Update: Chevrolet has opened pre-sales for the Spark EUV in Brazil, pricing the electric vehicle at R$159,990 (approximately $28,600). That’s more than twice the cost of the identical Baojun Yep Plus sold in China. The original story continues below.

Chevrolet has found a clever (read: cost-effective) way to make the most of its SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture by rebadging one of China’s most charming EVs, the Baojun Yep Plus. This fully electric urban SUV made an unexpected debut during a special event celebrating Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary in the Brazilian market.

The new model, set to be sold in Brazil as the Chevrolet Spark EUV, is essentially a Baojun Yep Plus with a Chevy badge stuck on the grille—no other major changes to speak of. Despite sharing a name and compact proportions, the Spark EUV has absolutely nothing in common with the Spark EV, Chevrolet’s short-lived electric hatchback sold in select states in the US from 2013 to 2017 before being phased out for the Bolt.

More: 12-Year Old Chevrolet Trailblazer Receives Another Facelift In Brazil

Inside, the Spark EUV borrows the modern digital cockpit of the Baojun Yep Plus, comprising a 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a free-standing 12.8-inch touchscreen. It is also expected to inherit the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) of the Chinese twin, developed by none other than drone-maker DJI.

The EV measures 3,996 mm (157.3 inches) long with a 2,560 mm (100.8 inches) wheelbase, making it Chevrolet’s smallest offering. While the Baojun lineup includes a five-door version, a three-door variant, and even a pickup concept, it’s unclear if GM plans to bring any of these alternative body styles to the Brazilian market.

Predictably, the Spark EUV borrows its electric powertrain directly from the Chinese-spec twin. A single rear-mounted electric motor generates 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) and 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque. The 42 kWh battery pack offers a respectable 401 km (249 miles) of range on China’s CLTC cycle. The Baojun Yep Plus is also available with 32 kWh and 54 kWh battery options, but we don’t know if those will be eventually offered in the Chevy.

More: China-Made 2024 Chevrolet Aveo Unveiled In Mexico

One would think that the most compelling aspect of this tiny off-roader is its affordability. Still, the Chevrolet Spark EUV starts at R$159,990 ($28,600) in Brazil, which is more than double the ¥93,800 ($13,000) price of the identical Baojun model. The little Chevy is also more expensive than the rival BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull EV) which starts at R$115,800 ($20,700) in the same market.

Deliveries of the Chevrolet Spark EUV are expected to begin this summer. The model will soon joined by the larger Chevrolet Captiva EV which is based on the Wuling Starlight S from China.

• Buick shared a teaser of a new model from its upcoming Electra sub-brand.
• The new electric sedan closely resembles an earlier concept model from Buick.
• It will be based on the new Xiao Yao EV platform, developed specifically for China.

While Buick’s presence in the US is now all about crossovers and SUVs, the brand is taking a different route in China, where the traditional sedan still has a place. A new all-electric model from Buick’s recently introduced Electra sub-brand is about to join the lineup, with a teaser image offering us a first look.

Electra is Buick’s sub-brand for new energy vehicles; it was formally announced in April 2025, with three concepts: a sedan, an SUV, and a minivan. The vehicle in this latest teaser is the production version of the sedan, which evolves from the 2024 Electra L concept shown the previous year.

More: Buick’s Electric Crossover Just Got A Lot Better In China

The new model retains much of the design language introduced in the concept, though a few features have been streamlined for production. The lighting signature at both ends has been reworked, with more practical LED graphics. The sleek, flush door handles and traditional side mirrors replace some of the show car’s more experimental elements, bringing it closer to real-world usability.

Inside, a Tech Showcase Awaits

While Buick hasn’t yet shown the cabin, it’s expected to include a total of eight screens, a massive 50-inch augmented reality head-up display, and an array of AI-driven features. All of this will run on Qualcomm’s 8775 chip, which supports high-end infotainment and connectivity. Advanced driver assistance will come from Chinese tech company Momenta, which has developed a suite of sophisticated ADAS capabilities.

