'The end game is EVs': GM joins a growing list of brands, including Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and VW in walking back electric car plans

General Motors has become the latest major carmaker to select reverse on key parts of its electric vehicle strategy, with news the US giant is “indefinitely delaying” its ​next-generation full-size electric pick-up program.

Chevrolet’s Silverado EV launched in parallel with its closely-related GMC Sierra sibling in 2024 as a response to Ford’s F-150 Lightning and the RAM 1500 EV, both of which have now been cancelled.

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This means plans for lower-cost versions of the Sierra and Silverado EVs as well as the Escalade ​IQ and Hummer are on ice with suppliers allegedly advised the program has been halted with no ​new timetable issued.

Tellingly, in response to slowing sales GM has progressively reduced the workforce at its Factory Zero assembly plant in Detroit where the electric pick-ups are produced.

The halt points to a pivot towards plug-in hybrid powertrains (supplier conversations point to Extended Range Electric Vehicles - EREVs) as well as its new ‘T1-2’ petrol engine platform with production switching to GM’s Orion Assembly Plant on the northern outskirts of Detroit.

Speaking to Reuters, A GM spokesperson said, “[The company] ⁠has not ​disclosed any potential plans or timing ​for any next-generation battery electric trucks and we’re not going to engage in ​speculation.”

At the same time Automotive News has quoted GM Senior Vice President and Corporate Officer Kenneth Morris, who in commenting on the company’s EV future said, ”We do believe the end game is EVs.

“It’s enormously difficult to try to predict the future, like what do the regulations look like in five years. That’s hard,” he said.

General Motors, Ford and Stellantis are not alone in making big calls on EV production, with Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen also dramatically scaling back expenditure on new pure-electric models and production facilities.

In fact, with US government emissions and EV production mandates abolished, GM has recently invested more than US$1.8 billion (A$2.5B) in upgrades across five facilities involved in the build of its new ‘LT6’ 6.7-litre small block V8.