General Motors announced Wednesday that it is leveraging artificial intelligence to significantly reduce the time required to design new vehicles, aiming to shorten the process to as little as two years. The move is part of a broader effort to enhance the company’s competitiveness against rapidly advancing Chinese automakers such as BYD, Geely, and Xiaomi, which have gained market share in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America by introducing technology-rich and affordable models at a fast pace.

At an event in New York, G.M. executives outlined plans to modernize the computer systems in their vehicles and substantially lower the cost of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. These initiatives reflect the company’s strategy to respond to the growing global presence of Chinese-made cars, particularly in markets outside the United States, such as Canada and Mexico, where competition is intensifying.

Sterling Anderson, G.M.’s chief product officer, described the changes as a means to accelerate innovation and improve vehicle quality. “The faster we can iterate, the better our products become,” Anderson said. Using AI, G.M. engineers analyzed approximately 300,000 combinations of battery components—an approach intended to expedite a development process that typically takes years.

While Chinese vehicles face restrictions in the U.S. market due to tariffs and regulations, G.M. recognizes the importance of competing globally. The company is developing new electric models that aim to be competitively priced with gasoline and diesel counterparts, offering extended range on a full charge. Anderson did not specify when these new vehicles would be available for purchase.

G.M. remains the largest automaker in the United States but holds a relatively small share of the EV market. In the third quarter, its Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC brands accounted for less than 10 percent of new electric vehicle sales, while Tesla maintained a dominant position with over 50 percent. The company had previously scaled back its EV investments following the elimination of federal tax credits for such vehicles and looser fuel economy standards under the previous administration, which reduced incentives to produce more electric models.

Chief Executive Mary T. Barra has acknowledged the long-term shift toward electric vehicles as declining costs and advancing technology make electric options increasingly viable.

In addition to battery development, G.M. is consolidating multiple computing systems within its vehicles into a single central unit. This strategy reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes wiring complexity, and diminishes vulnerability to semiconductor shortages that disrupted production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tesla and several Chinese automakers have already adopted centralized computing architectures.

The enhanced processing power will support more advanced driver assistance features, with G.M. targeting a system by 2028 that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road on divided highways. The first vehicle equipped with this technology, the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ, is scheduled for release that year, with other G.M. models to follow shortly thereafter.