So, What Exactly Is GM's EV Plan?
General Motors’ pledge to introduce 20 electric vehicles by 2023 sounded great to tech-obsessed investors and granola types, but the exact nature of these products, for the most part, remained hazy.
Sure, the Hummer name’s coming back, attached to a massive (and massively powerful) GMC pickup, and the Chevrolet Bolt’s getting a sibling, but what about the rest? Well, there’s news on that front.
In its annual sustainability report, GM sheds some light on these upcoming products. You already know about the Cadillac Lyriq and its very special (precious?) name, but you probably didn’t know the General’s premium brand plans to roll out a “globally-sized” three-row, midsize EV crossover, as well. Or a luxury full-size SUV that’s free of internal combustion.
Escalade twin? It seems so. GM says the big model “builds on the DNA” of that very model.
If this all sounds too tony and high-end, the brand also has an “attainable luxury” model in the works, aimed at buyers shopping in the compact XT4 section. And the Celestique halo car, well, that hand-built product earns the title of “Cadillac Celestiq Statement Vehicle” in the report, with the division mentioning a build rate of 1.2 vehicles per day.
Exclusive!
Less exclusive will be the aforementioned Bolt EUV, a small CUV that joins the Chevrolet lineup next year (that holds the distinction of being the first non-Cadillac offered with Super Cruise hands-off driver-assist). It’ll soon have company, with the Chevrolet brand planning to add a midsize EV crossover for those who like that sort of thing. And it seems the GMC Hummer will have a bowtie sibling/rival in the form of what GM currently refers to as a “Chevrolet BET Truck” — full-size product boasting a maximum driving range of 400 miles. Just like the Hummer.
For Buick, GM’s electrified ambitions spells two upcoming products: a conventionally proportioned crossover and a second utility vehicle boasting a “more expressive proportion with a greater emphasis on form and athletic fashion.” Is it possible we’ve already seen this particular vehicle?
At GM’s truck division, the near future holds the Hummer EV, but GMC plans to turn that vehicle into an “off-road-capable” SUV that retains the Hummer model name.
Lots of green on the way.
[Images: General Motors]
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- Paul Alexander It seems to me that the electric cars are really ideal for those that can afford to install the infrastructure to charge at home and less than ideal for those of us who cannot. Putting in solar and a 240 outlet on your house makes a ton of sense, especially if you also have another non-electric car for long distance travel. Having an electric car as your only car and relying on public charging stations seems like a fools errand.
- Tassos Germany is the biggest market in Europe, esp in cars. When the German government ended the subsidies for EVs, their sales in August PLUMMETED 70%! On top of a 40% plummet in July.
- Theflyersfan Interest rates on car loans are still high. Limited number of buyers that can spend over $50,000 on any car. Unknown long-term reliability and battery issues. Charging infrastructure is still hit and miss, especially away from interstates. No easy solutions for those who have street parking at home on how they charge up. There's a lot of factors to weigh. But I think the biggest hurdle is still cost. Automakers want to show off their most expensive tech in their most expensive EVs and that means forget about huge chunks of the middle class being able to afford one. These fixes will come in time. I'm sure these same kinds of issues were discussed when ICE-powered cars were bursting on the scene over 100 years ago and people had to give up their horses.
- Bd2 Union Trash.
- 28-Cars-Later "“The consumer needs to be educated. Those batteries are proving to have 12-, 15-year life cycles, and most of us don’t even hold a vehicle for 12 or 15 years.”" So reading between the lines, Mr. Trotsky has decided there will be no more used cars as we know them. Unless BEVs designs accommodate battery cell repair/replacement (or will in the near future), Our Not Social Betters have decided to bring Logan's Run to the auto industry. But keep cheering for them proles while they laugh.
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"the Celestique halo car, well, that hand-built product earns the title of “Cadillac Celestiq Statement Vehicle” in the report, with the division mentioning a build rate of 1.2 vehicles per day" They're insane.
Really. Granola types, is it still the 60/70’s? What do u call a person who likes eggs and bacon for breakfast a real man? Update your stereotypes.