Demand for GM’s electric pickups has plummeted
General Motors had high hopes for electric pickups, launching the Chevrolet Silverado EV and two GMC models. Unfortunately for the company, these vehicles have been a commercial failure.
Sales: Worse than expected
Sales statistics look bleak. Silverado EV sales dropped by 32.5% in the first six months of the year. Dealerships sold only 3,672 units, averaging 612 vehicles per month.
Although Sierra EV sales rose by 9.8% to 3,044 units, this growth was offset by a sharp decline in demand for the GMC Hummer EV lineup. Sales of the Hummer pickup and SUV fell by 54.9% in the first half of the year—to 3,601 vehicles.
Overall, all these models together sold only 10,317 units. For comparison, Chevrolet found 25,418 buyers for its outdated Express van.
Dealerships forced to cut prices
Due to low sales and weak demand, dealers are offering huge discounts on the Silverado EV. The biggest discount is offered by Carr Chevrolet, which still has a 2024 model. To get rid of the work truck, the price was reduced from $75,345 by $21,396. Thus, the vehicle’s cost drops to $53,949, excluding a $250 documentation fee.
McCarthy Chevrolet in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, also has a 2024 “relic.” This is a luxurious RST version that originally cost $96,995. However, even after a $15,000 discount, it still seems expensive at $81,995.
If you don’t want to buy an electric pickup from the Biden administration era, Advantage Chevrolet in Hodgkins, Illinois, offers an $8,589 discount on the 2026 Silverado EV LT Max Range. Since the model originally cost $95,584, buyers can now get it for $86,995.
A similar situation is at Clay Cooley Chevrolet in Texas, where the price of the 2026 Silverado EV LT has been reduced by $9,000. This brings the cost down to $53,995.
Discounts on the GMC Sierra EV
If you prefer the more attractive Sierra EV, plenty of discounts are also available. AutoNation Buick GMC Corpus Christi offers a savings of $10,565 on a 2026 Elevation Extended Range model. This reduces the price from $79,335 to $68,770.
Covert Buick GMC has reduced the price of the Sierra EV Elevation Extended Range by $7,000. It now costs $60,685, excluding a $225 documentation fee.
These are just a few examples, but such offers are plentiful. So, it’s worth searching and negotiating. It’s also worth noting that many dealers are converting these EVs into fleet vehicles for customers.
This situation shows that even major automakers can miscalculate demand for electric vehicles, especially in the expensive pickup segment. Despite aggressive marketing campaigns and government incentives, consumers are not yet ready to switch en masse to electric trucks due to high prices, limited range, and insufficient charging infrastructure. For GM, this is becoming a serious challenge, as the company has invested billions in developing these models and now is forced to sell them at huge losses or use them as fleet vehicles.