GM CEO Mary Barra on the politics of EVs, the future of AVs, and moving away from China
“I never thought the propulsion of a vehicle would become a political issue,” GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said
“I never thought the propulsion of a vehicle would become a political issue,” GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt on Tuesday.
While the executive didn’t expand on this statement, former President Trump has railed against EVs and claimed, wrongly, that there is a mandate to make and sell electric vehicles in the United States.
“General Motors’s goal is to just keep providing great vehicles, keep supporting the charging infrastructure to be more robust …and opening up the Tesla charging network, as well, so people choose it because it’s a great vehicle,” Barra continued. “And that’s the journey we’re working on, while we’re getting battery costs down. We’re still looking for battery innovation to get energy density up, cost down, all those things are going to be unlocks.”
Lowering battery costs could help lower the price of EVs. Affordability is top of mind for Barra who said it major factor for consumers.
“That’s why we’re so excited to have the Equinox and the Blazer on that because we’re getting into the affordable range, especially when you look at an Equinox EV that will be starting in that mid $30,000 range,” she said.
“But they want affordability with the right range,” she continued. And that sweet spot is really 300 miles before people start getting range anxiety.
Finally, accessibility to working, well lit, easy to pay for charging stations is what consumers want.
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