When I first saw the headline, I immediately thought GM was just not doing its research on EVs. With Tesla pushing electrification constantly and making it popular, the thought that EVs wouldn’t be dominant for decades to come seemed ludicrous. However, it appears GM just had what Tesla often has written about it: a very catchy headline that is worded to create a sense of lack of demand.
It’s not that the demand is lacking, it’s about what we already have. 250 million cars is a lot of vehicles. When you look at it from the perspective of transitioning 250 million cars to electricity, Barra actually makes sense.
I know many people who have this mentality: If I’m going to buy a new car, I’ll get a good one, like a Tesla, but for now, I’ll just drop $3,000 on this used one and hope it lasts me for the next six months. McKinsey estimated that Americans buy 39.4 million used cars each year, compared to 17.3 million new ones in 2018. Also, used vehicle sales are expected to increase faster than new vehicle sales over the next 5 years.
I think it is a positive thing that GM is excited about electric vehicles. It is developing more electric vehicle models and even working on a van. Supplying enough EVs to replace all of the existing and future ICE vehicles will not be fast, it will take time — and this is why what Mary Barra says makes sense.
I remember seeing a tweet from Elon Musk about competition. His real competition isn’t those “Tesla killers” but all of the ICE vehicles that are on the road today as well as the new ones coming out each year. Tesla is doing a great job by leading by example, but I think what many need to consider is this question: What will it take for every automaker to completely electrify all of their vehicles? Not just some — but every single line.
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