GM CEO Mary Barra Reaffirms Commitment to a Tailpipe-Free Future by 2035 Amid EV Market Challenges

The Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, Mary Barra, reaffirmed the company's goal to phase out exhaust systems from its light-duty cars by the year 2035 during a discussion with The New York Times.

In 2021, General Motors declared its commitment to a fully electric lineup to reach the goal of zero carbon emissions by 2040. CEO Mary Barra noted that the majority, approximately three-quarters, of the company's carbon footprint is due to its vehicles' tailpipe emissions. By 2035, GM aims to reduce emissions from passenger cars to zero, although it may still offer heavy-duty trucks powered by traditional engines.

2025 Chevy Blazer Electric Vehicle

The initial progress towards that objective was based on the introduction of General Motors' latest electric vehicle battery and drive system, which until not long ago, was named Ultium. Despite facing some challenges, GM remains dedicated to eliminating exhaust systems, as stated by CEO Mary Barra. She also mentioned that the company is poised to begin yielding profits from electric vehicles by the year's end. If successful, it would mark the first American car manufacturer, apart from Tesla, to achieve profitability from electric vehicle sales alone since 2021, after Tesla had been earning profits from the sale of emissions credits for several years.

The positive perspective is based on the belief that the difficulties General Motors has encountered in the early stages of increasing electric vehicle production are only temporary. CEO Mary Barra has indicated that the company has mostly overcome the initial production setbacks that have slowed progress and caused postponements in the launch of some electric vehicles. She also highlighted the forthcoming release of the Chevrolet Equinox EV, priced at $35,000, which is expected to be a significant option for buyers looking for affordability until the latest Bolt EV model is released in 2026.

2025 Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle

Earlier in the year, Barra acknowledged that GM is unlikely to achieve its previously stated 2022 goal of being able to produce one million electric vehicles by 2025, citing a lag in market evolution. However, she noted that there's ample opportunity for growth by 2035. Barra also mentioned her astonishment at the politicization of electric vehicles but affirmed that GM's strategy would remain steadfast irrespective of the political party that secures the presidential seat in November, even in the face of the Republican Party's clear opposition to EVs.

GM hasn't stopped evolving its strategies. Just recently, the car manufacturer decided to discontinue the use of the Ultium label for its electric vehicle batteries and associated parts, and it's forging ahead with the intention to switch to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells as a cost-reduction measure.

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