GM Moves BrightDrop Electric Vans to Chevrolet Brand
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General Motors Co. is bringing its BrightDrop electric commercial vans under the Chevrolet brand in an effort to expand sales beyond delivery companies.
Since commercial customers pay close attention to the overall cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle, EV commercial sales have consistently been seen as a growth opportunity by automakers, who argue that EV products come with lower fuel and maintenance costs.
GM introduced BrightDrop in 2021 at the Consumer Electronics Show as a startup that would bring the company millions in revenue with products focused on servicing delivery companies, including electric vans.
In 2023, the Detroit automaker brought BrightDrop under GM Envolve, the company’s fleet business. GM Envolve will still manage BrightDrop’s commercial fleet vehicle sales by working with dealers.
GM folding its all-electric BrightDrop vans into Chevrolet brand https://t.co/8SXRzflgCJ — CNBC (@CNBC) August 29, 2024
“The Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 and 600 will continue to feature state-of-the-art technology designed to help enhance efficiency, reduce tailpipe emissions, and optimize service and delivery operations,” said Sandor Piszar, vice president, GM Envolve, in a statement. “Integration into the Chevrolet portfolio will expand its reach and accessibility and offer more customers additional tools to help achieve their productivity and carbon-neutral goals.”
Chevrolet dealers interested in selling BrightDrop vans have to meet certain commercial EV requirements. Production of the Chevrolet BrightDrop models is scheduled for October.
“With the addition of BrightDrop to the Chevrolet lineup, we are combining advanced EV technology with the dependability and widespread accessibility that only Chevrolet can offer,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet, in a statement. “This move strengthens our EV offerings and reaffirms our role as a leading commercial brand that enables businesses large and small to get work done.”
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GM did not confirm or update previously provided revenue forecasts for the BrightDrop brand. The automaker’s BrightDrop projections have included revenue expectations of $5 billion by mid-decade and possibly $10 billion by 2030. In late 2022, BrightDrop was projected to reach $1 billion in revenue by the end of last year, but GM would not confirm if it hit that mark.
In October 2023, GM paused production of the BrightDrop vans at CAMI Assembly in Ontario because of delays in the delivery of battery modules that power the vehicle. Production restarted this spring. The vehicles, previously called the Zevo 600 and Zevo 400, will now be called the Chevrolet BrightDrop 600 and Chevrolet BrightDrop 400.
“Production is going well,” Piszar said. “We’ve now ramped up production across the full range (of products). Now, with this move to Chevrolet, we’re going to really get great scale. It’s exciting.”
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