General Motors’ goal of producing 1 million all-electric vehicles in North America by the end of 2025 is in deep doubt following comments made by CEO Mary Barra on Monday.
The production capacity target for next year was one of the last EV targets the automaker did not cut or withdraw, as demand for EVs has not grown as quickly as many companies, including GM, had previously expected.
“We’re not going to get to a million just because the market isn’t evolving, but we’re going to get there,” Barra said Monday during a virtual CNBC CEO Council event. “We’re going to be customer-led.”
GM has said for more than two years that it would have production capacity for 1 million electric vehicles in both China and North America by 2025. Even after the company changed or withdrew several EV goals and product plans over the past year, it has continued to say it would install North American electric vehicle capacity.
A GM spokesperson said the company’s goal was production capacity, while the question was about actually producing 1 million electric cars by 2025. Barra did not specifically elaborate on whether she was talking about production or production capacity.
The spokesman later said the company would not reiterate plans for electric vehicle production capacity through 2025. The company has consistently said its electric vehicle plans will be flexible to meet demand.
More details about the automaker’s electric vehicle plans could emerge when GM reports second-quarter earnings on July 23.