In GM, research responds to the issues facing the auto industry: energy, air quality, safety and competition. To ensure that research is effective, GM does not isolate fundamental from applied research, and individual researchers are encouraged to understand the Corporation in their areas of expertise. Most research projects are initiated ’’bottom‐up.’ Physics research is conducted primarily within the Physics Department of the General Motors Research Laboratories. However, physicists also work elsewhere on challenging research, and examples of this are given.