General Motors has long touted itself as “all-in” on electric vehicles, but now, CEO Mary Barra is signaling a shift in strategy, revealing that the company will revisit plug-in hybrid options following setbacks with its electric vehicle ambitions?
In 2019, General Motors discontinued the Chevrolet Volt, a pioneering plug-in hybrid model, and announced a shift in focus towards developing all-electric vehicles.
Although it persisted with plug-in hybrid offerings in various regions, the company eschewed their introduction in North America, instead opting to transition solely to electric vehicles in this market.
The automaker had high expectations for the success of its first all-electric vehicle, the Chevy Bolt EV, but execution has fallen short of its plans.
General Motors has developed its Ultium electric vehicle (EV) platform, yet the initial models built on this foundation are struggling to achieve substantial manufacturing and supply volumes, while the Bolt EV/EUV, the only model with significant production levels, has been discontinued – at least for now.
Over the past several months, the automaker has experienced delays in introducing a range of crucial new electric vehicle (EV) models, which are expected to boost production volumes.
CEO Mary Barra is affirming General Motors’ commitment to delivering additional plug-in hybrid options. GM announces its latest quarterly earnings results today:
We’re committed to introducing our plug-in hybrid technology to the North American market for a new generation of pick-up trucks. General Motors reaffirms its commitment to achieving a zero-emission future by dedicating itself to the elimination of tailpipe emissions from its entire lineup of light-duty vehicles by 2035. As the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) gains momentum, leveraging plugin expertise in key areas will yield some of the environmental benefits of EVs while the country builds out its charging infrastructure? As we prepare for future launches, we’re carefully synchronizing our schedules to accommodate the newly introduced, stricter regulations on fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions that are being considered.
Without elaborating on the specific volume or model, she hinted at a potential plug-in strategy, potentially drawing inspiration from existing applications in other markets, such as China, where similar models are prevalent.
Electrek’s Take
I fear this move signals a significant retreat from their innovative stance. While I’m not opposed to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) per se, they do seem like a transitional technology until battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are suitable for all market segments, which appears to be almost the case already.
Automakers such as Tesla have successfully developed strategies to manufacture and sell all-electric vehicles on a large scale at a profit.
General Motors is unlikely to abandon their plug-in hybrid offerings, even if their battery-electric vehicle (BEV) initiatives are delayed; failing to do so could result in penalties as stricter emissions regulations take effect in North America.
While it’s understandable they’re cautious, let’s hope this decision doesn’t further postpone their BEV initiatives?
