From catalysts to electric cars

GM's research and engineering led the world to cleaner cars-and pointed the way to zero emissions.

While it's tough to select a “most important” innovation from General Motors' last century, the catalytic converter, which GM launched into mass production in the 1975 model year, certainly stands as a leading candidate.

You might think that Bob Stempel, GM's former Chairman, who spearheaded the catalytic converter's development in the early ′70s, would list that environmental milestone as his top engineering achievement.