DealBook Summit G.M.’s Chief Executive Remains Bullish on Electric Vehicles
Dec 4, 2025
Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors, passionately discusses G.M.'s commitment to electric vehicles and improving fuel efficiency. She addresses the volatility of EV demand and the strategic necessity of aligning with consumer preferences towards 2035. Barra advocates for a single federal regulatory standard to streamline efforts and discusses competition with China. She shares insights into G.M.'s investments in autonomy, the importance of skilled trades, and her deep love for the auto industry, highlighting its transformative potential.
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EV Demand Remains Undetermined
- EV demand is still unclear without consistent incentives and will reveal itself by mid-2025.
- Mary Barra says GM is positioned to serve both EV and ICE buyers while watching consumer signals.
Keep Improving ICE While Cutting EV Costs
- Continue improving fuel efficiency and emissions on every new ICE engine instead of abandoning them.
- Invest in battery innovation like LMR to reduce EV costs by up to $10,000 and broaden consumer appeal.
Regulations Drove EV Investment
- Automakers invested in EVs largely in response to the regulatory environment rather than a unilateral strategic error.
- Barra argues those investments enabled maintaining product range across powertrains when regulations demanded it.