A US automaker whose engines power vehicles used by the Israeli military and whose trucks have been used by Israeli military and police forces to surveil Palestinians and for other occupation-related purposes. It supplies vehicles to US police, prison, and immigration authorities.
General Motors Company (GM), headquartered in Detroit, manufactures and sells cars under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands. It is the largest automaker in the U.S. as of 2023.
GM provides engines and transmission units that power multiple vehicles used by the Israeli military. These vehicles include the Flyer 72, manufactured by private Los Angeles–based company Flyer Defense, and tactical utility vehicles manufactured by Israeli state-owned weapons manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries. The Israeli military has been using these vehicles in its 2023–2024 genocide in Gaza. Israel purchases GM parts using U.S. taxpayers’ money, even for vehicles made in Israel. In 2022, according to Who Profits, Israel purchased several hundred off-road vehicles powered by GM engines for special units of the Israeli military.
Chevrolet Grumman vans have also been used as mobile baggage scanning vehicles at several military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, according to Who Profits. In 2004, for example, these vans were used to scan the belongings of family members visiting Palestinian political prisoners held at Ktzi’ot Prison in the Naqab/Negev.
GM vehicles are also used by U.S. immigration authorities. For instance, Border Patrol agents use Chevrolet Silverado and Tahoe pickup trucks to patrol the border, as well as Chevrolet vans to transport individuals found crossing the border to immigration jails. In 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchased armored GMC Yukon vehicles for its Special Operations Group, an emergency response unit. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses other GM vehicles for various purposes. As recently as June 2024, CBP and ICE purchased engines, parts, and related repair services through third-party GM dealers.
2021 reports revealed that U.S. immigration agencies have received location data from GM, which tracks the movement of tens of millions of vehicles every day through its GM OnStar system. Chevrolet cars come equipped with OnStar, and the system has been used by CBP and ICE to track and target immigrants.
In addition to supplying the Israeli military and U.S. immigration authorities, GM also sells vehicles to prison and police agencies. The company manufactures several vehicles that are designed specifically for police and prison authorities, including Chevrolet Blazer EV, Silverado 1500, Tahoe Police Pursuit, and Tahoe and Silverado 1500 Special Service vehicles. Special features for these vehicles include lighting for “surveillance mode,” expanded safety measures, and technologies designed for compatibility with law enforcement equipment.
These vehicles are used by both state and federal prison and police agencies. Between 2008 and August 2024, the Federal Bureau of Prisons held at least 45 contracts for GM vehicles and related modifications and repairs. State governments also purchase GM vehicles for law enforcement agencies. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, for instance, has purchased hundreds of Buick vehicles, as reported by Worth Rises.