Update: ‘Denali Ultimate’ section added.
After GM announced the Chevrolet Silverado EV in April 2021, it was only a matter of time before an equivalent GMC offering came into focus. On December 15, 2021, the company launched the GMC Sierra electric truck teaser, revealing its plan to enter the hotly contested segment.
Design
Video Source: YouTube/GMC
The teaser of the GMC Sierra electric truck partially reveals the front-end. The company said that the model is in the premium ‘Denali’ trim. GMC has opted for an attention-grabbing design but with a clean and minimalist theme. The no-frills styling on the electric truck is nothing new to the world of EVs, but it is new territory for GMC Denali models.
The GMC Sierra electric truck features a bold headlight design, a smooth, closed surface in place of a traditional radiator grille, and a pronounced power bulge in the center of the hood. The faux upper grille and GMC logo get illumination, but we are most likely looking at a concept model, and the production version should have a toned-down design. The production version may feature all-LED lighting and aero wheels for lower energy consumption and higher aerodynamic efficiency, respectively.
The GMC Sierra electric truck will feature a unique front-end that is cleaner and more aerodynamic than the gasoline model. Image Source: GM
Interior
Expect the interior to have considerable changes compared to the GMC’s gas-powered truck. The electric variant should sport a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen infotainment system.
Compared to the Silverado EV, GMC’s Sierra EV should be premium in terms of quality and features. GMC may equip the Sierra electric truck with high-tech features, including a 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 14-inch HUD, and an 11-inch fully digital instrument cluster. New tailgate solutions, an adaptive air suspension, bidirectional charging, cruelty-free and sustainable interior materials, and a fixed-glass roof could also be among the main features of the Sierra EV.
Denali Ultimate
In October 2021, GM launched the first-ever Denali Ultimate trim for the gas-powered Sierra to take it to a new level of luxury. The company decked the vehicle with unique styling bits like a distinctive grille in Vader chrome, exclusive wheels open-pore Paldao wood trim, and full-grain leather appointments. GMC could offer the Sierra electric in a similar high-end trim, crafted to ensure that it pairs with the EV’s clean design.
Platform
The GMC Sierra electric truck is the manufacturer’s second offering in the category, following the Hummer EV pickup. It will ride on the Ultium platform and come only in the Denali trim. Image: General Motors
The GMC Sierra electric truck will use the Ultium platform and should come in retail and fleet versions. Expect multiple technical configurations with different battery packs capacities and power and torque outputs. The battery packs should have an operating voltage of around 400 V. The total energy in the largest battery pack should be well over 100 kWh, enabling a GM-estimated range of 400+ miles. Expect 200 kW to be the maximum charging power for fast charging.
GMC Sierra electric truck production
The GMC Sierra electric truck will be manufactured at GM’s Orion Assembly plant (Michigan), USA. The company currently builds the troubled Bolt series at this factory. It’s preparing to upgrade the plant to make Ultium-powered models, including the Sierra electric and the Silverado EV.
A USD 4 billion investment is earmarked for the Orion Assembly plant to produce Ultium EV models. This massive capital will give the factory new body and paint shops and new general assembly and battery pack assembly areas and increase its production capacity. The rollout of the Sierra EV and the Silverado EV in Orion will commence in 2024.
Release Date & Price
GM will likely launch the Sierra EV pickup truck in the first half of 2024. The Ford F-150 Lightning rival would be the second GMC electric pickup after the Hummer EV. A concept version should break cover by July 2022. Expect the price of the GMC electric truck to start at over USD 55,000.
Featured Image Source: GM
Keyword: GMC Sierra electric truck: Everything we know as of April 2022