FYI I contacted directly GM to get a proper response, here is what they say as a first notice (I'm still waiting for an individual reply):
GeneralMotors DEXRONŽ-VI Global Service-Fill Specification
During early 2005 General Motors released a newly developed automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for the factory fill of all GM Powertrain stepped gear automatic transmissions. The new fluid provides significantly improved performance in terms of friction durability, viscosity stability, aeration and foam control and oxidation resistance. In addition, the fluid has the potential to enable improved fuel economy and extended drain intervals. Since the performance of the new fluid far exceeded that of the DEXRONŽ-III service-fill fluids available at the time it became necessary to upgrade the DEXRONŽ service-fill specification in order to ensure that similar fluids were available in the market for service situations. This latest upgrade to the service- fill specification is designated DEXRONŽ-VI.
Since General Motors introduced the first ATF service-fill specification in 1949 it has been periodically necessary to upgrade the specification. This upgrading process ensures that available service fill fluids are of an appropriate quality for use in transmissions that have been designed around the factory fill fluid performance. It should be noted that, as with previous upgrades, DEXRONŽ-VI fluids are designed to be backward compatible with earlier transmission hardware. More importantly, earlier type fluids are not forward compatible with transmission hardware that was designed to use DEXRONŽ-VI fluid, i.e. DEXRONŽ-III is not compatible with the most recently designed transmissions, and the use of these earlier type fluids could result in transmission damage. All current calibrations and certification tests are now conducted with DEXRON
Ž-VI ATF. DEXRONŽ-III fluids should not be used for these applications where the owners manual recommends the use of DEXRONŽ-VI. GM does not license or support obsolete ATF specifications or the use of fluids that are being marketed against cancelled specifications.
All DEXRONŽ-III licenses expire at the end of 2006 and will not be renewed. Beyond that date GM will only support the use of DEXRONŽ-VI fluids for use in Hydra-Matic transmissions.
Fluids sold in the market after that date bearing claims such as suitable for use in DEXRONŽ-III applications or similar wording should be avoided. DEXRONŽ-VI licensed fluids are fully backward compatible and can be used in all applications covered by earlier GM ATF specifications.
The use of unlicensed fluids and/or non GM approved aftermarket additives may prove detrimental to transmission performance and void warranty coverage.
There is a published list of GM-approved brands of DEXRONŽ-VI (see page two of this release). This list represents the companies who have conducted the appropriate testing and received GM approval. Company name, license number, and brand name are shown. This list will be updated on a regular basis as more approved products are added.