Originally scheduled to go on sale in spring 2024, the SS version of Chevy’s Blazer EV is finally close to shipping amid rumors the gas-powered Blazer is going away. Orders are now open for the vehicle that promises 615hp in Wide Open Watts mode and a 3.4 second 0 - 60 time.
Chevy will put it in front of the stock car field and the public on February 16th and debut a “Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype.”
In a regulatory filing, Microsoft said it would “record an impairment charge of approximately $800 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025” tied to GM’s decision to defund its robotaxi subsidiary Cruise. Microsoft has been a minority investor in Cruise and a strategic partner since 2021. For example, Cruise used Azure to manage its (now defunct) robotaxi fleet.
Cruise co-founder and ex-CEO Kyle Vogt — the one who got ousted after the company withheld footage from regulators of one of its robotaxis dragging a pedestrian — kept it short and sweet when reacting to GM’s surprising announcement that it was pulling funding from the beleaguered company.
GM’s Baris Cetinok is committed to building a custom experience to rival that of Apple and Google.
After delivering the limited 2024 “Denali Edition 1” in August, the GM brand is shipping the next model year version with a higher Max Range option that goes up to 460 miles on a single charge — same as the new Chevy Silverado EV RST.
GM also slightly lowered the starting price for the Denali: now $91,995, including destination charges but not other fees.
So what’s next after Super Cruise? GM exec Dave Richardson tells TechCrunch the company could follow Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot by also offering a hands-off, eyes-off system:
We’re looking aggressively to make that an L3 solution, where you don’t even have to look at the road anymore.
After trying to make BrightDrop work as a standalone brand, GM has decided it will have a happier home among the Silverados and Camaros at Chevy. GM reabsorbed BrightDrop last year, citing “effeciencies,” and now its assigning it to Chevy in order to tap into the brand’s “broad commercial vehicle sales and service dealer network.” Chevy dealers will be able to sell BrightDrop’s 400 and 600 electric vans, as well as the fleet management software and other products.
[pressroom.gm.com]
