Technical complications put the brakes on GM’s huge EV push

Enlarge / A GM Ultium battery pack like that discovered within the Lyriq. (credit score: Santa Fabio for Basic Motors)

Basic Motors ended 2023 because the primary automaker in the US, promoting 2.6 million new automobiles throughout these 12 months. That is a 14.1 p.c enhance from its efficiency in 2022, and comfortably eclipses the two.3 million vehicles that Toyota bought throughout the identical interval. It had a robust yr when it comes to electrical car gross sales too—up 93 p.c year-on-year.

However a fast take a look at the info reveals a considerably much less rosy image. Sure, it was a banner yr for GM EVs, with 75,883 deliveries in 2023. However solely due to the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. Chevy delivered 62,045 Bolts in 2023, a 62.8 p.c enhance on the 38,120 Bolts it bought in 2022.

However as Ars has detailed previously, the Bolt isn’t any extra. Manufacturing ended on the Orion Meeting plant in Michigan on December 18, and GM is shedding 945 staff on the plant because it retools the manufacturing unit to make electrical vans just like the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV.