GM will be first to make EVs at a profit, says former Holden chief
General Motors will be the first automaker to produce electric vehicles at a profit, Mark Reuss, former head of Holden and currently GM’s head of global product development, has claimed.
According to The Detroit Bureau, Reuss told reporters: “We know the customers would like to drive electric cars but are unwilling to pay any more for them. That’s why we’re going to be the first company to sell electric vehicles that people can afford at a profit.”
Reuss refused to state when the company’s electric cars would become profitable.
He did elaborate on how GM plans on getting to profitability, though. An important piece of the puzzle is economies of scale, with the company planning to launch 10 electric vehicles in China by 2020.
The former managing director of Holden also believes in the importance of owning the entire drivetrain design, including the battery chemistry, packaging, and electric motors.
“The integration piece of that is something no one else has,” Reuss stated.
Last year, GM began sales of the Chevrolet Bolt, its first pure electric vehicle since the ill-fated EV1 coupe. So far, during the first three months of this year, 3406 Bolts have found new homes in the US.
That’s a long way behind the 10,300 Tesla Model S sedan and Model X crossover Good Car Bad Car estimates were sold in the US during the first quarter.
It should be noted, though, the Bolt is currently only available in a handful of US states, including California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington.
The Bolt is also available in Canada, and is sold in Europe as the Opel Ampera-e. The Bolt isn’t available in right-hand drive, so won’t be coming to Australia in the near future.
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