Expectations for the GM Electric Truck are High

Whether you are interested in the current lineup of Chevy trucks or you only care about electric options, the idea of an electric Chevy pickup should get you excited. We know that an electric truck is coming from General Motors, but unfortunately, that is all we know for sure. The existence of an upcoming GM electric pickup is not merely rumor; it was stated as fact by GM’s CEO during an investor meeting last November, so it’s a safe bet to assume that the existence and planned release for the truck are set in stone.

The announcement by the CEO is, however, all we have to go off when it comes to picturing what the future for electric Chevy trucks might look like. That being said, there are some things we can guess at and predict based on the market overall and what GM’s competitors have going on. So, keep in mind that everything below – other than a single quote you’ll see in a moment – is utter speculation on our part. We do not have an inside line on the future GM electric truck (unfortunately), and we’re waiting with bated breath for more details just like the rest of you.

But until then, let’s do a little speculating and consider what we should expect…

What We Know

So far, what we know about any upcoming electric Chevy trucks is precious little, but there is a bit of information we can get into here. For one thing, there is the actual announcement that we have from GM’s CEO, Mary Barra. At an investor meeting back in November, she said, “General Motors understands truck buyers and… people who are new coming into the truck market. It will be a very capable truck; I’m pretty excited about it.” That’s not a lot to go off, but we know it’s a real thing that GM has planned and that it will be aimed at established truck owners as well as people that might be looking to buy a truck for the first time.

We also know it will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, which is being upgraded and remodeled to handle electric vehicles.

This is a huge project with a reported $3 billion investment from GM into their electric truck program – likely to extend to electric SUVs as well. So GM is taking this seriously.

Finally, we can consider GM’s competition and what’s coming from them. The two biggest announcements right now in the electric truck field are the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford electric F-150, which has so far only been teased. The Cybertruck received a lot of attention for the power and performance it could deliver compared to the F-150 and trucks like the Chevy Silverado 1500 – but more recent information reveals it may be more comparable to the F-250 and Silverado 2500HD. All of this means that the competition might be more focused on a medium-duty electric pickup, rather than a light-duty model.

What We Expect – Release Date

So, let’s talk electric Chevy trucks and what we expect based on what we know. First and foremost, all signs point to a release date falling some time in 2021. The Tesla Cybertruck is slated for a 2021 release, as is the electric Ford F-150, and it is very unlikely that GM wants to be left behind. In particular, we think an electric Chevy truck would be most likely to come rolling out in the fall of 2021 – just in time for the holidays and alongside the competition.

What We Expect – Size and Exterior

In terms of the size and exterior design, things get a little murky. Initially, everyone thought the Cybertruck was a full-size, light-duty pickup because that’s what Tesla compared it to. However, based on filings in California for classification of the Cybertruck, its size and design are much more in-line with a medium-duty truck. Meanwhile, the only information from Ford so far is that they have teased an electric F-150.

So, Chevy has a few options here to compete with, and the direction they go will really depend on their overall market strategy. If they want to go head-to-head with the competition, they could release an electric 1500 model to match the Ford electric F-150, or a 2500HD model to go directly against the Cybertruck. They could also shoot for an electric 3500HD model to offer unmatched performance, but that’s such a niche market that it would be a strange choice. On the other hand, if they released something like an electric Chevy Colorado, a mid-size model with a sportier design, then they would offer something that Tesla and Ford do not.

In terms of the exterior, we expect it to look like a Chevy. GM will likely give it a distinct look to showcase its electric design, but we doubt it will have a radical appearance like the Cybertruck. For one thing, the look of the Cybertruck has been controversial (to say the least), and for another, GM will want their truck to clearly be a Chevy to show their commitment to an electric future that still feels like a part of their legacy.

What We Expect – Towing Performance

Towing and payload will depend on the size and platform they design for their electric truck. With a conventional pickup, towing depends on the strength of the frame and body along with the engine’s power, and nothing we’ve seen suggests that electric models are any different. Conventional Chevy trucks keep up with or surpass their competition when it comes to towing, and they will likely continue to do so with their electric model. It will all depend on the size they decide to go with and the market they want to tap into with their e-truck.

What We Expect – Interior Features

An electric truck should feel like the future. These are vehicles that come out of fairly recent science fiction, so you expect them to have interior designs that kind of feel like that. We don’t need bubble pods or anything else out of the Jetson’s, but the interior should feel futuristic and represent where the industry is heading.

We expect to see some serious luxury and sophistication inside any electric Chevy trucks that hit the market – with different trim levels like any other vehicle. They’ll likely have Infotainment screens with bigger displays than you might expect at first and other features that are easy to use. Technology will be a big component here, so we expect features like a heads up display, wireless charging, incredible sound systems, and more inside these upcoming Chevy trucks.

When Will We Know More?

Sadly, we don’t know. So far, Chevy and GM have said nothing about any specific models or provided any details about prototypes they’re working on. We could see something more concrete soon at this year’s car shows, but it could also be awhile. Chevy could be waiting to release information closer to a 2021 release to keep excitement at a high peak for as long as possible, rather than let people get bored with a drawn-out campaign.

Whatever the case may be, here at McCluskey Chevy, we’ll have all the details as soon as they’re available, so keep an eye on us for future announcements. Or come visit us today in Cincinnati, OH, to see the current lineup of Chevy trucks and find your next vehicle.