Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Vikas V Joshi

Warren J Parsons

Huai-yang Chiang

Hari Prasada Reddy Lingala

Robert N Saje

Terry A Swartzell

Edward D Moss

Peter M Parlow

Keith J Saari

Len V Peschansky

Robert M Kielbik

Gheorghe Barbuta

John R Sulik, Ii

John J Jackson

Daniel K Davis

Katelyn Marie McCracken

Jean-Michel Steinmetz

Patrick Alfred Walch

Francis J Malek

Marty F Hull

Frank Burger

A vehicle underbody includes a system of connected unitized underbody components including a front quadrant system having a left front unitized underbody component and a right front unitized underbody component, a center system, and a rear quadrant system having a left rear unitized underbody component and a right rear unitized underbody component. A first rail element is loosely connected to the left front unitized underbody component and the left rear unitized underbody component, and a second rail element is loosely connected to the right front unitized underbody component and the right rear unitized underbody component.

Vehicle body structure formed from a system of interconnected unitized body structure components and method of forming a vehicle body structure

A load management assembly can manage and/or absorb the energy from an external force applied to a vehicle. The load management assembly includes a frame rail and a mounting bracket coupled to the frame rail. In addition, the load management assembly includes a shield coupled to the frame rail. The shield partly surrounds the mounting bracket in order to protect the mounting bracket from an external force and to redirect a load path of the external force. The load management assembly may further include a reinforcement bracket to assist in directing the load path of the external force. The reinforcement bracket is coupled to the frame rail and may be in contact with the mounting bracket.

Load management assembly

A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.

Body-mounted tire blocker assembly

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Vikas V Joshi