General Motors to end the production of diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 and exclusively offer electric vehicles

Just two weeks ago after General Motors (GM) unveiled a futuristic flying Cadillac, the Detroit-based automaker announced today that it will end the production of all diesel- and gasoline-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs by 2035 and shift its entire new fleet to electric vehicles as part of a broader plan to become carbon neutral by 2040.

GM said it plans to use 100% renewable energy to power its U.S. facilities by 2030 and in global facilities by 2035 – five years ahead of a previously announced goal. GM added that it plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040 and has committed to setting science-based targetsⁱⁱ to achieve carbon neutrality. The company has also signed the Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5⁰C, an urgent call to action from a global coalition of UN agencies, business, and industry leaders.

“General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener, and better world,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman, and CEO. “We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.”

“In addition to GM’s carbon goals, the company worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to develop a shared vision of an all-electric future and an aspiration to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035. GM’s focus will be offering zero-emissions vehicles across a range of price points and working with all stakeholders, including EDF, to build out the necessary charging infrastructure and promote consumer acceptance while maintaining high quality jobs, which will all be needed to meet these ambitious goals.”

“With this extraordinary step forward, GM is making it crystal clear that taking action to eliminate pollution from all new light-duty vehicles by 2035 is an essential element of any automaker’s business plan,” said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. “EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America — one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress, and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.”

On January 13, GM unveiled its futuristic flying Cadillac – a self-driving vehicle that takes off and lands vertically and carries the passenger above the streets and through the air. According to Reuters, the single-passenger Cadillac is technically a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone that will be able to travel from urban rooftop to urban rooftop at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.

Presented in a video as part of a virtual keynote presentation by Chief Executive Mary Barra, along with a family-friendly Cadillac electric shuttle, the flying Cadillac is fully autonomous and all-electric, with a 90kW motor, a GM Ultium battery pack, and an ultra-lightweight body with four pairs of rotors.

As a senior GM executive described the concept, it is “reimagining the future of personal transportation.”  Barra last year revealed the automaker was exploring such alternative transportation modes as aerial taxis.