In the full-size pickup segment, even though there are five models from four manufacturers (counting Toyota), the battle is waged between the American manufacturers’ four models: Ford, Ram, then Chevrolet and GMC within the General Motors (GM) empire.
Ford was the pioneer with the F-150 Lightning
Ram was the first to announce an EREV pickup
Ford is abandoning its Lightning to develop an EREV pickup
And it’s been that way since pickups have existed.Throughout history, it’s mainly Ford and GM that have battled it out, with each brand always seeking to gain an advantage over the other. And let’s not forget Ram in the equation, which has also innovated with its own advances.
Electrification
In terms of electrification, Ford led the way by being the first brand to offer an all-electric version of its model, the F-150. GM followed with the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. At the same time, at Ram, a model was announced and presented, but the company put it on ice amid anticipated slowing demand for electric vehicles in the United States.
Ford Announces Next-Gen F-150 Lightning EREV with 1,127+ km Estimated Range
On the other hand, Ram was the first to dangle the prospect of marketing an extended-range electric pickup. What’s the difference? The latter has an electric configuration but uses a gasoline engine to power the battery, providing much greater range with the gas-electric system.
EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle)
Last December, Ford announced it would also go down this path and drop the all-electric version of its model, the Lightning variant. The company realizes this is what typical buyers of this type of model want: the best of both worlds: electric range for short distances, but the assurance of being able to cover long distances in a towing situation, without having to spend time charging in the middle of a workday.
General Motors
So Ford and Ram will soon have EREV pickups in their lineups. The Ram 1500 Ramcharger is expected soon. In this context, what will GM do? The company hasn’t officially announced anything, but it’s easy to imagine it’s being heavily discussed internally.
In fact, when you analyze the situation objectively, you realize GM will have no choice. Imagine the reactions of Chevrolet and GMC dealers if they had to watch this type of model in competitors’ lots without being able to offer their own solution to their customers.
It’s unthinkable.
The good news for GM is that it already has the technology. It was, in fact, a pioneer with the Chevrolet Volt, which proved very popular during its years on the market. The company has already announced that it would bring this type of technology back to market.
Better yet, in China, it already offers EREV models, such as the Buick Electra L7.
The redesign of the Chevrolet Silverado is planned for 2027, so we should hear news this year about General Motors’ strategy.
One thing’s for sure, it will be interesting to follow, as the battle between the three major American manufacturers for dominance in the full-size pickup segment is about to enter a new phase.
