GM Sees EVs as the Future, But America’s Charging Problem Is Getting in the WayMotorBiscuitSaajan JogiaFri, September 11, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleGeneral Motors CEO Mary Barra has shed light on the company's long-term electric vehicle strategy, suggesting that EVs will eventually replace internal combustion-powered vehicles and hybrids.The biggest hurdle to EV adoption remains charging infrastructure, which she believes is still inadequate in the U.S. By comparison, China and Europe have moved faster, partly because supportive regulatory policies have helped accelerate the development of charging infrastructure and the broader transition to EVs.She also explained that a well-established charging infrastructure would give buyers greater confidence in switching to EVs, eventually helping drive higher sales. Speaking in an interview with Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell, Barra was asked about the pace of America's EV transition. She said:AdvertisementAdvertisement"Every quarter, the number of chargers goes up, so I think over time we still believe EVs are the endgame- from just the styling, what it enables, you know, that instant torque and never having to go to the gas station. And so I think regulatory, though, when you look at Europe and China, that's really what's driven it along, with then, I'll say, other policies that enable the charging infrastructure to be robust."GM Sees EVs as the Future, But America’s Charging Problem Is Getting in the WayCommenting on how rational customers are when making purchasing decisions, Barra suggested a robust charging infrastructure needs to be in place for buyers to feel confident about switching to EVs. She said:"They're very rational, and most people don't have multiple vehicles. If there's two people in the family, they have two vehicles, but they both need them every day to get to work, to take care of their family. And so they're very rational about: is this going to meet my needs? Not just, you know, in a typical week, but when I want to go on vacation, or I've got to go drop a child off at college, or I've got to go visit my parents. They look at it holistically, and that's why charging infrastructure is so important for people to have confidence to switch to EVs."I think we'll get there. I think because of the policy in this country, it's going to take a little longer. And in the meantime, we have a great and very efficient internal combustion engine portfolio, and we have a very strong EV portfolio. And we'll have hybrids in the segments we think are important to give customers a full range, and they can pick what they want."AdvertisementAdvertisementBarra was asked how she remains focused on GM's long-term goals amid a political landscape that can change every few years. In response, she revealed that President Donald Trump wants to give consumers the freedom to choose between different types of vehicles, including EVs, gas-powered cars, and hybrids. She said:"Well, I don't think it's shifted our mission. Again, I think we still think EVs are the end game, and I think, you know, when I've had conversations with President Trump, he's talked about wanting to give customers choice, not wanting to force them into something. So we can definitely do that."The GM boss added that her team has identified "no-risk" decisions it can make to prepare for potential shifts in the industry. She explained:"We do constantly remind all administrations we're a capital-intensive, long-lead industry, and so people have to respect that. But what we've tried to do is, again, have a robust portfolio of both, but then also, you know, the minute we start to sense something might change, what are these no-risk decisions or these no-regret decisions we can make to say, okay, how can we prepare for this?"We did that as we started to see the regulatory front changing. We also, as we started to see tariffs. What are no-regret moves, and then what are the shifts we need to make?"