General Motors has an electric pickup truck in development. That much we know. However, we shouldn’t expect it to bow in the near future.
GM President Mark Reuss spoke with Bloomberg on Wednesday following the automaker’s announcement of a $150 million investment in the Flint, Michigan assembly plant. The new money will help boost production capacity of 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2020 GMC Sierra HD pickups. During the interview, Reuss said an electric pickup truck will take time, especially with regards to supplanting volume.
Reuss, rightfully so, said an electric truck can’t be a compromise compared to a traditional truck. Thus, it needs to tow, haul, and perform at an equal level or better to create value for a customer. If not, a truck buyer will likely pass right over the electric model for an internal-combustion engine. Reuss added the industry needs to figure out charging infrastructure, too.
Truck buyers these days often use their vehicles for work, recreation, and as a family vehicle. Today, it’s simple to stop at any fuel station and fill the tank with gasoline or diesel fuel. However, charging infrastructure remains scarce, especially in many rural markets. An electric pickup truck will need to have an infrastructure to back it up.
GM is slowly trying to help remedy some of these problems. The automaker will work with Bechtel to build a nationwide charging infrastructure in the U.S. Further, an electric truck will likely ride on the automaker’s BEV3 platform, which GM said in the past is key to making profitable electric cars at a high volume.
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Comments
They shouldn’t focus on making it affordable yet. It should initially be a niche model with unique styling. They will likely not make very much money on it for a while – but neither will any of their competitors.
So GM will be the fourth EV truck supplier, after Ford, Rivian, and Tesla, in that order.
I think Rivian will be first right?
GM Beancounters at it again. Good Luck with everything GM. An EV Pickup will not be for everyone right away, you just need to have one on offer like Ford will. I fear that if the Tesla Truck is any good, GM will never catch up when everything shifts to full EV’s. They say they are committed but their actions show otherwise. Hope I am wrong.
Nobody is asking you to go full EV but offer an EV version of the Silverado like Ford will of the F-150.
GM used to lead but not anymore and it shows with every new vehicle launch they make. It is heart breaking.
why go electric than if there is no infrastructure? why not build a hybrid or mild hybrid that can bridge the gap while the gap is being filled? oh wait, the eletric car revolution is being pushed by corporate board members who live in California high rises and have never been at an assembly plant nor the communities that use their product, heaven forbid common sense. Build the mild hybrid as it cost next to nothing to add to a truck and then a plug in hybrid built off of that. Common sense, cost effective and you can recharge the plug in hybrid at a recharge station, or refill at a gas station, double whammy! then these vehicles are good for use even 60years from now when everything will “supposedly” be electric.
Ford isn’t going to go full EV with the F-150 but will offer an EV version. Not everyone wants or is ready for a full EV but that will eventually be the Future. Who do you think will have the Upper Hand when that shift happens?
GM or Ford, Rivian, and Tesla?
There is work to do before a EV truck can be a profit center.
The problem is lowering the cost as good EV products are not cheap and the people who would most be targeted like fleets are all about low cost. The EV is counter to fleet pricing.
More charging in more locations as well as more speed in charging is needed.
GM has changed their focus from cheap money losing cars to focusing on more profitable higher priced Cadillac’s that will better support profits at lower volumes. This will trickle down to where it will lower cost for cheaper EV models of other brands.
Being first means nothing, losing money means a lot. Getting it right means everything. There is no time table on this and with the ICE lines they will continue to support the company for many years.
He’s right, it takes time for GM to do anything these days. I doubt if they could rush any project, given the latest rounds of corporate layoffs. When they introduce their pick-up. they will already be playing catch up.