It’s Official: GM Will Have its Electric Pickup, Too

Despite its refusal to partner with EV start-up Rivian, which recently got a $500 million investment from Ford to develop a new electric pickup, General Motors is looking ahead. And the automaker’s future will include a battery-electric truck, CEO Mary Barry has confirmed.

She didn’t provide much information, however. We know it will be part of an extensive portfolio of electric vehicles to be launched in the next few years.

• Also: Ford Invests $500 Million in Rivian to Develop Electric Pickup
• Also: Have Pickup Trucks Become Too Expensive?

Some have viewed the failed discussions with Rivian as a missed opportunity for GM, but the automaker seems to think it’s solid and resourceful enough on its own to remain a leader in both the electric vehicle and pickup truck segments going forward.

In a conference call to talk about first-quarter earnings, Barra yesterday said the company’s full-size truck launch is ahead of plan and drove strong pricing for the quarter in North America. She pointed out that the average transaction prices in the U.S. for GM’s all-new, crew-cab Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are up $5,800 over the outgoing models.

It will be very interesting to see how GM adapts the technology found in the Chevrolet Bolt EV to what is expected to be a full-size pickup that will directly rival the future F-150 Electric. Further details will come later, Barra promised.