Does The ICE Chevy Blazer Have A Future?
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In the move to all-electric powertrains, existing ICE-powered GM models will need to make way. That includes the ICE-powered Chevy Blazer, which at present, doesn’t seem to have a future in North America beyond the 2025 calendar year.
For those readers who may have missed it, the GM Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico is set to begin producing all-electric vehicles in 2024. It’s possible the facility will only produce EVs in 2024, but for now, it’s looking like the facility will continue to produce a mix of ICE-powered vehicles and EVs around that timeframe.
That said, the GM Ramos Arizpe plant will inevitably only produce EVs, which means that production of the two ICE-powered vehicles currently built there, namely the ICE-powered Chevy Equinox and ICE-powered Chevy Blazer, will either have to end, or be moved elsewhere.
For the ICE-powered Equinox, this isn’t an issue, as it’s also produced at the GM San Luis Potosi plant, also located in Mexico. But what about the ICE-powered Chevy Blazer?
For the moment, production of the ICE-powered Chevy Blazer is set to end at the GM Ramos Arizpe plant around the mid-2025 timeframe, indicating that there should be a 2025 model year for the vehicle. Beyond that, however, there are really only two places where production of the crossover could be moved – GM Lansing Delta Township in Michigan, which already builds larger C1-based crossovers like the Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave, and soon, the GMC Acadia, or the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, which currently builds E2-based vehicles like the Cadillac XT4 and Chevy Malibu, but could technically build C1-based crossovers like the ICE-powered Chevy Blazer as well.
Both scenarios, however, are unlikely. But what about the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, which currently builds the C1-based Cadillac XT5 and Cadillac XT6? Well, as it turns out, the Spring Hill plant is also set to convert to EV production, just like Ramos Arizpe, and as such, it’s highly unlikely that ICE-powered Chevy Blazer will end up there. In fact, production of the GMC Acadia is moving from Spring Hill to the GM Lansing Delta Township plant. What’s more, there are currently no plans to offer a next-gen Cadillac XT5 in North America, as revealed in a presentation given by GM President Mark Reuss at last year’s GM Investor Day event.
All told, GM’s shorter C1-based crossovers (the ICE-based Chevy Blazer and Cadillac XT5) are set to disappear from the North American market sometime in the 2024 or 2025 calendar years. That said, both nameplates will continue to be marketed in China, including a Chinese-spec next-gen XT5, as well as a slightly larger ICE-based Chevy Blazer compared to what’s currently sold in North America. To note, GM does not currently offer the Chevy Traverse in China, and as such, the slightly larger ICE-based Chevy Blazer won’t cannibalize sales.
To sum up, it appears as though the ICE-based Chevy Blazer doesn’t have a future in North America beyond the 2025 timeframe, and as such, will find a natural replacement with the new Chevy Blazer EV. Of course, it bears mentioning that plans do change, but for now, that’s the situation.
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There’s nothing “natural” about replacing an ICE vehicle of any kind with a soulless appliance EV.
ocnblu: Although I don’t think GM should (and I don’t think they will) abandon ICE 100%, I’d say unless you have driven an EV I don’t know how you can say “soulless”. Every EV I’ve driven has been more fun to drive than most ICE. But that’s just me. I like both EV and ICE though.
I have driven electric garbage, they are essentially large golf carts! No sound, no feel, boring, quiet, basically a point A to point B vehicle, nothing more!
Well considering that most have a more favorable and lower center of gravity than an ICE, and considering that they have instant acceleration, and considering that they are fast, and considering that most of them handle very well, I’d say you are just being bias in every way. Except for the sound. I enjoy and prefer an extremely quiet car. You may enjoy a louder car. Understood. But loud doesn’t make it fast or give it outstanding handling. I understand there are a lot of people who think because their vehicle makes a lot of noise, that it’s therefore fast. Exhibit A: Morons putting the fart can exhaust on their import 4 cyl. Exhibit B: More morons changing out the factory exhaust on their Mopar’s with the V6 to try and make it sound like something it’s not.
All of you act like if someone says anything positive about EV’s that it makes them bad or wrong. Grow up. I love ICE as much as anyone. But I also like EV’s too. It’s ok to like them both.
