I think half or more of these patents are just to buy off some entrapeneur/inventor to keep them out of a market space, with no intent of ever building or capitalizing on them.
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...-device-patent
Still waiting for news on my tow assist device. Also looking forward to when/if patents on the "multipro" type tailgates expire so we can retrofit knock offs on to older models, since GM seems to have no interest in that aftermarket space.