General Motors aims to significantly increase research and development in Canada by 2016 as part of its commitment to boost those activities as part of its 2009 government bailout. GM spokeswoman Adria MacKenzie said that the company expects to spend $750 million for the next five years, or about $150 million annually, until 2016. GM said that majority of the funds will be used on environmental technologies and on making the vehicle lighter. When GM received $10.5 billion (Canadian) from the federal and Ontario governments in 2009, the automaker pledged to use up around $1 billion between that period and 2016 for the research and development in Canada. GM announced that it will be investing $834 million (C$850 million) in automotive research and development in Canada between 2009 and 2016. In a statement, GM Canada said that the money will be used to boost the innovation and competitiveness of Canadian automotive suppliers, funding start-ups and investing in new types of automotive technology. The automaker made the announcement at the regional engineering center of GM Canada in Oshawa, in southern Ontario. In attendance were Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
GM to increase research and development in Canada by 2016
by Andrew Christian, Email, 27 Jul, 2012
