Barry Engle is leaving to pursue other leadership opportunities after 15 months in charge of North America. Cadillac chief Steve Carlisle, a Canadian, will succeed him.

Chevrolet is adding more differentiation across Colorado trim levels for 2021, such as a black bow tie on the Z71 version. The starting price is below the current base prices of the 2020 Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger.

The technology, internally called Ultra Cruise, expands on the Super Cruise feature that works on highways only.

Plans for minor updates to at least a handful of nameplates — including the Chevrolet Traverse and Cadillac XT4 — have been delayed as the automaker prioritizes full redesigns and electric vehicles under development.

Those plans have been "untouched," CFO Dhivya Suryadevara said as the automaker posted an 87-per-cent drop in first-quarter net income.

General Motors said it "is targeting to restart the majority of manufacturing operations on May 18 in the United States and Canada under extensive safety measures." It made the decision "based on conversations and collaboration with unions and government officials."

General Motors says its next-generation full-size SUVs can tow more and get better fuel economy in city driving than the current versions, despite being significantly bigger. But highway mileage decreased slightly.

Maven notified customers Tuesday, but the business will wind down gradually by market, including Toronto. All operations will likely be shut down by late summer.

The fourth generation of Cadillac's V-Series performance subbrand will include ultra-performance variants that revive the Blackwing name, but the Blackwing models, available with manual gearboxes, will not have the engine of the same name that powered the discontinued CT6-V.

Honda will design the interior and exterior for the two vehicles, which will use General Motors' global EV platform and offer a Honda-branded version of GM's Super Cruise driver-assist technology. The vehicles will be assembled at GM plants in North America and should be on sale in Canada in 2024.

Chevrolet's fourth, best-selling nameplate in Canada is getting six new standard safety features, redesigned fascias and new LED headlamps and taillamps for 2021.

GM is retracting its previous 2020 financial forecasts and pulling US$16 billion from existing credit lines to strengthen its balance sheet as it weathers the coronavirus pandemic.

GM said the shutdowns will begin today, while Ford’s will take place Thursday. Meanwhile, FCA says its North American plants will close "starting progressively from today through the end of March." 

The automaker says the EVs it plans to build next year will be profitable and have up to 640 kilometres of range as a result of its new joint venture with LG Chem.