FILE PHOTO: General Motors Executive Vice President Global Product Design Mark Reuss talks about the new 2019 GMC Sierra Denali pickup truck at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

(Reuters) - General Motors Co GM.N said on Thursday that Mark Reuss would succeed Dan Ammann as president, effective immediately, as part of the automaker's ongoing shift to electric and self-driving vehicles in North America and China.

Reuss remains focused on rebuilding the Cadillac brand and streamlining GM’s product development operations, while doubling the resources, mainly engineering hours, allocated to electric and self-driving vehicle programs in the next two years, the company reiterated.

GM has budgeted $8 billion for the development of electric and self-driving vehicles, with SoftBank Group 9984.T and Honda Motor Co 7267.T pledging to invest $5 billion in GM's Cruise self-driving unit.

Ammann became chief executive officer of GM Cruise, the self-driving car unit, on Jan. 1.

The appointment of Reuss, a 35-year GM veteran, comes as the No. 1 U.S. automaker cuts back on producing traditional sedans.

In the United States, GM remains strong in pickups and utility vehicles, which accounted for two-thirds of the company’s sales in 2018.

(This story corrects headline to reflect that Reuss is not head of self-driving unit)