Consumers who currently wish to purchase an electric vehicle must be patient. In fact, unless there is a cancellation, you have to wait months, more than a year even, depending on the desired model. In addition, certain products announced by manufacturers are taking longer than expected. Moreover, consumers interested in obtaining a Chevrolet Silverado EV or one GMC Sierra EV may not be spared due to the announcement of the postponement of production at GM’s Orion assembly site.
Production postponed to the end of 2025
Currently, GM already produces the Chevrolet Silverado EV at its Factory Zero plant near Detroit. This is also where GMC Hummer EV pickup trucks and SUVs are also assembled. However, in order to support production at this plant, the Orion plant where the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV are currently assembled will be converted to assemble the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. Initially, production of the two vans was to begin at the beginning of 1er quarter of 2025, but it would now be pushed back to the end of 2025. This information surfaces as several American automotive media report this statement made by a spokesperson for General Motors on the United States side.
A question of profitability?
According to what was declared by GM on the American side, this situation is not linked to the current strike with the UAW (United Auto Workers) union. The American manufacturer suggests instead that the reasons would be linked to the review of capital investment management, the upgrading of engineering and the evolution of the market in the face of demand for electric vehicles.
We can also assume that GM must manage rising supply costs like everywhere else, in addition to not knowing how much the outcome of this still ongoing strike will cost. In short, several reasons can be cited, in addition to those that have been mentioned.
A van that is long overdue
In the case of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, some examples have already been delivered to the American side. When it comes to the Canadian market, consumers need to be patient. Indeed, according to the Canadian Chevrolet website,
the arrival of the first Silverado EVs is not expected until early 2024 with a starting MSRP estimated at $54,748 by the manufacturer. In the case of the GMC Sierra EV, the Denali version will first hit the market in spring 2024. This will be followed by the AT4 versions at the end of 2024 and the Elevation versions at the beginning of 2025.
