General Motors released its fourth quarter and 2018 earnings this past Wednesday and it showed the automaker remains in good shape, even as it sheds thousands of white collar jobs this week and prepares to idle manufacturing plants in North America.
However, GM CEO Mary Barra also spoke about electric cars and underlined her stance that the automaker could see profitable EVs take shape next decade. On an investor call, GM CEO Mary Barra was asked about the automaker’s EV program, and although she side-stepped a question about electric pickup trucks, she highlighted GM’s partnership with Honda and strong position in China.
“I think we’re in a good position, driving our cell costs down,” she said.
In 2017, Barra named 2021 as a target date for the automaker’s first profitable electric car. However, it appears 2022 might be more realistic following news Cadillac will emerge as the company’s banner EV brand. Cadillac also teased its first electric car, an unnamed SUV, ahead of the 2019 North American International Auto Show last month.
The SUV will ride on one of GM’s new electric-car architectures, named BEV3. The platform is scalable to meet various vehicle sizes and can underpin front, rear, and all-wheel-drive vehicles. GM targets a minimum range of 300 miles with the platform and its future EVs.
We still expect to see at least one other EV show up based on the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s platform, which will reportedly be a Buick. Previous reports said Buick’s EV plans had been stalled internally, however, so it’s unclear when we may see the vehicle debut. Recall, as part of GM’s 20 new electric cars by 2023, we were supposed to have seen one new EV by now.
Comments
Yeah. OK.
Miss Mary Barra has been a fraud and failure. Oh, “next decade she could maybe possibly do amazing things because….uhhh…she is a women!” mantra has been played out on here.
Sorry, but we have heard that time and time again from GM. And electric vehicles were started well before Miss Mary was pushed into her position and championed by a very unfeminine Bob Lutz (because there are always seems to be a affirmative-action angle to GMA stories).
God wanted barra to be ceo of gm.
Steve, you never are one for educated, intelligent comments…
It continues…
thanks. you are the wind beneath my wings. you are alpha and omega. bless you.
Are you high, little low IQ Stevie? Just asking…
It could and I might see Jesus Christ at the charging station!
And some people thought *she* had a “98% chance of winning.”
We all know how that turned out.
trump getting impeachedd?
Nope. Not at all.
Meanwhile, little low IQ Stevie can’t manage his Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). Maybe you need to up the dosage of your meds? Nobody was even talking about President Donald J. Trump, sore loser.
MIss Bara is directing the company without regards for the culture at GM. She should have reinvested at least in the US to support that culture. Good luck with those electric cars. What a timing, at a time when the US is the first producer of energy in the world, thanks to your President. I am Canadian and have been a GM customer for 45 years and bought many of them. I am also a retired police officer and drove GM police car during most of my 20 years career. My next purchase was to be a ZO6, I have been dreaming about buying that car for the last 2 years, but now I am not so sure anymore, frankly I am disapointed
. Nothing wrong with the car itself but at one point someone has to let those over inflated EGOs that they are doing the wrong thing.
Andre
Key word, COULD? Read article about how weather affects batteries, both draining and charging. Batteries can become almost unchangeable in extreme cold and mileage can be cut in half as well. They may work in future but seems a long way off.
First off, 95% of drivers do not need to drive 300 miles in one single day so pretty much who cares if you lose range. Lets say you actually do lose half of your range in the winter, that still leaves you with 150 Miles of range. So honestly who really cares.
Not sure if everyone is aware or not, but even gasoline goes down in range in the winter as well.
Do not believe the lies made by Big Oil.
It’s unbelievable how hard everyone is trying to destroy and or discredit Tesla. They are an American Company that is pretty much single handedly changing a whole Industry and the Legacy makers are not too pleased about it, Lets just be honest.
Tesla is making money on EV’s and Barra is seriously trying to state it may happen next Decade for GM?
Is she for real?
GM may need new leadership.
@Momolos
Regarding your comments on range did you stop and think for a moment that the difference between 300 miles and a 150 miles is how much time you spend at the charging station?
Sure gas mileage drops in the winter, but how long does it take to top off something like a Suburban vs. charging a Bolt from empty.
Did you read my whole statement? I said how often is someone needing to drive 150 let alone 300 miles in a day.
150 miles round trip is waaaay more than enough range for 95% of the country.
So the point I was making is the following…Once in a while or for the select few that driver 300 miles in a day, they would need to stop at a Fast Charging station. There they can plug in and grab a bite. Then on with their drive.
But again, how often would 95% of the population have to do that?
Not sure where the issue arises with so called Battery denigration when it is ultra cold outside.
Tesla is an American Company and they are the leader. I respect that.
GM and the other Legacy Auto makers need to catch up to them or die off.
Momolos: Yes, it’s me again, frustrated. I agree with the gist of your argument; I love Elon Musk and Tesla and credit his foresight in re-creating the EV market in the US. We have hashed out our slightly different opinions on Range Anxiety and current refueling infrastructure importance to the average customer ad nauseaum. I thoroughly enjoyed the give and take.
However, as a business plan for GM, who is currently the presumptive leader in the US automobile market, to preemptively ditch a large part of their market share with the vague promise of replacing it with pickup trucks and maybe EVs some years in the future seems extremely risky, given the real problems with range and refueling infrastructure which you continue to make light of. It’s sort of like eating in restaurants; one bad meal and you never come back; same thing will happen with the EV owner stuck on the road with a dead battery. And rest assured, he will tell his friends and neighbors about it.
GM EVs will probably not have the virtue-signaling snob appeal that Tesla now enjoys, even if they stick a Cadillac badge on them; if their products have real problems on the road, the customer will desert EVs in general and GM in particular. I sometimes feel you do not fully understand the importance of getting the infrastructure right before you commit GM to a total electric future.
If I have misjudged your position, please accept my apologies.
Can I put in my plug for the Volt now?
Did I ever state they should move away from ICE right away?
I simply stated that it shouldn’t take GM a Decade to make a profit on EV’s. I simply do not believe her. And if that is the case, she needs to be replaced as CEO.
I believe EV’s will be the future but obviously Tesla has a leg up on the Legacy Auto Makers. They need to move much quicker to get up to scale.
Everyone and their grandmother is going to want to use the fast chargers, how do you reserve it for the, in your opinion, “select few” who will have, again in your opinion, a legitimate claim to “need.” Putting that aside. Did you just say, fast charger and grab a bite to eat?! Is that the waiting in line part or the charging part? Methinks one of em left out
Yup. That makes a lot of sense. So you have never once waited for a Gas pump huh?
Let me ask you this…was the Gasoline car first (because first cars were electric) or the Gas station that supplies the Gasoline first?
And do you think that in this country of ours that is a Capitalist country, no company out there will build more and more EV chargers to make money?
I honestly couldn’t tell if you were just trying to be funny or you were actually serious.
Momolos: Not since the Arab oil embargo; thank goodness that is behind us in the USA.
Actually, I believe the gas powered car come first, though it was close. What killed electrics was range anxiety. And stock manipulation of the companies that built them.
Even though there were few gas stations, due to the enormous energy density of petroleum based fuels, you could carry quite a bit with you and buy it in cans at almost any general store and walk or take a horse back to where your car was out of gas.
With electrics, not so much; I guess with a strong horse you could tow your electric back to the nearest electric grid outlet, if there was an available charger there.
Things have not changed too much (yet) in a hundred years.
You sound like you would have been an outstanding product planner in the planned economy of the Soviet Union. Never mind what the consumer wants or needs, here is what you get!
Edward M Pate: What or who are you talking about? The closest I see to anyone associated with this site who is advocating idiotic 5 year plans is GM’s CEO, Mary Barra. Is it she to whom you refer?
Yeah great point. I’m sure that is the reason why Tesla cannot build Model 3’s fast enough, you know because the Government is telling the public to purchase them LOL
Why isn’t Toyota going all in on BEVs?! The most profitable company must know something Barra doesn’t…
Barra is a SJW who is praying for another Obama-like president to give her cover. She has sold out US/Canada for Mexico/China.
We will watch GM market share continue to erode into oblivion under her watch.
Soooo true!
Miss Mary Barra only was put into that position due to affirmative action and being a GM lifer, and we know what both of those mean. Also, she is looking for big government handouts to keep GM afloat because she obviously can’t do it alone. Except their is a different President in charge now and he isn’t falling for SJW corporate handouts. Good to see she has shut her mouth recently showing really who has power.
