Mary Barra

GM’s sales flatlined in 2018, but Barra made some shrewd moves to position America’s largest automaker for future success. While the trade war has brought sluggish demand from China, GM is leaning into pickup trucks, which have been selling well in the U.S. Barra is pushing forward with her grand plan to have 20 new electric-vehicle models on the market by 2023. GM debuted Cadillac’s first all-electric car in January. Her latest challenge: Facing the longest nationwide strike against GM in nearly 50 years.

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