General Motors (GM) has announced a further nine-month delay in the start of production for its electric vehicle (EV) drive unit at the Toledo plant. This decision follows GM’s previous postponement of production for the Silverado EV and the GMC Sierra EV. Surprisingly, workers at the plant seem receptive to the delay.
On Wednesday, GM informed Toledo plant employees about the extended timeline, aligning the start of production more closely with the Orion Assembly plant’s commencement of work on the Silverado and Sierra EVs.
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Formerly dedicated to manufacturing transmissions for GM, Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac combustion vehicles, the Toledo plant concluded that operation in April of this year to transition to producing EV drive units for models such as the Sierra EV, Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, and others.
The delay prompts speculation about GM potentially trailing competitors like Ford, Rivian, and Tesla in the EV market. Despite Chevy lagging in EV registrations during the third quarter compared to Hyundai and Kia, union workers in Toledo are reportedly optimistic about the decision.
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“We pride ourselves on having great launches, and the extra time always allows for the best launch possible,” stated UAW Local 14 President Tony Totty to The Blade, a local outlet. Totty’s concerns also extend to the necessary retooling of the factory to meet production goals when it commences in late 2024.
For now, potential GM EV buyers must consider options such as the GMC Hummer, Cadillac Lyriq, or the hope of finding a Blazer EV without significant markup. The industry will closely watch how this delay may impact GM’s competitive position in the evolving EV landscape.
