General Motors (GM)

After over 100 years as one of the world’s largest ICE automobile manufacturers, General Motors has freed its head from the deep sand to join the emerging EV revolution. The US automaker has pulled a 180 in order to combat emissions rather than enable them. Just recently, GM announced plans to be carbon neutral by 2040, a bold statement. Let’s hope it’s more than just talk. Below is how General Motors plans to achieve this green goal.

As the world enters 2021 with a cautious optimism, its global markets are still feeling many of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that have yet to be eradicated. Many people have pivoted toward remote work. This has increased smartphone and laptop demand, leading to shortages of essential components like semiconductors. One industry that is beginning to experience the impact of these shortages is automakers. If semiconductor manufacturers can’t catch up, it could spell more delays for several major automotive companies.

Electric vehicle sales seem to be growing by the minute in the US. Although they still only have a tiny corner of the auto market cornered, astronomical valuations of industry leaders like Tesla offer a glimpse at the potential of a virtually nascent market. In order to bring costs down even further to entice consumers, the US has plans to amplify battery production on its home soil over the next decade. With global competitors miles ahead, does the US have the technology, or more importantly the resources, to gain ground in the EV battery market?

As promised, GM has a new ad campaign running on the 2021 Super Bowl touting its commitment to electric vehicles against Norway‘s, a country pushing up against two-thirds of its vehicle sales being EVs…

Merchants Fleet, the US’ fastest-growing fleet management company, is working with BrightDrop, the new business started by General Motors (GM), to procure a hefty 12,600 EV600s.

The all-new EV600 is lightweight and purpose-built for the efficient delivery of goods and services over long ranges.

GM appears to be setting the stage for the US to challenge Norway’s lead in electric vehicle adoption with a new Super Bowl ad featuring Will Ferrell.

GM’s out with another press release saying it aspires to be fully electric in its consumer fleet by 2035. Yet the company only sells one EV, down from a few if you included the Chevy Volt/Cadillac ELR a few years ago, on its lots. Press releases are easy and often for GM. Putting EVs on the lots is what we want to see.

Every day, presumably now for the next 14 years, GM will be rolling gas vehicles off its assembly lines knowing that each one will be contributing heavily to carbon emissions. Also, one has to wonder, Why make pie in the sky promises for 15 years in the future when current GM leadership will no longer be there and will have no responsibility? It all feels a little… greenwashy.

GM announced that Cruise, its self-driving startup, has raised a new $2 billion financing round led by Microsoft.

The software giant is putting some skin in the self-driving game.

GM recently launched its new BrightDrop electric van to electrify delivery vehicles, and now the automaker announced that it is investing $800 million to produce new electric vans in Canada.

GM is again teasing the Chevy Bolt EUV ahead of the full unveiling, which the automaker has now confirmed is coming next month.

The GM announcements keep coming at CES 2021 this year. Today GM CEO Mary Barra announced a new division called BrightDrop that would be building electric delivery vehicles and the technology to go along with it.

GM is starting a huge campaign this week in the US and will be rolling out in phases globally to highlight the automaker’s move to electrification. The campaign was done by McCann as well as the logo and type, which was developed in-house. It’s a big change and will envelop all of its products, including its legacy ICE vehicles.

GM is set to produce a Honda-branded electric vehicle and an Acura-branded electric crossover in Mexico and Tennessee starting in 2023.

GM is getting into the habit of releasing small —very small — teasers of upcoming electric vehicles, and now it is releasing another one for the Bolt EUV teaser.

This time, it’s the headlights.

GM has dropped its plan to build the Nikola (NKLA) Badger electric/fuel cell pickup truck and take a stake in the controversial company.

However, GM will still supply Nikola with fuel cell hydrogen technology for its semi trucks.

GM has said that its Cadillac brand could go all-electric by the end of the decade, and it is facing some pushbacks from its dealerships.

The automaker has now given them a generous ultimatum.

GM announced today that it dropped out of litigation the Trump administration launched against California over the state’s effort to implement its own more stringent emission regulations on the auto industry.

While it is good news, the move does appear opportunistic following President Trump being defeated in the US elections earlier this month and President-elect Joe Biden having confirmed his support for electric vehicles.

GM is getting serious about its new electric vehicles coming to market in the new few years, and it is going to support them with a new EV organization and tools.

GM has given everyone a first peek at the SUV version of the GMC Hummer EV, which will complement the previously unveiled pickup truck version.

GM has teased a new electric pickup truck prototype in the background of a new investor presentation.

We bring you a glimpse of it.

GM has committed to an additional $7 billion in funding for electric car and autonomous vehicle programs and will launch 30 new EV models globally through 2025, CEO Mary Barra announced today. Two-thirds of these new EV models will be available in North America, and 40%(!) of GM’s US model line will be battery electric vehicles by 2025. GM also announced it would be moving its US debut of the Cadillac Lyriq SUV up from late 2022 to early 2022.

But GM has been making a lot of announcements lately, yet if you go to a GM dealership today, there’s a very small chance you’ll see an EV. Should we take GM at its word?