Lastly, do you ever notice how Sean goes to great lengths to title articles he writes loves stories about her with “GM CEO Mary Barra” but when it is to do with our President, he can only write “Trump” not “U.S. President Donald Trump”? Nah, no bias at GMA at all, nah….Fake news never ceases being fake.
Funny how you’ve appropriated yet another member’s screen name for your own nefarious, i.e., political purposes, while ranting about “fake” news. Or is your name Zach as well, Mr. Corporate Handjob?
The only thing wrong with GMA is the moderation. The lack of it is killing this place.
He said “nefarious”? Lololol
NP dude, you do realize Zach is a pretty common name out there? I can name two Zach’s right now that are writers for other car sites. Who knows, might be one of them posting.
Please find a special quiet room…you seem to be more triggered these days.
Toyota is putting their all their eggs in the Hydrogen basket. Don’t ask me why, because there really seems to be no future in Hydrogen. In 5 years, they have sold less Hydrogen cars than Tesla ships in a month.
gm didn’t go all in on BEVs. they are just less all in on ICE vehicles.
Toyota is not going in because they have competent management. Also, their CEO makes 20 percent of what Machete Mary makes.
Sounds like reality is kicking in. You don’t just dive in and totally change your entire product portfolio overnight. That is a recipe for disaster and this SJW doesn’t seem to grasp that very well. Now offering a few new EV’s in the next 2-4 years so they at least compete makes far more sense and then see where the market goes. If gas stays cheap and the electrical infrastructure doesn’t improve drastically the EV market may never really take off for years to come.
Cue the Red Chevy Blazer story on GMA in 3…2…1….
lol
please remind everyone how blazer sales are tanking before they hit dealer lots. LOL.
I love when GMA writers have message board pen names and pretend to be readers.
Just sayin’, Sean.
if i were sean, how come i can’t spell szymkowski without double checking 5 times? explain that sherlock?
Okay, low IQ Stevie how did you get out of your safe space? Back in now…I will bring the milk and cookies and a teddy bear soon.
are those cookies gluten free? also i prefer 1/2 soy 1/2 almond milk. organic of course.
You forgot to mention that you suck your thumb too…
Oh, and fail at picking the winning President too.
Run along now little androgenous one…
What, Steve, you mean amazing like you told us the Chinese-made Buick Envision was going to be a smashing sales success?
Obviously not the smartest apple in the bunch…
i said that? where do you come up with this stuff? same place where you find people’s IP addresses?
did you mean to say something about apples in a barrel. i never heard about apples being in a bunch. stop mixing up your metaphors like you do your pills.
next time say something like …. “steve, you are one brick short of a full load.”
your pal, sean
Poor Stevie must be off his anti-Trump Derangement Syndrome meds today.
“98% chance of winning”!!! Lol… Obviously not the smartest apple in the bunch.
It’s really very simple, the Chinese government is pushing consumers and Mfg’s as quickly as it can towards BEV’s. GM is betting that they can cash in on the billions to be made on BEV’s in China. As previously stated, most of the 20 new EV’s by 2023, will never be seen in NA. Brands like Baojun and Wuling will be selling BEV’s that will be “good enough” there, but would never make it here regardless of how they were branded or badged. It’s a big gamble for sure, and if it doesn’t pay off, GM could be done for good.
And you are trusting of the Communist Chinese government? lolololol
Sorry, but this just reinforces how it is more than risky and the Chinese end game is to control the companies and market themselves. It also proves that the “electrification for the environment” is a total scam as it is really just chasing big profits in China and could not give a damn about Americans or Canadians and the environment here.
molson is hiring. check em out.
Sean, uh, I mean “Steve”, isn’t it great when those who watch are being watched…and don’t even know it?
And what the hell is molson? You have a mole, son?
fyi, you don’t need a passport to travel beyond the county line.
your pal, sean … i mean steve. damn it!!!!!!!!!
Triggered low IQ “Steve”, of course you don’t need a Honda Passport to travel outside the County line. You could use one of those super duper cherry red Mexican made Chevy Blazers to do it!
Chapter 3: Teaching low IQ “Steve” what a VPN is…*lol*
All seeing eye, you made me laugh hard today. Thank you.
