The return of Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Hummer to France through electric vehicles?

Thanks to electric cars, General Motors will make its return to Europe and France, with affordable Chevrolets and luxury models via Cadillac or Hummer.

Although it is the second-largest automobile group in the world, General Motors (GM) barely exists in Europe. However, it originally arrived in 2005 to replace its Korean subsidiary Daewoo. In 2015, the American manufacturer abandoned the continent, where it was losing too much money. It subsequently sold its Opel brand to PSA (now Stellantis). But the company is now reconsidering this decision in a new context.

Affordable Electric Chevrolets?

With the rise of electric vehicles and their rapid growth in Europe, GM sees an opportunity. The group is aggressively investing in this technology, aiming to be profitable by 2025. Returning to the Old Continent, General Motors will announce its strategic plan early next year. It is already expected that its Chevrolet electric models will be part of this plan.

At the brand with the bowtie, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is a compact electric car. Measuring 4.15 meters long, it delivers 200 horsepower and has an autonomy of around 400 kilometers. Comparable to the Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.3, or MG4, it starts at $31,000. In Europe, it could therefore be priced around €35,000 baseline.

For SUVs, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV is a slightly larger (4.31 m) and more expensive version (starting at €33,500). It would be an ideal competitor to the Peugeot e-2008 or Hyundai Kona. The brand also offers larger SUV models.

The Chevrolet Equinox is the family-oriented model, measuring nearly 4.80 meters, and starting at $30,000. With an autonomy of 400 to 450 km, and up to 290 HP in all-wheel-drive versions, it is scheduled for 2024.

The Chevrolet Blazer EV is the largest (around 4.90 m), inspired by the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, which will launch in 2023 starting at $45,000. It offers between 400 and 515 km of range and up to 557 HP on the “SS” sporty versions. Finally, there is speculation about whether the FNR-XE concept for China could produce an anti-Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Large Cadillac and Hummer Electric Models?

The GM group also hosts premium and luxury brands. While Buick is unlikely to arrive in Europe, Cadillac might officially make a comeback. The iconic badge has made multiple appearances in France and now offers electric vehicles.

The Cadillac Lyriq is a large SUV measuring about 5 meters, introduced summer 2022, competing with the Tesla Model X, Audi Q8 e-tron, or Mercedes EQE SUV. With 340 horsepower, it features a 100 kWh battery providing 480 km of range. Its price starts at $63,000, roughly around €70,000 in France, similar to the BMW iX3.

More upscale, the Cadillac Celestiq sedan will have 600 HP and a range of 483 km. But its price jumps to €300,000, twice that of a Mercedes EQS! Parking will also be challenging, as it measures about 5.50 meters long.

Similarly imposing is the Hummer! Under the GMC brand, it could make a comeback in Europe with its new electric generation. Downsides include its weight of over 3.5 tons due to massive 200 kWh batteries capable of 560 km of range—effectively a heavy-duty vehicle! The electric monster develops up to 1,000 HP and comes in both pickup and SUV body styles.

As for the Corvettes, it’s known that the coupe and convertible are preparing for their transition. A hybrid version is coming in 2023, likely followed after 2025 by an electric model.

Also read: The Corvette hybrid in 2023 and then an electric Corvette