Dan B ya might want to check some of those facts. Yes the have a more favorable center of gravity but they substantially weigh more negating that lower center of gravity. With today’s ICE vehicles both have instant acceleration, both are fast, in fact an ICE vehicle is faster overall, an EV is quicker off the line but most ICE will catch and pass an EV. Because of the excessive weight they don’t handle very well and are made with harder compound tires (less grip) to compensate for the excessive weight so 9 times out of 10 an ICE will out handle an EV. As for sound both are very quiet unless under extreme acceleration which is when most customers want to here something, you can’t argue that doesn’t add to the experience. Watch a movie with the television speakers set low and then watch the same movie with and amplified surround sound system and tell me what is more impactful. Btw most sound in a vehicle comes from road noise generated from the vehicles tires, no difference there between ICE and EV. I completely agree with you on the morons with the fart cans but that has nothing to do with what’s being discussed here. Unfortunately I feel many people have a negative view of EV’s for many reasons, we are constantly being lied to about them. They don’t help the environment overall in fact the actually are far more harmful, they are not the future because it will take decades for the electrical infrastructure to be able to accommodate them, they are overall more expensive which right now is the last thing customers need and most people feel they are being pushed on us by a corrupt and completely incompetent government with pathetic corporate puppets following this agenda all for greed and nothing to do with the future of this planet. JMHO.
I don’t need to check the facts I make my own facts.
Well that explains everything.
Well isn’t that interesting. I have not been on GMA for more than 24 hours. Now here I am reading the comments and I come upon some sh*t bag that thinks it’s funny to impersonate someone else. Obviously someone who doesn’t like me, and I have zero issue with that. But using someone else’s name is just being a dirt bag. Grow up.
This above is NOT my post.
This would further explain why the Acadia is being upsized for the next gen. I don’t love the strategy. Equinox to Traverse is too large a jump in size. Hopefully they’ll reconsider like they did with the Malibu.
What if blazer moved to LWB E2? How do the dimensions of the Chinese Envision Plus or whatever compare to the Blazer?
Blazer – 192″ L x 77″ W x 67″ H
Envision Plus – 191″ L x 74″ W x 67″ H
This could work…
Believe the current fuel injection manufacturer has a contact to build to 2025 a d nothing beyond. This would be a good indicator for the fulfillment ICE’s. Not sure if they will extend for repair or replacements.
The question should be does the cheap crap Chevrolet puts out have a future.
Ken: You must be looking at Toyota and Honda pics again.
Nice job, sure there is a good future for you in certain police squad!
We don’t respond to heavily trolled posts which is why no one responds to this. No context on what is cheap to go off of. Interiors are coming around, drive trains have for the most part been strong and the bread and butter of GM over the years. It isn’t trying to remarket as a premium brand or anything so compared to a Genesis yes it will be cheap; but compared to other mainstream brands like Toyota, Ford and Dodge it is right on par.
You need to change that to I instead of we. You don’t have enough common sense to realize you don’t speak for everyone on this website troll.
It may depend on development and sales of the EV.
I expect GM to balance the transition over.
Don’t forget about GM Korea’s bupyeong 2 plant. They provided great solutions for mid-size or large size sedan like malibu, suv like captiva, even big size trucks when daewoo era! until GM decide to close all bupyeong plant, BP2 has a chance to make cars again.
GM is about to learn a very tough lesson along with other automakers that customers are not willing to go along with this all EV push. GM will be in the red very soon after they start killing their ICE cash cows. That ICE blazer is a cash cow and makes a ton of money for GM. Not sure if you have seen the sticker price for this little unibody ICE blazer but plenty of folks are paying it to own one.
You haven’t really been paying attention have you?
Most legacy automakers their ICE sales are shrinking year of year, and only their EV sales and growing and they can’t build them fast enough to keep up with demand.
That’s interesting because in 2020 EV sales were less than 1% of total vehicle sales. 2021 less than 3%, at that rate it will take a lifetime to hit 50%. Even more interesting is if those sales hit anywhere close to10% it will completely overwhelm the electrical system causing rolling blackouts across the country.
Not sure where you got your numbers.
Globally, EVs were about 4% in 2020, and 10% in 2021. And about 16% for 2022.
Recheck your numbers because they’re way off. My numbers are U.S. sales and are facts, just google it. This discussion is on a U.S. website, talking about a U.S. company with U.S. customers that affect this country’s electrical grid. Global numbers mean nothing here and are more then likely a lie due to the liberal leaders in those countries pushing there bullshït global warming agenda. EV’s have a future in human mobility but the technology is no where near where it needs to be to become as mainstream as is being pushed by the individuals doing so, as I stated in my first post it’s all based on lies and greed. Many companies are aggressively working on the next technology ( i.e. solid state and other battery development ) that will eventually make all the current lithium ion vehicles completely obsolete. Then there will be a huge push to retire all those environmentally detrimental vehicles making them worthless. Who would purchase those vehicles at that point, would you? We’re just not there yet and ignorant decisions to completely stop producing ICE vehicles is just that, ignorant, and won’t happen for decades if ever.
