Not so. As I designer myself, though not one working in the automotive field, I can assure you that GM’s designers are just as good a everyone else. A casual look at their concept cars can verify my stance. The problem is management and accounting.
That being said, an alert observer will see they are starting to put better designs out. Hopefully their quality will follow suit.
i too am a designer and am measured by the final output. I have left companies before when they chop designs to nothing.
examples of bad design from GM
Aztek!!
Lumina
there is something wrong with the proportions of the new Silvarado, especially the base trim
Impala
Malibu
and Monte Carlo
Basically all of their sedans for the last 20 yrs have been crap that are not sport, family, muscle, but some soup of nothingness. Sales of these vehicles prove me out, especially if you take fleet purchases out of the mix.
The interiors are bubbly, ham fisted, and usually poor selection of materials and textures.
I actually rode in a newish Ford Explorer last night and there was significantly more leg room (front and back) than a new Tahoe, tell me how that works??
Ford is not much better with sedans, but the Japanese cars walk all over us.
on a good note, the new corvette is outstanding, and most of the new Cadillacs are great.