GM Pauses Production of Biggest BEVs at Flagship Detroit Factory
General Motors is pausing electric vehicle production at its flagship plant.
According to a new report from Reuters, GM idled operations at its Factory ZERO plant in Michigan in mid-March, with the automaker now deciding to extend the timeout until April 13 as sales of large electric trucks and SUVs fall short of expectations. The move temporarily affects approximately 1,300 jobs.
Factory ZERO builds most of GM’s highest-profile electric models, including the GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and Cadillac Escalade IQ. However, the plant has been subject to multiple pauses over the past year as demand for large, high-priced EVs has melted. GM had already reduced the plant's forecasted output by roughly half earlier this year.
Meanwhile, GM’s more affordable electric offerings like the Chevrolet Equinox EV continue uninterrupted at other facilities—including its plant in Mexico—and have shown stronger sales resiliency, probably because they're cheaper.
At the same time, the General is doubling down on its traditional strengths. GM confirmed it will increase production of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and Silverado 3500, along with the GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500, at its factory in Flint, Michigan, starting in June. That should add another 40,000 to 50,000 trucks to the plant's annual output of about 260,000 trucks.
Recent policy adjustments have scratched out incentives for electric vehicles and controversially eased emissions targets, reducing the pressure to prioritize rapid electrification in the American market.
AutoGuide's Take:
GM isn’t alone in adjusting course. Ford killed the F-150 Lightning EV while at the same time announcing plans for an extended-range version instead. Stellantis basically did the same thing, except it never got to the point of building and selling a pure BEV half-ton.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, went over the wall during the Rolex 24, and wrenched in the intense IndyCar paddock.
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Its most unfortunate. EU Socialists (and cowards) and the CCP are pushing ev. The CCP has little oil and own the battery mines, and 70% of battery production. Hmm... thats not a coincidence. As far as Im concerned the political party that forced whats left of the Big 3 to spend BILLIONS on evs, OWE those companies, BILLIONS. Once again, should they falter, the taxpayers will be forced to bail them out, and I would say they should, we need them for jobs and Mfg. But bad and ideological mandates destroy markets and should be verboten.
That’s what you get when you ideologize everything, including cars. They should have adopted a more gradual introduction, prioritizing intermediate electrified solutions like PHEVs, the same way steamships kept sails for decades on the 19th century until the technology matured. Ñó government had to impose steam ships, and Ñó government had to phase out sails. They got it right with the Prius Prime, the Honda Clarity and the Chevy Volt. Sadly, for some Freudian reason, Mary Barra hates PHEVs and killed the Volt, besides imposing huge impractical EVs that now she is being forced to phase out due to the inescapable forces of market. It is beyond my understanding why they keep that lady at the helm of GM after so many mishaps, but Ford is no different. They killed nice PHEVs like the Fusion Energi and now drowning under huge EVs sinking. Is seems Auto CEOs are unsinkable no matter what failures they have.