Buick / Weibo

This sedan is just one of six new energy models Buick plans to launch in the next year, likely alongside production versions of Electra’s SUV and minivan concepts. All three will be built on Buick’s Xiao Yao architecture, a flexible platform designed specifically for China.

More: Buick’s New Sedan Concept Rivals The S-Class In Size

The platform is compatible with fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender powertrains, with configurations that drive the front, rear, or all four wheels. Performance can reach up to 443 horsepower (330 kW), and the EV variants will be equipped with CATL-supplied battery packs capable of ultra-fast 640 kW charging.

Buick hasn’t announced a date for the full reveal of the Electra sedan, but it’s expected shortly. As with other Electra-branded models, this one is likely to stay exclusive to China, so a US launch doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

General Motors has finally acknowledged the obvious: no one is buying the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. As we recently noted, the company only sold 2,383 Silverado EVs and 1,249 Sierra EVs in the first quarter.

Those are dreadful numbers, and they appear to have been the final nail in the coffin for plans to turn Orion Assembly into an EV plant. The facility was originally slated to build electric trucks in 2024, but that date was eventually pushed back to late 2025 to “better manage capital investment, while aligning with evolving EV demand.”

More: The 2026 GMC Sierra EV Now Starts $27,500 Less Than Before

Fast forward to today, and GM has thrown in the towel on its electric truck plans. Instead, Orion Assembly will now build gas-powered full-size SUVs and trucks starting in early 2027. The move means the plant will likely produce the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban as well as the GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL.

As for the Silverado EV and Sierra EV, they’ll continue to be built at the nearby Factory Zero in Hamtramck. That facility also builds the GMC Hummer EVs as well as the Cadillac Escalade IQ.

The Gas-Powered Chevrolet Blazer Lives

The aging Chevrolet Blazer was expected to be discontinued, but it’s getting a reprieve as production will begin at Spring Hill Manufacturing in 2027. That facility is best known for making the electric Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, but it also builds the dated XT5 and XT6.

Speaking of EV plants doing double duty, Fairfax Assembly is slated to begin building the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV by the end of this year. However, it’s getting some company in the form of the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox, which will be built at the plant in mid-2027.

GM said the move will help support sales of the popular crossover, which was “up more than 30% year-over-year in the first quarter.” However, it’s important to note the model is currently built in Mexico, and this could have played a role in shifting some production stateside.

Unsurprisingly, GM didn’t mention tariffs or slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption in today’s announcement. Instead, they packaged it in Trump-friendly form as CEO Mary Barra said, “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the US and to support American jobs.”

She added, “We’re focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love.” That’s a not so subtle hint that gas-powered vehicles aren’t going away anytime soon.

GM said the investments total around $4 billion, which is roughly the same amount of money they were investing in transforming Orion Assembly into an EV truck hub. This begs the question of how much money was squandered on the bad EV bet.

General Motors is having a great year when it comes to electric vehicles. Sure, some reports indicate sales might be cooling off in some corners of the market, but for GM, things are hot. The company says its EV sales have jumped 94 percent year over year, and one of its brands, Chevrolet, now ranks second only to Tesla in U.S. EV sales.

That’s not a small gap, though. Tesla still held nearly 44 percent of the U.S. EV market in the first quarter of the year, with 128,100 vehicles sold, or roughly as much as everyone else combined. However, Tesla’s May figures aren’t available yet, making a direct comparison with GM impossible.

Also: US EV Sales Jump In Q1, But The Biggest Losers Might Surprise You

Still, GM managed to sell 62,830 electric cars, trucks, and SUVs between January and the end of May. The first quarter alone saw a 94 percent year-over-year jump, and that momentum hasn’t let up. May turned out to be the company’s second-best month ever for EV sales, pushing GM to a 15.5 percent share of the current EV market.

Chevrolet carried much of that weight, accounting for over half of those numbers with roughly 37,000 deliveries during the same period. Leading the charge was the electric Equinox, which became GM’s best-selling EV with 21,804 units delivered.

