Common Motors (GM) and Hyundai Motor Group introduced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to discover potential partnerships throughout a myriad of automotive tech segments, together with joint EV and powertrain improvement, manufacturing, and provide chain sourcing.
One of many world’s most outstanding American automakers has introduced a possible landmark partnership with one of the vital progressive and promising automakers within the BEV section at present. For years, GM has proclaimed its dedication to going all-electric and has promised a number of new fashions within the works.
For fairly some time, clients had been left to decide on between the now lame-duck Chevy Bolt or the super-expensive Hummer EV whereas they waited for extra reasonably priced mannequins. However GM and its sub-brands have lastly begun bringing extra BEVs to market—however not with out GM’s justifiable share of progress points.
A glimmer of hope in reasonably priced GM EVs has been the Chevy Equinox, which, though it arrived at a beginning value larger than initially marketed, provides loads of positives, stays one of many model’s most reasonably priced new fashions, and will promote properly.
Yesterday, we discovered that GM could be starting gross sales of the Equinox in Korea, presumably taking its reasonably priced EV battle to Hyundai Motor Group’s house turf. Nonetheless, information shared by GM and Hyundai earlier at present paints a unique image—certainly one of (potential) collaboration in EV expertise improvement.
GM, Hyundai signal potential game-changing world alliance
GM and Hyundai held a joint press convention earlier at present through which executives from each events signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to “instantly” start exploring paths for collaboration by a “world alliance.”
In accordance with the automakers, the aim of the MoU is to research joint product improvement, manufacturing, and future clear power applied sciences, together with the co-development of passenger and industrial BEV fashions and powertrains.
GM and Hyundai will look to capitalize on their respective strengths and scales so as to reduce prices and convey extra new fashions to the general public sooner. Per GM CEO and chair Mary Barra:
GM and Hyundai have complementary strengths and proficient groups. Our aim is to unlock the size and creativity of each firms to ship much more aggressive automobiles to clients sooner and extra effectively.
Along with EV improvement, GM and Hyundai mentioned they will even discover avenues through which they will mix provide chain sources of issues like battery uncooked supplies, metal, and different parts. Hyundai Motor Group govt chair, Euisun Chung, additionally spoke:
This partnership will allow Hyundai Motor and GM to judge alternatives to boost competitiveness in key markets and car segments, in addition to drive value efficiencies and supply stronger buyer worth by our mixed experience and progressive applied sciences.
Per GM and Hyundai, the method of assessing potential alternatives for collaboration and their respective development towards binding agreements will start as quickly as potential.
Electrek’s take
If it involves fruition, this could possibly be a home-run deal for each side within the automotive trade. As I are likely to level out usually once I cowl Hyundai Group on Electrek, there may be arguably no different OEM doing extra proper now when it comes to constant innovation and high quality EV deliveries.
They simply appear to get it proper each time. I believe a variety of this early success could be traced again to Hyundai, starting with 800V platforms years in the past, starting with the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6. That platform expertise was arguably not mandatory on the time of its improvement however served as a hefty funding sooner or later, and it’s paid off tenfold to date.
In contrast to Hyundai Motor Group, GM has struggled with its Ultium platform when it comes to effectivity and has needed to load up its present BEV fashions with enormous battery packs to ship a aggressive vary. Bigger batteries equal larger prices to shoppers, so GM’s pricing has gone up. Lots of its accessible fashions are extra premium and priced as such in opposition to automobiles from Rivian, Lucid, and Mercedes. I’d personally take a Rivian over any GM electrical truck, and far of the market has agreed.
With assist from Hyundai, GM might repair a few of its architectural woes and convey down provide chain prices, thus delivering extra of the reasonably priced BEV fashions it has been promising for 5 years now. On the opposite facet of the desk, Hyundai, which stays a a lot smaller OEM than GM on a worldwide scale, might achieve entry to the American automaker’s manufacturing and distribution prowess and money in on a few of GM’s fame.
If this MoU solidifies into real partnerships, it will be a win-win for everybody. I’m excited to see what these two can create collectively.
