General Motors has officially been approved as an F1 engine supplier starting in the 2029 season, marking a significant milestone in the American automotive giant’s journey into the sport.
The FIA’s confirmation comes just weeks after GM’s Cadillac-branded Formula 1 team was granted entry to the grid for 2026, and sets the stage for a fully American-powered outfit in the coming years.
Until their engines are homologated for race use, the Cadillac F1 team will use Ferrari power units for its first three seasons on the grid.
The switch to General Motors-built power units is scheduled for 2029, with the project being led by GM Performance Power Units LLC, a company jointly formed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, the parent company of Andretti Global.
“With this approval from the FIA, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid,” said Russ O’Blenes, CEO of GM Performance Power Units LLC.
Major step for American motorsport in Formula 1
The development of GM’s Formula 1 engine will take place at a new dedicated facility located near GM’s Charlotte Technical Center in North Carolina, which is set to open in 2026. The engine project has already been in motion, with early-phase development and prototype testing ongoing.
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FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed the addition of General Motors to the list of approved F1 engine suppliers, describing it as “another step in the global expansion of Formula 1.”
“Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors,” Ben Sulayem said.
“Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide.”
GM’s arrival on the engine supply list adds a new name to the elite group of manufacturers that already includes Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull-Ford, Renault, and soon Audi, which joins in 2026. GM will become the first American-built F1 power unit in the modern era, marking a milestone in F1’s expansion in the United States.
By entering the sport not only with a team but also as an engine manufacturer, General Motors aims to establish a long-term presence in F1 – and contribute to the technological and competitive evolution of the championship.
