Ever since General Motors sold the Opel and Vauxhall brands to what is now Stellantis, their presence in Europe has been relatively non-existent for the past five years. Aside from performance models like the the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro, which has remained in small numbers. But it seems this could be something that will change in the future, as GM’s future business strategy for the region involves a purely electric vehicle portfolio, and that even includes future Cadillac and GMC Hummer products.
GM Re-Entering Europe With Big Name EVs
“People familiar with the matter” have said that Cadillac could be the first to be launched in Europe, according to a Bloomberg report. More specifically, the new Lyriq EV, which is on sale in the United States, could be the first vehicle from the brand to hit the European market. In addition, if the move proves to be a success, GM could also send the Hummer EV to Europe. Which would be wild, considering its size and heft would require a commercial driving license for the region. However, the Hummer EV SUV will be a lighter product, as it has a shorter wheelbase and less battery weight. So the report could be referring to that, instead of the truck.
Image via Cadillac
About a month ago, General Motors CEO Mary Barra made mentioning of GM returning to the Old Continent. Currently, GM is on pace to have a mostly pure electric vehicle lineup by 2035, which would align perfectly with its potential strategy for Europe – which has gotten downright ecofacist when it comes to operating an ICE vehicle (but if you have a yacht, it’s cool). Being that the automaker is now a few years into its restructured, EV-centric strategy, it positions the company to see some success in The Old World, where the company has traditionally struggled for decades before capitulating, and selling off its Opel and Vauxhall brands to the PSA Groupe, which, along with FCA, is now Stellantis.
Even if the electric powertrains are something that are favored by EU politicians, GM and the rest of the auto industry are still left faced with major headwinds. These include the rise of rare earth metal commodity prices due to EV-forward mandates, inflation, stagflation, infrastructure constraints, and supply shortages.
Image via GMC.
