Photo: Chevy
Speaking at Deutsche Bank’s AutoTech Conference, General Motors’ Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing, and Supply Chain Doug Parks said the company expects to start production of the all-electric Chevrolet Silverado in early 2023 — reports Automotive News.
The news comes after Chevrolet teased the Silverado electric pickup back in October. The General Motors subsidiary will officially unveil the new electric vehicle (EV) during GM CEO Mary Barra’s keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 on January 5.
The electric Chevy Silverado will use General Motors’ proprietary Ultium EV battery platform, which the company estimates will give it 400 miles (643 km) of range. Given that range estimate, the Silverado could very well be the 400-mile electric pickup truck GM announced plans for in July.
That is, however, a GM-estimated range for the electric pickup and not EPA numbers. The actual range may vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age, cargo, and how the truck is used and maintained.
The Chevy Silverado will be built at GM’s EV plant in Detroit, known as Factory Zero, alongside the Hummer EV pickup and SUV. The Silverado will feature four-wheel steering, allowing for tighter turns at slower speeds and enhanced maneuverability.
GM North America President Steve Carlisle told Automotive News in September that due to the flexibility offered by the Ultium battery platform, the Silverado may not necessarily adhere to the architectural characteristics and design choices of the company’s gas-guzzling pickups.
With Rivian already delivering its R1T electric pickup and Ford’s F-150 Lightning going into production this Spring, the Chevy Silverado will be a bit late to the electric truck party. The Silverado will also have to contend with the likes of GM’s own Hummer EV and the Tesla Cybertruck at launch.
General Motors aims to axe gas vehicles from its portfolio and go all-electric by 2035, with plans to invest $35 billion USD in EVs and autonomous driving during that time to make it happen.