I posted global numbers, because the automarket is global and GM is a global company. And laughing that you say we can’t talk global issues on a supposed US site, that has a lot of articles about GM operations in China and countries. You can google my numbers too.
But if we look at US numbers, it raised to 6% in 2022. Double 2021. Ever seen what happens when you keep doubling?
I think US will go slower than the rest of world, and I’m not as optimistic as some that think EVs will be almost 100% in a few years. But they are growing fast.
But yeah, I’ve been driving EVs for 6 years now.
One of our vehicles is a PHEV, because no one makes yet an all-EV minivan for the US.
To use your logic, who’s gonna want buy an outdated gasser with zero resale value in 5-7 years?
It’s interesting how individuals like you keep repeating your invalid points but don’t address far more valid counterpoints. The current generation of EV’s will soon be completely obsolete and there will be a push to eliminate their toxic, non-environmental friendly batteries, on the other hand the gas engine has been around since 1886 and is so prominent worldwide that it will take centuries if ever to be replaced. There will always be a market for ICE vehicles because I guarantee an enormous amount of individual will never buy an EV. Another valid reason not to purchase an EV is that over 75% of all EV batteries are made in China, the U.S.’s biggest adversary. They are raping this planet for essential elements at an alarming rate. At this point in time why would anyone want to continue to support China helping them to advance economically over the U.S. I also noticed you didn’t address the fact that the electrical grid can not handle the demand EV autos produce. We here in the U.S. have one of the most advanced electrical grids worldwide and we can’t accommodate the demand, imagine what would happen worldwide? I try not to make comments that are perceived as personal but why does it not surprise me that you drive a minivan.
Not a lot of point trying to address invalid anti-EV talking points that have been disproved over and over, when there are other sources to go find that. But sure,…
EV batteries can and will be recycled to recover the critical battery minerals, because they easier than mining and they have all ready been processed. It’s like high-quality pre-processed ore. Something like 90% of of an EV battery can be recycled. There are already companies establishing the capacity and facilities needed for it. Don’t worry your pretty little self into hysteria about it. Much better than all the pollution and health problems caused by the oil and gas supply chain, that ends off burning a gallon to go 25miles, where most of it is wasted as heat.
If 75% of batteries are made in China, it’s because they are producing and selling a lot more EVs (mainly for the local Chinese market) than anywhere. But again, don’t worry your sensitive little heart about it. There are a lot of US and North America battery factories in production, in construction, and in planning stages. GM alone will have at least 4 in production by 2025, with somewhere around 200-240GWh of annual production capacity. Add in factories that Ford and other automakers are building in JVs and then you have SKI, Samsung, and LG Chem all building EV batteries in the US.
The electric grid will grow and adjust as it needs to. Lots of $$ to be had supplying electricity to EVs. Utilities are gonna want that piece of the pie. Capitalism will help here. EVs can also help stabilize the grid, as V2G tech starts to be adopted, with EV batteries being able to store excess and return to the grid if needed as part of a distributed virtual power plant. We can absolutely accommodate the demand.
I usually try not to make personal commentary either, but I’ve tried to be respectful to the fact that your ego is so fragile. I can tell this because you think you have insulted me with the comment about driving a minivan. Way more practical and comfortable than an SUV. It has massive cargo capacity, easy to get kids into and out of. But any way, it’s not my daily driver, it’s our family vehicle for road trips and family adventures. You don’t have to worry yourself about it, My daily driver does 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds.
Wow are you still pining over this non debatable subject? My comments aren’t anti EV, they are factual and you have not disproved any of them. If anything you just keep pushing your obviously bias, nonsensical, non factual statements.
EV batteries can be recycled but very few are being recycled because it’s far to expensive which is exactly why it’s not being done. You say they “can be” but again it’s not being done making your point moot, but I’m sure “your pretty little self” will be in denial about that. You made a comment about pollution and health problems from oil and gas, any facts to prove that or is that just more of your verbal diarrhea. That statement alone shows your a bias tree hugger and a hypocrite, whether you realize it or not you use gas and oil every day and you could not exist without it. When you completely stop using anything made of plastic and stop using gas or oil to cook and heat your home your just talking out your ass like most tree hugging liberals.