I noticed little Stevie ran away after that, didn’t he…lol
I’ve lost all confidence and respect for Mary Barra and, at this point, it is unlikely I would buy a GM vehicle again.
Not much talk about EV infrastructure.
Vs, say, Volkswagen’s Electrity America initiative, going into partnership with Tesla.
Seems like GM is behind the curve on infrastructure, unless there’s more they’re not revealing yet.
It’s not a partnership the are just buying battery backups from Tesla in some locations to ease the grid. Tesla sells grid storage devices and they need them.
Right – so maybe it’s not a partnership, but VW is making a move on infrastructure.
And Porsche is working on ultra-high-power charging (and investing $9b, which is odd, since they’re part of the VW fam).
Anyway, I don’t see GM talking about EV infrastructure (and doing something abt it).
Still don’t understand why the Exxons and Shells of the world aren’t adding electric to their energy repertoire, and it’s left to carmakers to create charging networks.
Messiah Mary says that GM is a tech company now and is recognized as such so I am sure she has a lot of mind-blowing gizmos coming our way.
Let’s see…Machete Mary believes in an all EV future for EV that could or could not e profitable. Sounds like a great, well- analyzed plan to me.
Fire this airhead today…
Good Fox News commentary on Mary Barra’s GM
Ya, Tucker nails it here.
how come tucker always looks like someone took away his ice cream cone?
Next decade will be yet to be determined given that there is still no infrastructure to support an all electric fleet as the United States does not have the power grid to support millions of electric vehicles or method to recharge all of these electric vehicles given that not everyone lives in a residence with private parking; this is not an isolated problem for the United States as every country that signed the Paris Climate Accord and switches to zero emissions vehicles will have the same issue unless they adopt gas hybrid vehicles that use the Chevrolet Volt architecture with a fuel cell replacing the gas motor.
omegatalon: Thanks for putting in the plug for the Voltec architecture. I was beginning to feel like a voice in the wilderness. I’m glad someone else understands the infrastructure problems associated with a massive shift to electric vehicles and that the Volt is a good transitional step towards an eventual electric future. It would be nice if fuel cell technology advances to the point of cracking hydrocarbon fuels successfully, a Hydrogen infrastructure is again very problematic in the near future.
When a certain % of vehicles on the road are EV, if they can’t charge in 5-10 minutes, just think how many
charging station will be needed. If Cortez has her way, vehicles can’t use gas and power plants can use
coal or natural gas, so how are we going to run the country and our cars on solar power alone? 🙂
Depending on where you do your long drives, it might be better to fly and rent a car there. Then limited
range at home won’t be bad. The EVs are supposed to be fast, but that will also cut range when you accelerate.
Low on gas, stop on the way to work. Low on charge, be late for work.
Range, speed of recharge and no price premium will have to be significantly improved before EVs can do well.
I think older generations will resist EV. A lot depends on the younger generations.
When GM Mary talks, we never know what country she is talking about. She just wants to fatten her
stock options before getting fired.
Arthur: I agree, in general, but in my experience, the only people I know who have EVs, PHEVs, or even pure hybrids are all 65+. None of my children seem very interested, they all seem to want cheap Toyotas. Of course, price could be a factor there.
Also, under Cortez’s rule there will be no airplanes, either. I wouldn’t mind high speed electric rail, however.
At best I feel that there will never be more than about 20% of the market asking for electric vehicles. Probably a larger ones for the about to be discontinued Volt as it was a far more versatile car. Autonomous driving cars will probably hit a market ceiling of under 10%. Maybe in 40 or 50 years that will change but not for the foreseeable future.
Edward M Pate: Good comment. Glad you see the value of the Volt in today’s market. And the foolishness of the autonomous vehicle. Too bad GM doesn’t on both counts.
Barra is an idiot in the sense that she believes in an “all electric” future. Of course this date is not set, and she comes across as a dictator that is telegraphing to customers “this is what you are going to get from GM: take it or leave it.” At the end of the day, the customers will dictate by their wallets what they want. GM tried this strategy in the 1980s when they downsized all of their luxury cars that were minting money at the time. We all saw how that turned out.
“GM tried this strategy in the 1980s when they downsized all of their luxury cars that were minting money at the time. We all saw how that turned out.”
You mean how it worked out and how the horrible unreliable land-barges made during the 60’s and 70’s are no more?