General Motors (GM) has come a long way in the electric vehicle (EV) game. What started with the humble Chevy Bolt has now grown into a full lineup of 17 all-electric models. That growth has catapulted GM into second place in the U.S. EV market right behind Tesla. And oddly enough, Tesla’s influence is partly to thank for GM’s transformation.

The Tesla Culture Shift That GM Borrowed

One of the key catalysts behind both Tesla’s rise and GM’s recent progress? Jon McNeil. The former president of Tesla, McNeil helped launch the Model 3 and brought a product-first mindset that still defines the brand today. Now, he sits on GM’s board and he’s brought that same mindset with him.

At a recent talk in Boston, McNeil shared a surprising insight into Tesla’s internal culture: product review meetings happened without slides. That’s right, no flashy presentations, no mockups.
McNeil said

A Lesson from Steve Jobs to Elon Musk

That product-first mentality? It actually traces back to a single piece of advice Elon Musk got from Steve Jobs in Tesla’s early days. Musk reportedly asked Jobs for just one tip. 

Simplicity Is Key Two Taps or Less

At Tesla, the user experience wasn’t just about looks. According to McNeil, there was a rule of thumb: features had to be accessible within taps or they were scrapped. Once something functioned smoothly, the next step was clear: “Now make it beautiful, as Tesla’s lead designer Franz von Holzhausen would say. That mindset shaped every detail.

GM’s EV Boom 

GM’s leap from one EV to 17 didn’t happen overnight. It came from a clear choice to stay close to the product. Week after week, leadership stayed hands-on, ensuring momentum never slowed. And that consistency has been key to GM’s rise in the EV space.