• The Detroit News, Wednesday, January 12, 2011 10:16 AM

Because the automaker cut R&D spend while in bankruptcy, GM is about a year behind the industry, according to CEO Daniel Akerson.

Akerson took the top spot at the Detroit automaker officially this month, though he has sat at the top desk since September.

He said the automaker will spend $7 billion on product research and development this year versus $5 billion in 2009, the year it filed for bankruptcy. The company, he said, will expand its portfolio of electrified vehicles so that it has one electric vehicle for each of its four brands. That could mean a hybrid car, a plug-in model or a vehicle equipped with eAssist, a technology that uses an electric motor to help increase fuel efficiency.

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