General Motors Co (GM) has quietly become 2025's most surprising comeback story. The stock jumped roughly 45% year to date, closing at $80.80 on Dec. 10, marking its highest level since before the company went through bankruptcy in 2009. A 4.7% single-session pop would normally make waves on its own, but the real story is what's driving it: GM is getting serious about autonomy again, and this time they've brought in someone who knows how to make headlines.

That someone is Sterling Anderson, the former Tesla Inc (TSLA) and Aurora Innovation Inc (AUR) executive now leading GM's self-driving strategy. Wall Street is already calling him the industry's "Silicon Valley cowboy," and his arrival signals that GM is done playing defense. After years of trimming EV ambitions, recalibrating production targets, and focusing on disciplined capital allocation, the company is pivoting back to offense.

From Cleanup Mode to Competition Mode

Anderson's hiring comes at a pivotal moment. GM spent the past few years cleaning house, adjusting its EV strategy to match reality rather than hype. Now, with a technologist who has worked on both sides of the electric and autonomous vehicle divide, the company is positioning itself as a legitimate challenger to Tesla's long-held dominance in autonomy. Investors are treating this as more than a personnel change. It's a signal that GM has moved from survival mode to genuine competition.

Wall Street Takes Notice

Goldman Sachs upgraded its price target to $93 and reaffirmed its Buy rating, pointing to stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings and a strategic reset that's finally delivering results. Wells Fargo remains a Sell outlier, but the broader consensus has shifted toward Strong Buy territory. That's a rare scenario where legacy Detroit generates more enthusiasm than Silicon Valley's EV darling.

GM also maintains a steady dividend of $0.15 per share, which adds a cushion to the risk-reward equation. Tesla, famously, offers no dividend at all. For investors who want growth potential with some downside protection, GM is suddenly looking interesting.

Rewriting the Competitive Script

For years, Tesla controlled the narrative around electric vehicles and autonomous driving. Now GM is offering a counter-story built on restructuring discipline, rising profitability, and an autonomy reboot led by a high-profile hire. If Anderson delivers on the promise, GM won't just be rallying on momentum. It'll be forcing the market to reconsider who actually owns the future of self-driving cars.