The Journal. Why GM Is Slamming the Brakes on EV Ambitions
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Oct 29, 2025 
Sharon Terlep, an automotive industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, dives into GM's dramatic shift in electric vehicle strategy. She discusses how GM transitioned from a bold 2021 all-electric vision to a stance opposing stringent emissions rules. Sharon outlines consumer hesitance due to infrastructure and range anxiety, and highlights GM's aggressive lobbying to reshape policies. The conversation reveals how prioritizing plants and profits influenced GM's decisions, impacting not just the company but the entire auto industry’s electrification pace.
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GM's High-Stakes EV Bet
- GM made a bold corporate bet on electrification and poured billions into factories and batteries.
- That investment reshaped their strategy and public image as an EV leader.
Factory Overhauls And Battery Bets
- Converting plants and building new battery tech required massive, risky capital and supply-chain work.
- GM overhauled factories like Factory Zero and developed its Altium battery to avoid supplier dependence.
Demand Fell Short Of Expectations
- Despite heavy investment, consumer demand lagged and EVs piled up on dealer lots.
- Slow charging infrastructure and range anxiety limited sales growth.