Strong Numbers and Stronger Momentum

“Customers are responding in record numbers to our world-class portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles,” said Rory Harvey, executive VP and president of global markets. “In the first two months of the second quarter, we more than doubled our EV sales compared to the same period last year.” Lots of those sales are coming from the top EV seller, Tesla.

In fact, according to Scott Bell, vice president of global Chevrolet, over half of the sales GM has this year are conquest sales, meaning customers are switching over from other brands. He told the Detroit Free Press that the Equinox is a major player here.

“It’s certainly the most affordable EV out there with that kind of range. It is by far the leader in the clubhouse; it doubles our Blazer volume easily on a monthly basis,” said Bell. “Once you convert to an EV, you’re not leaving. Especially once you’ve invested in the infrastructure, a home charger, 86% of them will stay.”

Interestingly, General Motors’ figures are even more impressive when compared to Ford’s. The Blue Oval brand delivered 34,132 cars during the first five months of the year, marking an 8.3 percent drop from the same period in 2024. That’s right, Chevrolet outsold Ford, and that doesn’t take into account any of the sales from Cadillac and GMC. No doubt, some of that success comes from GM’s wider range of available EVs.

More: Dealer Fees In California Could Jump A Staggering 488 To 614%

At the same time, both GM and Ford are doing just fine when it comes to their combustion-engine businesses. Hybrids are selling great, too. We’ll get a clearer picture of the EV sales landscape soon. GM will announce its second-quarter sales numbers on July 1. Other automakers will no doubt do the same around the same time. 

Electric vehicles are, nowadays, neither a niche or a novelty. As more automakers flood the market with new models, competition is heating up – and Cadillac wants in. GM’s luxury brand is making a serious push to grow its EV presence, and a part of its strategy includes luring customers away from other automakers.

According to one General Motors executive speaking to CNBC, around 80 percent of new Cadillac EV buyers are coming from outside the brand. A closer look at the data shows that roughly one in 10 of those newcomers is switching over from Tesla.

Review: Is Cadillac’s New Vistiq The Baby Escalade You’ve Been Waiting For?

Cadillac’s weapon in this EV conquest? The Lyriq. As the brand’s central electric offering, the Lyriq has become a significant driver of customer conversion. It boasts a starting price of under $60,000 and is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, at least for now. It features a huge 33-inch curved OLED display, lots of luxury, and decent range too. Unsurprisingly, about 25 percent of Tesla owners trading in for a Cadillac are choosing the Lyriq.

“We see the opportunity to increase the conquest rate for Tesla, absolutely,” Brad Franz, Cadillac director of global marketing, told CNBC. The portfolio is the key,” he continued. “We’ve always had good interaction with Tesla customers, but in the past, that’s been in that 10% to 15% range [for Lyriq]. So, certainly, we’re seeing a good jump in conquest rate.”

Are Some Tesla Owners Just Done With Tesla?

Interestingly, at least one analyst believes that this is less about how perfect the Lyriq is for Tesla owners and more about getting out of the Tesla ecosystem altogether. “People leaving Tesla cars now, they’re, in my opinion, making a very deliberate choice to get out of that car. If your priority is to get out of the Tesla ASAP, then they’re not, technically, cross-shopping Tesla for their next car,” said Joseph Yoon, Edmunds’ consumer insights analyst.

That trend might not slow down anytime soon either. Tesla is facing a myriad of concerns at a brand level. At the same time, Cadillac is offering a stronger EV portfolio than ever before. “Cadillac is leading the way with our EV lineup,” Franz said. “We’re really poised for success. We’re going to take this portfolio, now that Vistiq is rounding out the SUV portfolio, and become the No. 1, tier-one EV luxury brand.”

