In a presentation at the Barclays 2017 Global Automotive Conference, General Motors CEO Mary Barra assured investors that the company?s next generation of electric vehicles will offer more than added driving range and model variety?they also will generate profits for GM.
?Our mission for electrification is simple,? Barra declared. ?We are working to provide desirable, obtainable, and profitable vehicles that deliver a range of over 300 miles.”
General Motors has already pushed electric-vehicle boundaries?in terms of driving range for the dollar?with its 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt EV. But the company reportedly loses thousands on each Bolt EV sold even at its full $37,495 list price (before the potentially threatened $7500 federal EV tax credit). GM previously announced plans for 20 new zero-emission vehicles by 2023 (globally), including two within the next 18 months. In its Barclays presentation, GM included an illustration of its ?future electrification bandwidth,? pointing to variants that would include a low-roof car, a lineup of SUVs and crossovers ranging up to seven-passenger models, and a couple of different vans. The new platform allows a larger footprint and lower height, with improved DC fast charging (likely 150 kW or higher) planned.
The two small crossovers arriving in the near term will share some components with the Bolt EV. One of those (above) was shown in the presentation and anticipated to be specifically for China. Another one, for the North Americ...