It’s not “if” it’s factual that 75% of EV batteries are produced in China, our adversary and not as you say just for China, that’s worldwide. They own the market, again you’re in deny.
The electrical grid can not grow nearly fast enough to accommodate EV’s and there is absolutely no where near the funding it would take to do it, we’re talking trillions of dollars, are you going to pay for that.
Your ridiculous comment about my ego is comical at best, I’m stating facts about the subject of this article, gas vehicles aren’t going anywhere and that makes triggered individuals like you get your panties in a bunch. My comment about you owning a minivan wasn’t meant as an insult. It’s a stereotype created long before I was born, maybe you took it as an insult because there’s truth to that stereotype.
Lastly you previously stated EV sales are doubling, what your not taking into consideration is the only reason that is happening is because this incompetent, irresponsible, unintelligent, corrupt ( I could go on and on ) liberal government is giving massive incentives to buy EV’s, as soon as that ends you will see EV sales plummet. Don’t bother replying because I’m done with this conversation and have no interest in hearing anymore of your bias thoughts. You do you and I’ll do me, difference is I live in the real world.
What are the sales of the ice Chevy blazer?It is and has been underwhelming. It is not a cash cow by any stretch of the imagination. It’s one of the lower margin products that GM offers. And I might remind you, you don’t speak for customers. If you did, Tesla’s millions of customers that grow faster than any auto company in your lifetime, haven’t heard you. Walmart, Verizon, FedEx, and on and on, haven’t heard you either. They have given GM tens of thousands of unit orders. I guess Hertz didn’t get your message either. They gave GM an order for 175,000EV’s. That’s about three times the annual sales of the ice Chevy Blazer. All on one order. Sales folks like orders like that. I could go on and on. GM will offer ICE Vehicles AND EV’s for many years to come. Decades probably. I’ve been in the car business all my life. When I hear statements like you made, it’s instantly clear, you have absolutely. no background or experience. With that behind you, you make BOLD PREDICTIONS. Do YOU actually believe YOU can steer General Motors, a hundred year old company, better than General Motors? Just sayin.
LOL this comment did not age well. Rental car companies are regretting spending so much money on EV. Because… they are a disaster in ownership costs. Renters return them juiceless, so there is a slow turnaround to get them into the hands of the next renter. They have terrible resale value, which hurts the rental car company’s bottom line. There are articles all over the internet on this topic.
If this is true and GM no longer gives their customers a choice between ICE or EV, it will just be another ignorant decision by CEO Mary Barra. Hopefully she will be replaced long before 2025.
My question is why the blazer to begin with? It is a “tweeter” crossover in terms of size, probably stole more sales from the traverse than nissan or Toyota, and I always though it was more of a style experiment than anything else. I could see it getting axed pretty easily, regardless of whether it was because of BEV’s or normal product life span.
Or maybe they can come up with a REAL Blazer thus time to compete with Bronco and Wrangler.
I have seen the future (at the Chevy Dealers FNR roadshow) and the answer is YES, there will be an ICE Blazer in it. Chevy is on a dual path with both ICE and EVs, and showed videos of an advanced design ICE Blazer, along with projected volumes of all future EV and ICE vehicles, with both EV and ICE Blazer listed in the grid.
The Blazer RS had a very nice and aggressive look. Especially, with the black wheels. The revamp destroyed that. The new RS Blazer looks like a Buick.
We can’t predict the future, but from I see on the road and new car sales with electric vehicles in stock a lot can happen in next few years. Look at Tesla, they are dropping pricing of cars due to slower sales / the new ev blazer is coming but surveys have been set and most people still want gas cars. I want to keep one not that electric is crap, but I a renter and happy with that and charging is a huge inconvenience / price of car not issue as EV blazer pretty much same rate as gas car with the exception of the SS but lets face it you drive that car fast as intended you will have to charge often. The one issue I have is the cost of repairing cars from accident as so many electric cars are totaled and not fixed due the cost/ we are at least 10 yrs plus from the cars being reasonable to fix/ insure / and charging not being a huge issue / so I think that gas cars should go well beyond 2025 as until electric grids can handle this as I am firm believer you don[t buy anything first generation only as too many of these electric cars are new and I am in burbs of Chicago where we have brown outs in summer due to power usage and winters can get very cold and my car is parked outside and electric cars are not meant to be parked outside in extreme temps.
Since this article was published….Will there be a ICE 2025 Blazer?