While many automakers have shunned hybrids in favor of all-electric vehicles over the past couple of years, that certainly isn’t the case with Ford, which plans to continue making and selling those types of vehicles for the foreseeable future. In fact, FoMoCo expects its hybrid sales to continue to grow as well, and it’s working to do precisely that with adjustments such as making the hybrid powertrain in the 2024 Ford F-150 PowerBoost a no-cost option over its gas counterpart. Meanwhile, Ford’s cross-town rival, General Motors, has largely ignored hybrids in favor of EVs, but has also faced its fair share of issues in terms of production and demand, prompting it to push back some of its electrification plans. Now, with EV demand waning a bit in general, The General is getting back into the hybrid business in North America, according to GM Authority.
Previously, GM went all-in on EVs, with plans to sell nothing but zero-emissions vehicles by 2035, and it has quite a few all-electric models in the pipeline to help it achieve that goal. However, with demand for those vehicles failing to meet expected growth over the past few months, it seems as if GM will now pivot and bring plug-in hybrids, specifically, back to North America to help aid in that transition.
“Our forward plans include bringing our plug-in hybrid technology to select vehicles in North America,” GM CEO Mary Barra revealed during the automaker’s Q4 2023 earnings report. “Let me be clear, GM remains committed to eliminating tailpipe emissions from our light-duty vehicles by 2035, but in the interim, deploying plug-in technology in strategic segments will deliver some of the environmental benefits of EVs as the nation continues to build its charging infrastructure.”
Barra also noted that this move will help GM “comply with the more stringent fuel economy and tailpipe emission standards that are being proposed,” noting that this PHEV rollout will be completed “in a capital and cost-efficient way because the technology is already in production in other markets.” Indeed, GM is already planning to rollout a PHEV option for the 2025 Chevy Equinox destined for China, along with a mild hybrid variant of the Traverse.
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Comments
GM already has a hybrid Chevy Corvette E-Ray. So where is the hybrid Mustang that was covered here years ago? And a hybrid GT would beat every other sportscar!
My 3 friends and I are trying to pool our money and buy that $104k MSRP Corvette E-ray. If one drops out are you interested?
The E-Ray drivetrain is what we need more of, just in more packages aimed at folks younger than 65 years old. I’m hoping Mustang delivers.
Let’s see Ford is dropping the Escape and Explorer hybrid. Maverick hybrid use to be standard now an option. Oh and they can’t build all their orders for those. I know as my 2023 was never built that I ordered.
Chevy should have never gotten rid of the Volt. Dumb idea.