GM CEO discusses catching up to Tesla, adopting NACS, hints at Bolt EV successor
General Motors (GM) is going all-electric, but the transition hasn’t happened as quickly as many anticipated. The automaker is overcoming supply chain hurdles as it ramps up EV production. With several high-volume EVs launching, GM’s CEO Mary Barra believes “it will be dramatically different” next year. But will it be enough to surpass Tesla?
In an interview with NBC News’ Rebecca Blumenstein at the Aspen Ideas Festival this week, Barra discussed the automaker’s future as the leader transitions the company to go all-electric by 2035.
Barra said that setting a date to go all-electric (passenger vehicles) stopped the internal debate around when and shifted things to how to get it done. Shortly after, GM’s leader said she was confident the automaker would catch up to and surpass Tesla to become the top EV seller in the US.
After producing just over 39,000 fully electric vehicles last year compared to Tesla’s 1.4 million, GM’s goal seems like it’s getting out of reach.
When asked why production isn’t higher, Barra explained the automaker’s move from the Volt to the second-generation Bolt EV and EUV. Although the Bolt has become a top-selling electric car in the US as one of the most affordable options, it was an ICE vehicle modified to become electric.
In turn, the Bolt’s limited range and performance led GM to develop a dedicated EV platform, Ultium. Despite launching the first Ultium-based vehicle, the Hummer EV pickup, in late 2021, the automaker sold a total of two in the first three months of 2023.
Ramping electric vehicle production
Battery production is currently holding GM back. As Barra explains, the company has plans for four EV battery plants in the US.
The first plant, a 2.8 million sq ft facility in Warren, Ohio, began producing battery cells last September and is now “running really well.” GM’s other three will be in Tennessee, Michigan, and Indiana.
The ramp-up is constraining its Ultium-based vehicles, such as Hummer EV and upcoming Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV, all due out by the end of the year.
GM’s leader says as the facilities come online, it will support the automaker’s target of producing 400,000 EVs by the middle of next year and one million in 2025.
GM catching Tesla in sales, potential Bolt EV successor?
When asked if she still believes GM will catch Tesla while maintaining its leadership role in the US auto industry, Barra said the automaker has “sold more vehicles in the US” and knows its customers well and what they are looking for out of an EV.
As part of GM’s “EVs for everyone” strategy, GM is not concerned with replicating its ICE portfolio. Instead, it’s being strategic with affordable options, luxury models, pickups, SUVs, and more.
After GM announced plans to discontinue the Bolt EV later this year, many wondered what would take its place. Will we see an Utlium-based EV? Barra teased a next-gen model by saying:
It’s a very important vehicle in our lineup, so you will have to wait and see what we end up doing.
This is now the second time Barra has teased the idea of an Ultium-based Bolt EV.
After adopting Tesla’s NACS connector earlier this month, Barra explained the company wanted to offer customers the best possible experience. GM chose NACS because it provides better durability and reliability at a lower cost, as Barra said:
Anytime you make a decision from a customer perspective and you’re not choosing the most cost-effective, better solution, you do that at your own peril.
Instead of having 13,000 chargers across the US, GM will now have 25,000, which will help support EV adoption.
Barra says she sees Elon Musk as both a partner and competitor after the NACS deal. She said the decision was the right one for everyone as several other OEMs have also moved toward the standard. You can watch the full interview below.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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