GM Launching New E-Bike Brand, Wants You to Name It

GM is bringing two new electrified products to market. But this time it's not a new car or an SUV. It's a pair of e-bikes. They're coming in 2019 using flexible electric technology the company has been working on. What they don't have is a brand, and the automaker turned bike peddler is reaching out to the crowd to help pick one.

The company says that the two bikes, one compact and one folding, are part of its efforts to develop "revolutionary, flexible electrification technologies."

Why e-bikes for a company that's been building cars for more than 110 years? "We are so excited to do one more thing to bring our vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion to reality," said longtime cycling enthusiast and executive Hannah Parish, director of General Motors Urban Mobility Solutions.

Parish said that not wanting to arrive sweaty is the number two reason why people don't commute via bike. She said that with an e-bike, riders still get exercise but don't need to arrive at work sweaty. That can lower emissions and reduce congestion from commuting.

To help put a new brand on the new product, GM is crowdsourcing with a contest. Until November 26th, they're taking submissions from consumers looking for "simple, smart and bold concepts capable of bringing the e-bike brand to life" and "fun ideas capable of being understood around the world."

GM is looking not just for the names of the bikes but the brand that will be built around the personal mobility products. Parish says "this is a different type of product" for the company. So they want ideas from the public to "expand our thinking beyond the company walls and hear from people who like to move and have rad ideas." To help encourage more rad ideas, the contest comes with prizes. The participant who comes up with the name GM chooses will receive $10,000. Nine runners-up will each get $1,000.

The technical details to go with the new electrically assisted bikes will come early next year. That's when they'll get a physical reveal before going on sale later in 2019. But Parish said that the new products use a mix of technology specific to bikes and technology inspired by the company's cars. That includes OnStar-inspired connectivity and telemetry as well as safety features taken from automotive ideas. The e-bikes were designed by some of the same engineers that work on the company's automotive products at GM Canada facilities.