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This year is set to be a gold mine for hybrids, as EV sales continue to slip. That means automakers everywhere are rushing to deliver more hybrids to showrooms, and GM is one of them. New rumors indicate that the automaker has initiated a "crash program" in which it looks to launch a pair of plug-in hybrid trucks as soon as possible. The obvious candidates for the hybrid treatment here are the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Rivals from Ford and Stellantis have already offered hybrid options for years now, so it's about time GM jumps onboard with its own full-size trucks. The automaker could target the smaller Ford Maverick hybrid in the future as well, but the Silverado and Sierra hybrids are currently priority number one.
Powertrain details are scarce right now, but it's safe to assume that GM could take one of the existing engines and bolt on some electric bits to increase efficiency and power––especially considering the mad rush the company is in to get these onto lots. Both trucks currently offer a 310-hp TurboMax 2.7 liter turbo-four, which would likely be the most convenient engine choice for GM. However, take our word with a grain of salt.
Image Credits: GMC
Trucks aren't the only segment slated to get the hybrid treatment, as CEO Mary Barra announced during GM's Q4 2023 earnings call that the company will be "bringing [its] plug-in hybrid technology to select vehicles in North America." This means we should expect many of GM's most lucrative gas models to gain hybrid variants somewhat soon. While the move is obviously motivated by a decline in EV sales, the company has also faced pressure from dealers to bring more hybrids to market. GM still plans on meeting its goal of selling only EVs by 2035, but it believes hybrids will prove far more successful in the meantime.
With GM suddenly betting big on hybrid trucks, this leaves the company's highly-touted electric pickups in a tricky position. Dealers are struggling to get them off the lots, as range issues in relation to range, weather, and weight are deterring many potential buyers. And while GM remains committed to EVs on the surface, it has also reportedly cancelled a couple of upcoming EVs, including replacements for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, along with a compact pickup truck.
And they aren't the only ones, as the same reports being cited here have indicated that Nissan has paused development for a small electric truck of its own. Meanwhile, automakers such as Genesis, Mercedes, and Ford have pumped the brakes on their respective EV efforts in response to alarmingly slow demand.
Image Credits: Chevrolet
Report
Feb 27, 2024
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GM Reportedly Scrambling To Get Hybrid Trucks To Market Amid EV Slowdown
The automaker recently pledged to bring hybrids back to North America.
This year is set to be a gold mine for hybrids, as EV sales continue to slip. That means automakers everywhere are rushing to deliver more hybrids to showrooms, and GM is one of them. New rumors indicate that the automaker has initiated a "crash program" in which it looks to launch a pair of plug-in hybrid trucks as soon as possible. The obvious candidates for the hybrid treatment here are the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Rivals from Ford and Stellantis have already offered hybrid options for years now, so it's about time GM jumps onboard with its own full-size trucks. The automaker could target the smaller Ford Maverick hybrid in the future as well, but the Silverado and Sierra hybrids are currently priority number one.
Powertrain details are scarce right now, but it's safe to assume that GM could take one of the existing engines and bolt on some electric bits to increase efficiency and power––especially considering the mad rush the company is in to get these onto lots. Both trucks currently offer a 310-hp TurboMax 2.7 liter turbo-four, which would likely be the most convenient engine choice for GM. However, take our word with a grain of salt.
Image Credits: GMC
Trucks aren't the only segment slated to get the hybrid treatment, as CEO Mary Barra announced during GM's Q4 2023 earnings call that the company will be "bringing [its] plug-in hybrid technology to select vehicles in North America." This means we should expect many of GM's most lucrative gas models to gain hybrid variants somewhat soon. While the move is obviously motivated by a decline in EV sales, the company has also faced pressure from dealers to bring more hybrids to market. GM still plans on meeting its goal of selling only EVs by 2035, but it believes hybrids will prove far more successful in the meantime.
With GM suddenly betting big on hybrid trucks, this leaves the company's highly-touted electric pickups in a tricky position. Dealers are struggling to get them off the lots, as range issues in relation to range, weather, and weight are deterring many potential buyers. And while GM remains committed to EVs on the surface, it has also reportedly cancelled a couple of upcoming EVs, including replacements for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans, along with a compact pickup truck.
And they aren't the only ones, as the same reports being cited here have indicated that Nissan has paused development for a small electric truck of its own. Meanwhile, automakers such as Genesis, Mercedes, and Ford have pumped the brakes on their respective EV efforts in response to alarmingly slow demand.
Image Credits: Chevrolet
