GM's advice: Get in early.(GM is developing a fuel cell for motor vehicles)(Brief Article)

Although automakers are working on fuel cell projects with companies from outside the normal supply chain, they continue to lean on traditional industry suppliers.

Traditional auto suppliers make up about half of General Motors' fuel cell developmental partners. They work with GM to develop parts such as heat exchangers, sensors and gaskets.

``You (suppliers) kind of have to go down the path with us,'' says Byron McCormick, GM's co-director of fuel cell research. ``You're going to be tying up some valuable resources and valuable money before it's going to be clear to us where and how you're going to be creating your business around fuel cells.''

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