In a surprising corporate twist, a former adversary of tech billionaire Elon Musk has rapidly ascended the ranks at automotive giant General Motors (GM), positioning himself as a potential future leader of the century-old company. Sterling Anderson, a 42-year-old robotics expert who once led the development of Tesla's Autopilot, is now seen by senior leaders at GM as a dark-horse candidate to eventually succeed Chief Executive Mary Barra.
From Tesla Rivalry to GM's Top Ranks
Anderson's journey to the executive suite of one of the world's largest automakers is marked by high-profile clashes and bold career moves. He joined Tesla in 2015, where he oversaw the development of the Model X SUV and the crucial Autopilot system. His tenure there was cut short in part due to disagreements with CEO Elon Musk over the marketing of a self-driving feature, leading to his resignation in 2016. Tesla subsequently sued Anderson, alleging he took proprietary documents—a claim he called meritless. The dispute was eventually settled, with Anderson's next venture, Aurora Innovation, agreeing to pay Tesla $100,000.
After leaving Tesla, Anderson co-founded Aurora Innovation, a self-driving trucking startup now valued at $8 billion. Under his leadership, Aurora developed a Lidar system and put autonomous trucks on roads in Texas, hauling freight between major cities. However, in a move that puzzled some industry observers, Anderson left his own successful startup to join GM in June 2025 as its Global Product Chief, overseeing all gas-powered and electric vehicle development.
Shaking Up GM's Succession Landscape
Anderson's arrival has sent ripples through GM's corporate hierarchy, complicating a succession plan already muddied by years of executive turnover. Barra, who turns 64 this week, has led GM since 2014—a tenure more than double the median for an S&P 500 CEO. When recently asked about her future plans, Barra deferred to the company's board, stating, “That’s the board’s decision, not mine.” A GM spokeswoman confirmed there have been no discussions about Barra leaving.
While Anderson is a new name in the race, he is not the only contender. Other internal candidates viewed by investors include Finance Chief Paul Jacobson and Mark Reuss, a 40-year GM veteran who serves as Barra's second-in-command. The succession question is critical as GM's board grapples with a fundamental identity crisis: is the company a traditional vehicle manufacturer or a tech player capable of competing with Tesla and Waymo?
Barra has consistently pushed for the latter vision, and Anderson represents her latest high-profile hire from Silicon Valley. He now sits on GM's influential executive strategy team and has expanded his role to oversee artificial intelligence development and software integration for GM vehicles.
The Silicon Valley Strategy: Promise and Peril
GM's attempt to infuse Silicon Valley DNA into its corporate culture has been a turbulent journey. The company has seen a parade of executives from Apple, Google, and Tesla come and go in quick succession. Most notably, GM spent $10 billion over a decade on its Cruise robotaxi program before scrapping it last year amid safety concerns and rising competition. The company also booked a $1.6 billion charge on its EV business in October 2025 as demand for electric vehicles softened.
Anderson's appointment is a renewed bet on this tech-focused strategy. He is spearheading a new plan to bring "eyes-off" driving technology to market by 2028 in an electric Cadillac SUV. The strategy also includes developing a lower-cost battery and integrating artificial intelligence into vehicles like the Chevy Silverado.
Internally, Anderson's arrival has been a morale boost for teams working on self-driving technology, still reeling from the Cruise shutdown. He has rehired key Cruise staffers and praised the unit's technological progress in internal meetings. However, not all GM employees are convinced. Some question bringing back leaders from a troubled program, and Anderson reportedly irked staff by defending a controversial employee performance-ranking system during a recent town hall.
In a statement provided by GM, Anderson addressed concerns about being perceived as a “Silicon Valley cowboy pew-pewing his way through GM,” emphasizing that his team is making great strides in accelerating innovation.
As GM navigates a pivotal transition in the automotive industry, the rise of Sterling Anderson from Elon Musk's rival to a potential CEO underscores the intense competition for talent and vision in the race to define the future of transportation.
