GCV Powerlist 2016: Jon Lauckner, General Motors

Jon Lauckner, president of General Motors Ventures and the parent company’s chief technology officer and vice-president of research and development, is responsible for supporting the automaker’s strategic priority to lead in technology and innovation.

Lauckner is keenly aware that there is a technology “arms race” going on in several industries and the automotive industry is no exception. GM Ventures is a key component of the automaker’s advanced technology strategy which requires the ability to be nimble and move fast in order to integrate the latest and most advanced technologies into its vehicles. With Lauckner’s oversight, GM Ventures focuses not only on startups with traditional automotive technologies – propulsion, emissions and materials – but also new hotbeds of innovation including infotainment, connected car telematics, active safety, autonomous driving and cybersecurity.

When it comes to leveraging automotive technology opportunities, Lauckner told Business Insider: “The automotive ecosystem is changing. We see ride-sharing really gaining traction. We are working on autonomous technology – radars, cameras, control [of vehicles]. I do not think you can see the future, but you can anticipate some things that are going to happen. As you see these things start to move up in terms of importance, then you start investing more and more.”

GM Ventures was formed in June 2010 to identify, engage and build relationships with other vehicle capital firms and innovative companies. GM Ventures’ portfolio consists of 21 startups in the US, Europe, Israel and Asia.

Lauckner began his career with General Motors in 1979, working in several assignments in powertrain and vehicle engineering. Later, Lauckner worked in the marketing and product planning staff. From 1992 to 2005, he worked in various product development assignments in South America and Europe. He returned to the US from Europe in mid-2005 to lead a new position as vice-president of global program management and in mid-2009 was named vice-president of global product planning.

In 2010, Lauckner become responsible for forming GM’s venture capital subsidiary and was named president of General Motors Ventures. In addition to this role, he was named GM vice-president and chief technology officer in 2012 and also has responsibility for leading GM’s global R&D organisation.

Lauckner received a BSc in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan in 1979. He earned a master’s in management from Stanford Business School in 1990 through the Sloan fellowship program and attended the GM-Harvard senior executive program in 2001.