Will GMC’s Hummer EV be an instant hit?

Around 10 000 pre-orders have apparently already been placed for the all-electric GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 that was unveiled at the end of October. General Motors is, therefore, already considering increasing production figures.

In the newspaper Detroit Free Press of Wednesday, a virtual dealer meeting was mentioned where a dealer told that the launch edition of the Hummer EV called Edition 1 was sold out in ten minutes. During the meeting, the dealers got the confirmation that the first production year is, in fact, sold-out with pre-orders.

Enthusiastic

In the home country of the pickup – they’re called trucks over there – the arrival of a combination of modern electric technology and a revered, iconical name caused commercial havoc. The press coverage was ecstatic about the newcomer, talking about impressive performance and range for a meager price tag.

Of course, the launch edition model shown won’t be offered at the base price of just under $80 000  but will cost a hefty $112 595. Between 2022 and 2024, the introduction of lower-priced models is foreseen, but they will offer neither the 350-mile range nor the three-motor edition’s performance.

In stark contrast to another part of the GM dealer community (where 17% of the Cadillac dealers refused to sell electric cars), about half of the 1 900 GMC dealers throughout the US is prepared to invest up to $140 000 to sell the electric pickup.

GMC is also planning other electric models, including an SUV offshoot of the Hummer EV to be unveiled in early 2021, and an all-electric version of the GMC Sierra pickup.

Ultium Drive

The Hummer EV will be built in the Detroit-Hamtramck plant and is one of General Motors’ first electric cars on the new Ultium platform. GM announced its modular battery technology in March 2020 and later presented the motor technology that goes with it, called Ultium Drive. The vehicle is set for production in the second half of 2021.

Last month, General Motors announced that it would, even more, accelerate its transition to electric mobility. Therefore, it will increase its electrification investments and plans to offer some 30 purely electric vehicles by 2025.