What Buyers Are Actually Comparing

Data from Edmunds shows that Lyriq shoppers are also eyeing models like Cadillac’s own Optiq, the Acura ZDX, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and BMW iX. Just behind those are the Kia EV9 and GM’s own Chevy Blazer and Equinox EVs. Tesla buyers, on the other hand, tend to stay loyal, often looking at other Teslas when they’re ready for something new. Depending on the model, they may also consider options from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, or occasionally, the Equinox EV or Hummer EV.

It’s still too early to say if Cadillac can claim a top spot in the EV luxury space, but the landscape is shifting. Buyers in the EV market have more choices than ever before. The real question is whether that momentum can continue or if new regulations, tariff concerns, and stifled EV infrastructure will change that.

The path to mainstream electrification is all but inevitable. Despite that, many lawmakers are trying to slow it down. Add to that one of the automakers building thousands of EVs every year, General Motors. A newly uncovered email exposes the company as it urges employees to get political. It hopes that with enough support, the government will stop California from setting its own emission standards.

More: New Bill To Kill EV Tax Credits Will Only Benefit One Brand

The Golden State has long done exactly that. In 2022, it went as far as to tell automakers that they had a little over a decade. By 2035, it won’t allow the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks. While that would seemingly be good for EV sales, the plan has several critics aside from General Motors.

The Golden State vs. Detroit

“We need your help!” GM said in an email to white-collar employees obtained by The Wall Street Journal. “Emissions standards that are not aligned with market realities pose a serious threat to our business by undermining consumer choice and vehicle affordability.” It’s worth noting that California isn’t alone in its thinking. 11 other states have signed up to follow the same plan. Now, GM and several lawmakers want to remove California’s ability to set its own standards and thus, cancel the ability for the other states involved.

In a statement, GM’s spokeswoman made the company’s stance clear: “GM believes in customer choice, and we continue to focus on offering the best and broadest portfolio of vehicles on the market”. That’s consistent with the automaker’s view, even when it supported California’s proposal in the past. Clearly, a national standard is in the best interest of automakers since they wouldn’t have to manage different regulations in different states.

Government officials say the standards set in California are simply out of touch with reality. Data seems to back that up, too. It set a target to have 35 percent of all vehicle sales be electric in 2026. Right now, EVs only make up 20 percent of new car sales, and that’s in a place where EVs are wildly popular when compared to other states.

EV sales in North America are slower than in most places across the globe. The transition to electrification appears like a sure thing, but probably further down the road than initially expected. 

GM’s interest in hydrogen fuel cell technology may seem like a recent endeavor following their work with Honda, but the American automaker has been tinkering with the stuff since the 1960s. While NASA was busy figuring out how fuel cells could help them conquer the space race, GM was busy figuring out how to make hydrogen work on Earth.

Related: GM’s Electrovair Is The Precursor To The Company’s Electric Future

Batteries of the time didn’t have the beans to power the Apollo command module’s communications, drinking water, lighting, and air conditioning systems, so NASA turned to fuel cells, which turn hydrogen into electricity.

And at the same time, GM, having already created two purely battery-powered EVs in the form of a pair of converted Corvairs, Electrovair I and II, was looking to explore the possibilities for hydrogen power back on Earth.

A Fuel Cell System Too Big for the Job

The fuel cell it created with the help of Union Carbide was so massive there was no way it was going to fit into a Corvair, so GM switched to the Handi-Bus, a passenger version of its Handi-Van and a VW Type 2 bus and Ford E-series rival. Even then, the powertrain’s bulk turned the van into a two-seater.

The system, which combines hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction that produces water, heat, and electricity, wasn’t only big due its large hydrogen and oxygen tanks, but heavy, too. A total curb weight of 7,100 lbs (3,220 kg) makes most modern EVs – GMC Hummer EV aside – look like lightweights, and 3,900 lbs (1,770 kg) of that was down to the fuel cell equipment.

Predictably, performance was abysmal, zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) taking around 30 seconds, though to to fair ,a stock Handi-Bus with the base 90 hp (91 PS) 2.5-liter four was no fireball either. GM reckoned the range was around 150 miles (240 km) but never tested that on the public road due to safety concerns that turned out to be well-founded. During one test an external fuel tank exploded, shooting debris a quarter mile (400 m) away.

