Key Takeaways
- GM CEO Mary Barra has said the automaker won’t meet its EV production goal by the end of 2025.
- Customers are turning against electric vehicles, opting instead for hybrids and PHEVs.
- General Motors plans to introduce plug-in hybrids by 2027, to help comply with efficiency and emissions regulations.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra has said the automotive giant won’t meet its goal of building 1 million EVs by the end of next year, reports Bloomberg. The automaker will not have the production capacity required to reach this target, with Barra noting that the customer will now set the pace for how quickly the company will reach 1 million EV sales.
“We won’t get to a million just because the market’s not developing, but it will get there,” said Barra in an interview with CNBC earlier this week. GM has invested billions of dollars in EV development, with multiple models already available through its Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC brands, with more to follow. This announcement came less than a year after GM struggled to build EVs due to numerous production issues.
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV
- Horsepower
- 288 hp (AWD) | 340 hp (RWD)
- Torque
- 333 lb-ft (AWD) | 325 lb-ft (RWD)
- Drivetrain
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- 0-60 MPH
- 5.7-6.1 seconds
- Top Speed
- 118 mph
GM Plug-In Hybrids Are Coming
Not only has GM distanced itself from previous goals, but the automaker also admitted that deliveries of its electric vehicles have seen a slump. To be fair, this is something that the entire industry has experienced, with second-quarter EV sales remaining flat compared to a year ago. Customers are rejecting battery-electric cars in favor of more attainable (and practical) hybrids and PHEVs.
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And GM is paying attention. By 2027, the Detroit-based brand plans to introduce new plug-in hybrids to cater to market needs. The company has not said which models will arrive as PHEVs, but Barra said they will arrive just in time to help GM comply with stricter emissions and fuel economy requirements.
GM Is Still Committed To EV Ambitions
Earlier this year, the CEO said GM “remains committed to eliminating tailpipe emissions from our light-duty vehicles by 2035.” Still, the introduction of plug-in hybrids will assist in the interim as the national charging infrastructure continues to expand. In December, Barra said meeting the 2035 all-electric fleet goals largely depends on customer acceptance.
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“General Motors moving to an all-electric future, and almost what’s more important, is the fact that the vehicle really is a software platform. We’re seeing a little bit of a slowdown right now. We won’t get to 1 million just because the market is not developing, but we’ll get there. We’re going to be guided by the customer, but what I like to tell people is, ‘Get in an electric vehicle and drive it.’ It’s a lot of fun. It’s instant torque, [and] opens up [a] new design language for the vehicle. As the charging infrastructure gets more robust, as EVs become more affordable, I definitely think we’re going to see that growth in the next 10,11,12 years.”
Source:
CNBC
,
Bloomberg
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