarily owns Tata through Tata Sons Pvt Limited—a corporation that controls 46.33% of the company.
Range Rover has been part of the Jaguar Land Rover Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors, since 2008, when Tata acquired the Jaguar Land Rover businesses from Ford Motor Company for $2.3 billion. Thus, Range Rover is owned by Tata Motors, primarily by the Tata family, which controls the company via its holding (Tata Sons Pvt Limited), the largest shareholder, with 46.33% ownership.
Rivian’s main shareholder is Amazon NV Investment Holdings, Amazon’s investment arm, with 18.1% in common stocks, followed by T. Rowe Price Associates with 18.2% and Global Oryx Company with 12.7% ownership. Other significant investors comprise Ford Motor Company, with 11.4% of the company’s ownership. At the same time, major individual investors comprise Robert J. Scaringe, founder, and CEO of Rivian.
Rolls-Royce is part of the BMW Group, a group, which generated over €142 billion in revenue in 2022. Rolls-Royce’s top models comprise the Phantom, Ghost, Wraith/Dawn, Cullinan.
In the provided data, the shareholder ownership of the company is distributed among various entities and individuals.
AQTON SE, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe holds 9% of the company’s shares.
AQTON GmbH & Co. KG für Automobilwerte, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe has a 16.6% ownership stake.
Susanne Klatten Beteiligungs GmbH, Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe owns 20.7% of the company’s shares.
Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt each hold a 0.2% ownership stake in the company.
Treasury shares account for 0.2% of the company’s shares.
The majority of the company’s shares, 50.7%, are free-floating, meaning they are publicly traded and available for purchase by various investors.
Overall, the data reveals a diverse shareholder structure, with a mix of individual and institutional investors, as well as a significant portion of free-floating shares.
IBM is primarily owned by institutional investors like Vanguard Group (8.86%), BlackRock (8%), and State Street (5.93%). Top individual investors comprise Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM; senior vice president Michelle H. Browdy; James J. Kavanaugh, responsible for the company’s financial operations, and Alex Gorsky (board member) and Gary Cohn (former vice chairman).
In June 2009, Crysler emerged from bankruptcy proceedings and became owned by the U.S. and Canadian governments, the United Auto Workers (UAW) pension fund, and the Italian holding company FIAT S.p.A. Later FIAT took over a majority stake, thus creating an holding company called FIAT Chrysler Automobiles. In 2021, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group merged to form Stellantis. Therefore, today, Crysler is part of Stellantis, which generated nearly €180 billion in revenue in 2022, with a net profit of €16.78 billion.
Gennaro Cuofano is a CRO and tech executive who has worked in AI since late 2015, starting with bringing NLP, natural-language generation, voice and chatbot products to the marketing industry. His background is in law and finance: he holds a Master's degree in Law and an International MBA with an emphasis on corporate finance (LUISS Business School and the University of San Diego, 2012), and worked as a financial analyst at a real-estate investment firm in San Diego and as an assistant controller. His work focuses on business model strategy, business engineering and, more broadly, structural analysis: how companies make money, read from their own filings. He created FourWeekMBA and leads research there and at The Business Engineer, his newsletter on AI and business strategy, with over 95,000 subscribers and more than 1,000 published analyses. His writing has also appeared on Entrepreneur (for example, How to Digitize a Family Business in Europe) and HackerNoon. Find him on LinkedIn and Substack. See how we source.