A Test Project, Not a Production Vehicle

This was a true test-bed project and GM never intended to put the Electrovan into production. But it showed that a fuel-cell vehicle could work and paved the way for more efficient, more compact successors that get their oxygen from the air rather than from space-eating tanks of compressed oxygen.

Almost 60 years later, GM is still committed to both BEV and fuel-cell technology, particularly believing that its Hydrotec fuel cell cubes makes more sense in big commercial vehicles like Komatus’s mining trucks than batteries, which are better suited to lighter passenger cars, trucks and SUVs.

The first-mover advantage is something Tesla continues to capitalize on. It’s been over 20 years since the brand first launched, and no other automaker in the U.S. has even come close to challenging Tesla’s dominance in the EV space. Despite the growing competition, Tesla still holds a commanding market share, which hovers around 45%.

More: House Speaker Says EV Tax Credits Are Likely Finished

However, if House Republicans succeed in their push, the company’s position could be further strengthened, but at a cost to legacy automakers like Ford and GM. The reason? A looming change to the Federal Tax Credit that currently helps all EV makers sell vehicles.

The Current EV Tax Credit System

At the moment, those who buy a new or used EV in America might qualify for one of two credits. New car buyers can qualify for up to $7,500, and used car buyers can get up to $4,000. These credits are in addition to various state incentives, such as the $5,000 credit in Colorado and $3,500 in Massachusetts.

To be eligible, the vehicle must meet certain requirements, such as North American assembly and specific sourcing of battery materials. SUVs and pickups are eligible for the credit if priced under $80,000, while regular cars must be under $55,000. Income limits also apply: individuals making under $150,000 and couples under $300,000 qualify. For leased vehicles, the credit goes to the leasing company, which often (but not always) passes on the savings to customers, contributing to a rise in EV leases.

That might not seem like a huge chunk of change considering the price of some EVs, but in reality, it plays a huge role in sales. For instance, in 2022, before the introduction of the tax credit, 96,000 EVs were leased. By 2023, that number skyrocketed to nearly 600,000. But a recent budget bill released on Monday proposes ending both the new and used car credits, along with several other non-automotive tax incentives.

A Slower EV Adoption Could Hurt Major Automakers

According to a report from the New York Times, Cox Automotive’s Stephanie Valdez Streaty believes that almost a third of car sales in 2030 will be EVs if the credit stays as it is. However, should the government get rid of it, that figure could drop to just 20 percent. Slowing the adoption of EVs wouldn’t just be a potential backsliding for environmentalists, it could hit big automakers like GM and Ford in a big way.

Those brands are still trying to get to the point where their EV businesses are profitable. And their far from it with their numbers. On the other hand, Tesla hit that mark long ago, so while other players will need to sort out new strategies, it can continue to reap the benefits of being the first to market in the way it was.

Other legacy automakers, such as Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, have made significant investments in U.S.-based EV production, but they too could face a major setback if the bill passes. The removal of these credits would undermine the financial viability of the incentives that made their business cases profitable.

EV Startups Face Even Greater Financial Pressure

Although Tesla would also be impacted by the removal of the tax credit, it stands to gain in ways its rivals cannot. While Tesla may be able to withstand lower sales, many of its competitors will not have that luxury and could be forced to shut down. Newcomers like Rivian and Lucid, for example, would face immense financial pressure as their sales figures don’t support a profitable business model.

Even smaller, more recent startups like Slate would likely have to review their entire business plan. What, after all, is the point of a tiny EV trucklet with 150 miles of range, no desirable mainstream features, and a price that is as high as a Ford Maverick?

In the grand scheme, while Tesla will undoubtedly be affected, the long-term payoff could be substantial. It may emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with. In other words, instead of having 45% of the EV market’s 33% of car sales, it could end up with double that of the predicted 20%.

