GM Went All In on EVs. Dealers Say Buyers Want Hybrids. - WSJ
Some influential dealers are pressing General Motors to introduce hybrid models, worried they risk losing customers who aren’t ready to make the switch to fully electric cars.
Dealers who serve on advisory committees to the automaker have urged executives in several recent meetings to add hybrids to GM’s lineup, according to people involved in the discussions. GM has focused on fully electric cars in recent years and largely bypassed hybrids, which pair an internal combustion engine with a small battery and electric motor to boost fuel efficiency.
The dealers said they expressed concern that more customers are looking for a middle ground between conventional gas-engine cars and EVs, which are more expensive and require regular charging. GM executives have acknowledged the dealers’ views but haven’t made any commitments to future hybrid options, the people said. Automakers often solicit input from dealers on vehicle planning but still typically keep the details of future models under wraps.
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Across the industry, automakers have seen the pace of EV sales growth slow after a few years of intense consumer interest. Meanwhile, hybrids have taken off over the past year amid consumer reticence toward full electrics, turned off by higher prices and worries about getting stranded between charging stations. Many dealers and car executives see hybrids as an important choice on the spectrum between straight gas-powered cars and EVs.
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