Case Study: GM Engineering Europe achieves real-time, reusable HVAC controller for 54 vehicles with MathWorks Model-Based Design

GM Engineering Europe Develops HVAC Controller for GM Vehicles Using Model-Based Design

GM Engineering Europe needed to develop a single, flexible HVAC controller to support all GM vehicles worldwide — including hybrid and extended-range electric models — while meeting tight schedules, minimizing power consumption, and enabling global team collaboration and earlier verification. To achieve this, GM partnered with MathWorks and adopted Model-Based Design using MathWorks tools such as Simulink, Stateflow, Simulink Coder, Embedded Coder, and Simulink Report Generator.

Working with MathWorks consultants, GM built system-level Simulink/Stateflow models, converted existing C components, and used Simulink Coder and Embedded Coder to generate production code for a 32-bit microcontroller, enabling rapid prototyping and in-vehicle tests. The MathWorks-based approach delivered measurable impact: the core system models were reused across 54 products worldwide, the team verified components months earlier (improving quality), the controller is already in production vehicles such as the Opel Insignia, and cross‑team communication and development speed significantly improved.

GM Engineering Europe

Johan Hägnander

Manager of Chassis Controls for the Software Controls Group