In the grand scheme, Tesla will undoubtedly face challenges, but the long-term payoff could be massive. It might emerge as the dominant force in the EV market with little to no competition to contend with in America. Instead of holding 45% of the EV market’s 33% share of total car sales, Tesla might dominate nearly the entire 20% share that EVs are expected to capture in the 2030s if tax credits vanish, while also further extending its technological lead in the field.

“What this does globally to the U.S. auto industry and its ability to compete – I think it’s going to hurt us,” Ms. Valdez Streaty said. “I think it’s going to slow us down, and we are already behind China.”

General Motors and LG Energy have announced plans to use lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells in electric trucks and full-size SUVs. The automaker intends to be the first to use LMR batteries and production is slated to begin by 2028.

GM says LMR batteries are a breakthrough as traditional battery cathodes require nickel, manganese, and expensive cobalt. This drives up prices and makes EVs expensive.

More: Stellantis’ Solid-State Battery With 18-Minute Fast Charging Is Almost Ready

LMR batteries seek to address this by using a “higher proportion of more affordable manganese.” They also promise to deliver a “greater capacity and energy density.”

The companies didn’t go into many specifics, but said their new LMR prismatic battery cell has a  33% higher energy density than the best-performing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, despite having a comparable cost.

So what does this all mean? We can expect an electric truck that delivers more than 400 miles (644 km) of range as well as “significant battery pack cost savings compared to today’s high-nickel pack.” That would be a welcome development as the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range starts at $75,195 and has an EPA-estimated range of up to 408 miles (657 km).

GM’s director of advanced battery cell engineering said the batteries are the result of a decade of development. Kushal Narayanaswamy went on to say GM’s current crop of electric trucks and SUVs use NMCA batteries and these have a composition that is roughly 85% nickel, 10% manganese, and 5% cobalt. LMR batteries are vastly different as they’re about 65% manganese, 35% nickel, and use “virtually no cobalt.” In effect, they use more of the cheaper materials and less of the expensive ones.

Update: Chevrolet has released new photos of the Captiva EV in Brazil, which have been added to the gallery below.

Chevrolet is expanding its electric vehicle portfolio in more markets around the world, and its latest addition is a familiar nameplate with a new powertrain. The Captiva returns, this time as an EV, but don’t expect to see it on American roads. Instead, the new model is headed to regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Captiva name was first used in the mid-2000s for a compact SUV sold in certain markets like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, as well as parts of South East Asia, where it was also branded as the Daewoo Winstorm. After the original model was axed, GM revived the Captiva with a new version based on the Baojun 530, a Chinese model. Now, the Captiva has gone full electric, and it’s based on another Chinese offering.

Read: GM’s New Wuling Sunshine Is The Swiss Army Knife Of Chinese EVs

The model in question is the Wuling Starlight S (also known as the Xing Guang S), which is currently sold in China. Recent social media posts from General Motors in Brazil reveal that much of the Wuling’s design has been carried over to the Chevy, though it’s been tweaked just enough to better fit the Bowtie badge.

At the front, the Captiva EV sports narrow LEDs and turn signals, with the main headlamps placed lower down on the fascia. Despite being an electric vehicle, it still has a large black grille, a departure from the grille-free designs we’re used to seeing in more modern EVs. The rear end, however, is almost identical to the Wuling model, with the same taillights, tailgate, and black bumper.

The Captiva EV will be sold in markets like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, regions where its compact size and affordability are expected to hit the mark. Needless to say, the US remains firmly out of the picture.

More: Chevrolet’s Smallest EV Costs More Than Double Its Chinese Twin

Technical specifications for the new model have yet to be announced. However, we know that the all-electric version of the Starlight S has a claimed driving range of up to 317 miles (510 km) and can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. Similar specs can be expected for the Captiva EV, including the ability for the battery to be charged from 30-80% in 20 minutes.

Chevrolet said that the Captiva EV is currenting going through the final stages of homologations in the country, including “extensive series of tests and validations”. Pricing will be announced at a later date, but the official website has a form where prospective buyers can declare their interest and sign up for updates.

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