It’s just under 12 months away from launch but the GMC Hummer EV is already off to a good start.
The Detroit Free Press reports General Motors has already received 10,000 preorders for the Edition 1, which will be the first variant to launch.
The Edition 1 sold out in 10 minutes, according to a dealer source who attended a national dealer meeting, and GM has enough orders to fulfil its first year of production.
Despite this, the company told dealers it’s evaluating if it can build more.
The Edition 1 officially launches next year in our spring, though that’s for North American consumers – GM Specialty Vehicles has yet to confirm the new truck for Australia.
It’ll be joined by an SUV version, which GM teased at the Barclays Global Automotive Conference and which is set to be revealed next February.
There’ll also be a third GMC-branded EV, expected to be an all-electric version of its Sierra pickup, a platform-mate to the Chevrolet Silverado.
The GMC brand is sold alongside Buick at dealerships, and the tri-shield brand is getting two electric crossovers itself.
Around half of the 1900 GMC dealers in the US have agreed to invest up to US$140,000 (A$184,599) to be able to sell the new electric vehicles.
One of the largest expenses GM has asked participating dealers to pay for is a 480V fast charging station, which costs at least US$25,000 (A$32,966).
Other requirements for GMC dealers include two 5443kg service bay lifts and a 3628kg forklift, plus sales and service training for staff.
GM isn’t offering to buyout dealer franchises who are unwilling to invest in upgrades, though it’s doing that for Cadillac. Around 20 per cent of US Cadillac dealers have taken the buyout option.
Following the Hummer EV Edition 1, GMC will roll out three more variants of the electric pickup.
The EV3X will arrive late in 2022 and also features a tri-motor electric powertrain, although its outputs are slightly lower.
The Edition 1 produces 745kW of power, 15,591Nm of torque (almost certainly wheel torque, not engine torque) and has a claimed 563km of electric range and a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of three seconds. It’s priced at US$112,595 (A$148,501).
The EV3X has 482km of range, 596kW of power and 12,880Nm of torque, with a price tag US$12,600 (A$16,617) lower.
The EV2X, due in the US in 2023 in their spring, will feature two electric motors, similar range to the EV3X, but 466kW of power, 10,033Nm of torque and a price tag of US$89,995 (A$118,691).
Finally, the most affordable EV – the EV2 – will arrive early in 2024, with 402km of range but the same power and torque as the EV2X. It’ll be priced from US$79,995 (A$105,503).
Available features in the Hummer EV range include a segment-first CrabWalk feature that allows the front and rear wheels to steer at the same angle at low speeds, allowing you to diagonally move the vehicle.
The adaptive air suspension has an Extract Mode, which will raise it by 149mm, while the Edition 1 comes standard with a removable panoramic roof.
Other available features include Super Cruise, which supports hands-free driving on more than 322,000km of American roads and can change lanes for you.
The Hummer EV will come standard with 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tyres, while inside there’s a 13.4-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The Hummer EV, along with numerous other GM EVs, will be built at GM’s Factory Zero.
Formerly known as the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, GM has invested US$2.2 billion (A$2.9 billion) into retooling it for electric vehicle production.
While GM has been producing the relatively affordable, all-electric Chevrolet Bolt for a few years now, of the 20 new electric vehicles it’s launching by 2023 it’s only been publicising more premium EVs like the GMC Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq.
GM did use the Barclays Global Automotive Conference to tease a couple of other upcoming EVs, however.
Parked behind CEO Mary Barra and GM’s chief EV officer Travis Hester were a pickup truck and a mid-sized crossover for the volume Chevrolet brand.
