General Motors is set to receive its first rare earth magnets produced in the United States by MP Materials, marking a key step in reducing reliance on Chinese supply. The Pentagon’s $400 million investment in MP Materials aims to secure domestic production, while GM’s earlier commitment helped accelerate development timelines. Although delivery timing details vary slightly across reports, the milestone signifies progress in building an integrated US rare earth supply chain.
General Motors has confirmed plans to introduce hybrid models into its U.S. lineup, acknowledging that customer demand for hybrids is surging while all-electric vehicle (EV) sales decline. Although GM maintains an all-electric long-term vision, it is pivoting to meet current market needs. Analysts expect the first plug-in hybrids to arrive by late 2027 or early 2028, covering models from the Equinox to the Silverado. This move follows a 5.5% drop in GM’s third-quarter sales and a 23% year-over-year increase in U.S. hybrid sales, which now account for 16.3% of the market compared to 5.8% for EVs.
General Motors reported a 5.5% decline in US sales for Q3 2026, totaling 670,974 units, driven by a sharp drop in electric vehicle demand. The Chevy Equinox EV sales fell 92% year-over-year, while Cadillac’s electric SUVs accounted for nearly half of GM’s EV sales. Toyota, meanwhile, saw a 0.6% sales increase, boosted by a 28.5% rise in electrified vehicles, including hybrids, narrowing the gap with GM to under 136,000 units.
General Motors reported a 5.5% drop in third-quarter US sales, totaling 670,974 units, driven by a sharp decline in electric vehicle demand. GM’s EV sales fell 61.7% year-over-year to 25,473 units, with the Equinox EV down 92.4%. In contrast, Toyota saw a 0.6% sales increase, boosted by a 28.5% rise in electrified vehicles, including hybrids. GM’s internal combustion engine sales remained roughly level, but its lack of hybrid options and weak EV performance allowed Toyota to narrow the sales gap to under 136,000 units.
General Motors has confirmed that its next-generation lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries will be mass-produced at the Ultium Cells joint venture facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Factory upgrades are scheduled to begin late this year and conclude by 2028, marking the first global mass production of prismatic LMR cells. These batteries, which offer 33% more range than lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) alternatives at similar costs, are designed for full-size electric trucks and SUVs. GM expects to deploy these cells in vehicles by 2028, aiming to balance affordability with performance while reducing reliance on expensive cobalt and nickel.
General Motors has unveiled the powertrain lineup for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, featuring new sixth-generation small-block V8s and a record-setting heavy-duty diesel. The new 5.7-liter L76 and 6.6-liter L78 engines replace older units with increased power but remove traditional oil dipsticks in favor of digital monitoring. The heavy-duty segment gains the 8.3-liter 'Mongoose' Duramax turbodiesel, which produces 555 horsepower and 1,230 pound-feet of torque, surpassing Ford's Power Stroke. GM emphasizes that these engines were designed for real-world truck usage, including towing and off-road capability, while maintaining a strategy that balances internal combustion with future electric vehicle development.
General Motors and Pacific Gas and Electric have launched the Smart Charge Bundle in Northern and Central California. The program offers new EV buyers a free home charger valued up to $1,999, along with monthly bill credits for participating in managed charging. This initiative aims to reduce grid strain during peak hours while lowering energy costs for consumers.
General Motors and Pacific Gas and Electric have launched the 'Smart Charge Bundle' in Northern and Central California. The program offers new EV buyers a free home charger and monthly bill credits in exchange for participating in managed charging. This initiative aims to reduce the upfront cost of EV ownership while helping stabilize the electrical grid by shifting charging times to off-peak hours.
General Motors has begun installing battery cells containing recycled materials into new electric vehicles, marking the first time the automaker has used recovered cathode active material in customer-ready cars. The pilot program, conducted with recycling partner Cirba Solutions, processed 80 end-of-life battery packs to produce 12 metric tons of new cathode material composed of 100% recycled nickel, cobalt, and manganese. These cells, validated to meet the same safety and performance standards as virgin materials, are now powering models including the Cadillac Lyriq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. GM states that current recycling technologies can recover up to 95% of nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and 80% of lithium, though the pilot specifically focused on the former three metals. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on new mineral extraction, lower battery costs, and support supply chain resilience. While GM’s cells are already in production vehicles, competitors like Porsche are still testing similar recycled materials and plan to integrate them by 2028. The move represents a significant step toward a closed-loop battery lifecycle, complementing GM’s existing second-life energy storage programs with Redwood Materials.
General Motors has removed traditional oil dipsticks from the 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter V-8 engines in the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, replacing them with digital cabin displays. This change accompanies a new generation of small-block engines featuring updated lubrication systems and increased power output.
GM revealed the 2027 powertrain lineup for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, featuring two all-new V-8s, a carryover inline-six diesel, and an upgraded turbocharged four-cylinder. It marks GM’s sixth-generation small-block V-8, developed since 2018 to keep the trucks competitive as Ford and Ram refresh their lineups. Trucks remain GM’s profit cornerstone, with V-8 and diesel options accounting for sizable shares of Silverado and Sierra sales, while regulators continue a separate open investigation into the current 6.2-liter V-8.
GM revealed the sixth-generation small-block V-8s for its 2027 Silverado and Sierra lineup and Corvette, including the 5.7L L76 and 6.6L L78 delivering up to 481 hp with improved efficiency, plus a Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel, all paired to a 10-speed transmission. The company plans additional production at Tonawanda, NY and St. Catharines, Canada with substantial investments, highlighting a new engine architecture and data-driven quality checks, while GM navigates ongoing federal engine investigations and recalls in the broader industry context.
GM unveils the 2027 Silverado and Sierra lineups with two new Gen 6 small-block V-8s, a diesel, and an enhanced turbocharged four-cylinder, signaling a renewed focus on full-size pickups to sustain profitability as EV demand remains tepid and federal incentives shift; development began in 2018, as GM aims to outperform Ford and Stellantis in the ongoing “truck wars,” despite a separate NHTSA probe into its 6.2L V-8.
US automakers are accelerating their retreat from China as Chinese brands push abroad. Ford will end Lincoln production in China for export to the US and GM reportedly stops Chevrolet sales there, with both refocusing production in North America. Chinese automakers, aided by excess capacity and improving quality, are expanding globally, and the likely path into the US is via North American plants (potentially Mexico) rather than direct imports from China, amid tariff debates and Chinese tech restrictions under USMCA-era rules.
General Motors has struck a multibillion-dollar parts-prepayment deal with Procura Auto Parts to prepay suppliers for rare or critical components, financed by a JPMorgan Chase-led bank syndicate and repaid via IPUs by July 31, 2029. The arrangement keeps inventory off GM’s books and aims to secure future parts amid years of supply-chain disruptions; GM will pay interest, a premium on what’s used, and an annual fee on unused portions, but did not specify which parts are targeted (though semiconductors, rare earths and wire harnesses have been problematic in the past).
