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The Reuters news agency claims to have learned both. General Motors wanted to use the e-delivery van to target commercial customers, but also delivery services such as Amazon and UPS, as five people familiar with the plans confirmed to Reuters.
The plans seem to be very concrete, not only because of the large number of sources. The internally called BV1 model will probably take over some components from the planned e-pickups and e-SUV of the group, according to Reuters. Among them is the "Ultium" battery system, which the Americans presented in March . The series version of the BV1 is to be built in addition to the E-Hummer and the Origin Shuttle in the Detroit-Hamtramck power plant.
However, it is still open under which brand the model should be offered. Traditionally, series with a higher utility value - such as the pickup models - are sold as Chevrolet or GMC. According to the report, however, it is also possible that the BV1 could be marketed under a brand like Maven (the discontinued GM car sharing).
General Motors did not want to confirm the information to Reuters. A statement said that there are currently no announcements about electric commercial vehicles. However, GM emphasized that it had "committed to a fully electric future and implemented a scalable EV strategy with multiple segments to get there".
However, one of the reasons given in the article is interesting - in addition to the sheer size of the market: Reuters quotes a supplier who is familiar with the plans, according to which the established manufacturers "do not want to leave the door open" like this happened with cars. In addition, there is certainly the fact that the light commercial vehicles are already among the most profitable series of the US manufacturers. And the order for more than 100,000 delivery vans from Amazon at the startup Rivian alone shows the size of the market in times of e-commerce.
In addition to GM, Ford is also working on an electric delivery van. Ford had announced a fully electric transit some time ago . In addition to the aforementioned Amanzon order from Rivian, the order from UPS in the British startup Arrival for 10,000 medium-sized electric delivery vans must also be mentioned. Reuters estimates the total value of orders from Amazon and UPS to be at least $ 4 billion.
While GM is initially relying on the joint-venture partner LG Chem for the "Ultium" batteries , a cooperation with another cell supplier is in the offing for the Chinese market. As also reported by Reuters, General Motors will work "very closely" with CATL. The source here is Julian Blissett, GM President in China.
"We already have a good working relationship and supply agreement with CATL," Blissett told Chinese media, according to Reuters. “We will work very closely with CATL in the future. We do not plan to import important components for new energy vehicles. The drive units, batteries, motors, etc. are manufactured locally in China. ”
The report does not contain any further details on the planned deeper cooperation. It is also open from which suppliers GM wants to source the drive units and motors - after all, CATL specializes in battery cells. The company did not respond to a Reuters request.
GM is allied with SAIC in China, the Velite 6 EV is sold under the Buick brand, or the almost identical model is also sold as the Chevrolet Menlo EV . GM is selling Wuling's electric minivans and minivans through another joint venture.
reuters.com (delivery van), reuters.com (China)