Basic Motors is not the most important automaker on Earth anymore, but it surely hopes to realize 100% market share on the moon.

GM and aerospace big Lockheed Martin are creating a car able to carrying astronauts and tools longer distances throughout the lunar floor.

It’s the corporations’ response to a request NASA put out final yr, which requested members of the automotive trade to pitch concepts for lunar terrain autos, often known as LTVs, that might journey quicker and farther on the moon than those used throughout the Apollo program.

The area company is in search of mobility methods that may be deployed as a part of Artemis, a U.S.-led worldwide program that has a aim of touchdown astronauts on the lunar south pole by the mid-2020s.

NASA desires any new rovers to increase the vary astronauts need to conduct scientific experiments on the moon.

The company has additionally expressed curiosity in a wide range of mobility methods — resembling electrical or autonomous lunar rovers that may recharge, self-navigate or deal with excessive environments.

GM aided within the improvement of the chassis and wheels for the lunar rovers used throughout the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions.

Apollo rovers traveled lower than 5 miles from their touchdown websites, however a wider vary of mobility is required for the Artemis program, NASA says, as a result of astronauts will probably be traversing a colder area of the moon that has extra rugged terrain.