A media group was treated to an exclusive preview of the concept.
General Motors previewed a small electric pickup truck, reports Automotive News (AN), giving us more reason to believe the automaker is cooking up a Ford Maverick rival.
The unnamed truck was shown off at GM's EV design studio in Michigan and, according to those lucky enough to get a glimpse, is described as “futuristic” and “sporty.” Unlike the Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, the design study boasts two doors and a 4- to 4.5-foot-long bed. That's about the same as the Ford, which has a 4.5 ft bed.
Unsurprisingly, no details were shared about the proposed newcomer – not even which brand it would be sold under.
“We're creating these to get a reaction and then to try to modify it or move on. What does work? What doesn't work? What's expected? Affordability is the key portion of this, and there are lots of different ways to approach it,” said GM's Michael Pevovar.
Based on the accompanying marketing materials seen at the event, AN believes the truck will be aimed at adventurers who partake in outdoor activities like surfing.
Of course, there's no guarantee that this two-door electric pickup would ever hit the market. GM is only considering the vehicle as part of its wallet-friendly EV range. Customer feedback will play a significant role in how General Motors designs future electric vehicles. We've seen a similar thing with the new Cadillac Lyriq. Certain buyers were offered a healthy discount if they agreed to be tracked by GM, which would use customer feedback to improve the vehicle and overall experience.
“The input may come back that it's just too small, and that's OK,” added Pevovar. “Maybe [it won't be] right for what this architecture can provide, but does it have legs for different architecture where it might need to be a little bigger?”
We already know that General Motors is benchmark testing the Ford Maverick, suggesting that the brand is taking the development of this potential model very seriously. Frankly, it would be a mistake for GM not to enter this popular segment. Last year, Ford shifted nearly 75,000 examples of the Maverick.
Other brands have found success with four-door mini pickups. Ford sold 74,370 Mavericks in the US last year, and Hyundai sold 36,480 Santa Cruz models, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center. Of course, the compact electric truck could come to fruition but not be offered in America.
According to Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions, two-seater trucks with a small bed would prove more popular in South America or Mexico, as US-based customers prefer two rows of seats. Chevrolet recently revealed a compact pickup truck for these markets, called the Montana, and even hinted at a local introduction.
GM has ambitions to lead the electric car market and hopes to lure in customers with high-volume EVs, such as the recently revealed Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and the existing Bolt models. However, CEO Mary Barra has also said she envisions a lineup that caters to everyone.
That's clear to see with niche vehicles like the Cadillac Celestiq and GMC Hummer EV, both expensive electric cars that only the wealthy can afford. Perhaps the compact electric truck won't be a best-seller, but GM hopes an attractive price will make people pay attention.
“What they don't have in volume, they make up for in a lower price. That draws people in,” added Pevovar.
With any luck, it will arrive in time to battle the Maverick Lightning. Style-wise, we hope GM creates a scaled-down version of the Silverado EV. There's no guarantee it will arrive wearing a bow-tie badge, so we could get another electric GMC truck.
Source Credits: Automotive News
Keyword: GM Is Pondering A Small Electric Pickup Truck To Fight The Maverick