Bethel Automotive Safety Systems (WBTL) has received General Motors’ 2025 Supplier Quality Excellence Award for its lightweight chassis components, the fifth time the Tier 1 supplier has earned the recognition since 2017. The award was presented on May 22, 2026, and follows four prior GM Supplier of the Year honors for the company. According to GM, the Supplier Quality Excellence Award is given annually to roughly 5 to 10 percent of GM’s approximately 18,000 global suppliers. WBTL supplied around 4.935 million aluminum knuckles and control arms to GM in 2025 across the Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet brands.
Highlights
- WBTL’s fifth Supplier Quality Excellence Award since 2017, in addition to four GM Supplier of the Year honors
- 4.935 million aluminum chassis components supplied to GM worldwide in 2025
- Cumulative supply of approximately 83.81 million cast aluminum knuckles and control arms since program launch
- Saltillo, Mexico Phase I plant operating at a stable 3 million units per year, with Phase II under construction
How GM’s Supplier Quality Excellence Award Works
The Supplier Quality Excellence Award is GM’s recognition for sustained quality performance across the calendar year, distinct from the higher-volume Supplier of the Year program. WBTL reports the award covers roughly 5 to 10 percent of GM’s global supplier base, which the company puts at approximately 18,000 firms.
WBTL says it held customer-facing performance scores in green-status range throughout 2025. The company reports BIQS (Built-In Quality Supply) ratings consistently above 4.0, with delivery, product quality, and after-sales scores all above 90.
Lightweight Chassis Volume and Brand Mix
WBTL supplied approximately 4.935 million lightweight components to GM globally in 2025, covering aluminum steering knuckles and aluminum control arms. The parts go into vehicles across Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet platforms. Cumulative supply across all global automaker customers has reached roughly 83.81 million cast aluminum knuckles and control arms since the program began, according to the company.
The award caps a multi-year run of GM recognition for WBTL. The supplier was previously named GM Supplier of the Year for four consecutive years, and another GM supplier, Waupaca Foundry, earned the same Supplier Quality Excellence Award category in 2024 for drivetrain castings.
Process Improvements Behind the Award
WBTL attributes the result to material and process refinements over the year. The company cites tighter control of molten aluminum quality and composition, optimized heat-treatment quenching time, and upgraded alloy materials. WBTL produces its lightweight chassis components using differential pressure casting, and lists in-house capability across product design, CAE analysis, casting simulation, testing, validation, and mass production.
Manufacturing Footprint
WBTL operates three lightweight component plants — in Wuhu, Anhui province; Weihai, Shandong province; and Saltillo, Mexico. The Saltillo facility supports North American programs through localized production. Phase I has reached a stable annual capacity of 3 million units, and the company says Phase II construction is progressing as planned.
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