General Motors is allegedly working towards the launch of new PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) variants of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra as the automaker shifts its North American EV strategy. GM previously anticipated leapfrogging hybrids in favor of transitioning straight to all-electric vehicles, but now, the automaker is changing tack to reintroduce PHEVs to North America.
According to a recent report from Autoweek, which cites anonymous sources, GM is now rushing to get new PHEV variants of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra to market as quickly as possible in a new “crash program.”
Although GM has already unveiled the all-electric Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, concerns over towing and hauling have made battery-powered pickup models less appealing to traditional truck buyers, as the report points out. The launch of new hybrid pickups could help to solve some of the range issues presented by hauling and towing in an electrified pickup, while offering reduced emissions and higher fuel efficiency compared to a purely ICE-powered pickup.
GM CEO Mary Barra announced that the automaker would reintroduce PHEVs to the North American during General Motors’ recent Q4 2023 earnings report.
“Let me be clear, GM remains committed to eliminating tailpipe emissions from our light-duty vehicles by 2035, but in the interim, deploying plug-in technology in strategic segments will deliver some of the environmental benefits of EVs as the nation continues to build its charging infrastructure,” Barra said.
Barra added that PHEV models will help GM “comply with the more stringent fuel economy and tailpipe emission standards that are being proposed.” As GM Authority covered recently, the Biden administration is reportedly set to relax emissions standards intended to increase EV adoption rates. Last year, the EPA proposed very strict emissions standards for vehicles produced between the 2027 and 2032 model years.
As the Autoweek report points out, the shift towards PHEV variants for the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra creates some uncertainty for the GM Factory Zero plant in Michigan, which was retooled following a $2.2 billion investment to exclusively produce all-electric models, including the Silverado EV and Sierra EV.
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Comments
Is GM management finally taking their heads out of their…
Never. they are still committed to zero tailpipe emissions no matter how badly the market receives their products.
The federal government and several state governments are forcing electrification. If auto makers want to sell vehicles in those states, it must be electric.
Elections have consequences, vote! Politicians are forcing the issue.
Don’t be silly, voting does not matter. Didn’t the 2020 election prove that to you?
Do you mean the 2016 election, where Rashhaaa dictated the results?
Best news to come out of GM in a while. The demand for these trucks will dwarf that of the Silverado/Sierra EV.
They are way behind ford and even ram , this won’t be happening until 2027 at the earliest
I bet $0.01 that it’s within the year.
I’ll see that $.01 and raise it to $.02. Oh wait, that’s poker. Wait again, GM is like poker.
GM is way behind its competitors. Do buyers want a truck “rushed” into production?
A 7 year lifespan for 60plus thousand dollars, no thanks. Then I read the prior platform had a 5 year lifespan, not for me.
Amazing given that GM had a hybrid Silverado back in the 2008 timeframe.
The automakers need to push back against the government mandates instead of playing along nicely because they want to appease the folks in DC. Who knows the customers and their preferences better, the automakers or the government bureaucrats?
Whichever automaker is the first to tell the government to FOAD gets my purchase dollars for life.
Another gaff by the general. Sad to watch what used to be a successful company being run down
Are they only doing these two Chevy and GMC trucks? Mary Barra used the wording “strategic segments.” Do you think there will be other vehicles come from this, including Buick or Cadillac?
maybe an Escalade
Typical short term reaction by GM – always chasing, never leading
Always leading in USA sales, including full size pickups (since Q1 2020) and full size SUVs, for 20+ years.
I’d trade my 23′ gmc Sierra ultimate for a Sierra PHEV if they build the powertrain with the same setup as the new ram charger in a heartbeat, I like the no trany config, super smooth with no shifting and strong acceleration. All electric for my daily driving and gas for towing long hauls. We have a Mach-e and I love driving the thing. Would never want to go on a long road trip with it though. Charging is just to slow compared to a tank of gas.
I’m gonna say this is all smoke and no fire.
Gee GM is finally listening to the vehicle sales people and customers instead of the left wing nuts pushing an agenda.
Lmao myself and a few others here have been saying this since the T1 debuted in 2019
I remember when the new Sierra and Silverado just were introduced in 2019. GM stated that the Frame was designed with all Powertrain types in mind, yes that means PHEV was in the books back then. So I think GM has an easy road for the current trucks they just need to finish the R&D for the electrical components the truck was meant to have back in 2019.
Whatever, why not focus on solving all of the quality problems with your current products first?
They had the perfect system for their trucks already, Voltec. The Silverados/Sierras have more than enough space for batteries and the other parts of the system. Also at one point in time, GM was going to put Voltec in pretty much everything. Remember, Voltec was based on how diesel/electric locomotives work, so putting them in trucks and SUVs make way too much sense.
My dream is that they would do a voltec-style system which pairs a mild electric powertrain to the 3.0L Duramax. If the driver also had the ability to drive on electric-only in city stop-and-go traffic, and just utilize the diesel for charging, highway driving, towing, or just generally when more power is needed, this would be the ultimate solution. Let’s hope they do this thoughtfully.
Just Mary being Mary. Changing EVs in mid stream
Truthfully, I wouldn’t buy anything that GM is “rushing” as part of a “crash market”.
Crash program = Nothing but quality control issues. It will be just like the new IVD radios in the Colorado/Canyon/Trax/Lyriq and just like the Ultium launch which has been nothing but problems with programming and quality control (Hummer battery packs).
GM is not late to the party on Hybrid Technology with their Trucks and SUV’s, remember there was a 2 Mode Hybrid System available back in 2008 but the Fuel Economy was basically a near match to the 5.3 Liter and there wasn’t much of a benefit when it came to Fuel Economy savings. The Corvette E-Ray is now kicking things off with the Hybrid Powertrain and we will see how that power will benefit the Trucks and SUV’s in the coming years.
GM fell hard for the EV hype and crowed about their vapor-ware product line up to great fanfair in their endless press releases. Toyota took heat for not going all in. It all felt so good until GM couldn’t make a battery in any volume and the market cooled on EVs. Ultium is the biggest GM failure in decades — and that’s saying A LOT for a company that fails more than it wins. It’s just another botched strategy decision. GM will continue to shrink into oblivion.
I will give gm credit for being able to get 450 miles of range out of the Silverado EV along with TFL Truck confirming those numbers with a real-time road test. That truck along with the Brightdrop EV6000 have the best chance right now with consumers and Fleet Buyers along with the Chevy Bolt.
Have been waiting since mid January for two parts on back order for my 2023 Silverado duramax. In the meantime, I keep making payments on a truck sitting at a dealership. GM doesn’t care about customer service once they get that BIG check. The “short handed” excuse has been overly used since 2020. You have had four years to get it figured out.
The 3.0 Duramax has a lot of appeal. A lot of chatter I hear though is about the belt driven oil pump buried deep inside the front of the engine. A belt change that requires a major engine tear down if necessary. Amazingly, everything else besides the critical oil pump is driven by chains.
There appears to be a lot of concern about it by potential buyers…rightly of wrongly.
Enjoying the information but find the pop up adds very annoying. Much more advertising than necessary, and it seems to be the primary goal of your endeavor. I am considering to unsubscribe to this site.
For some reason, I thought that I was the only one experiencing that.