The writing is on the wall, and General Motors is finally reading it. Automotive News dropped a massive scoop yesterday confirming what many of us in the truck community already suspected. GM is indefinitely delaying its next generation of full-size electric trucks to focus on what actually pays the bills: gas engines and hybrids.

We are not the only ones covering this news , but as the #1 source for GM truck news, we want to cut through the speculation and explain exactly what this means for the future of the Silverado and Sierra.

The Bottom Line: Quick Facts

  • Program Halted: The next-generation Silverado EV, Sierra EV, Hummer EV, and Escalade IQ have been delayed until at least 2030.
  • The Pivot: Capital and engineering resources are shifting heavily back to the gas-powered T1-2 truck platform.
  • The Plant: Orion Assembly is gearing up to build gas trucks next year instead of EVs, saving over 2,000 manufacturing jobs.
  • Hybrid Future: Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and extended-range EVs (EREV) are actively on the drawing board.

Table of Contents

The Scoop: Next-Gen EV Trucks on “ICE”

According to supplier leaks reported by Automotive News, GM informed its partners that the next generation of electric trucks is officially halted. These lower-cost, refreshed EV versions were originally slated for a 2028 production start. Now, suppliers and industry analysts do not expect to see them hit the assembly line until 2030 or later.

GM is not killing off its current electric trucks completely. The existing Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV will still roll out of Factory Zero in Detroit. However, the billions of dollars originally earmarked for future EV development are being rapidly diverted back to traditional internal combustion programs.

A white GMC Hummer EV pickup truck with a CRABWLK license plate plugged into a GM Energy Pilot Flying J electric vehicle charging station.
Production of the current GMC Hummer EV will continue at Factory Zero, but development on the refreshed next-generation models has been indefinitely halted.

Doubling Down on Gas: The T1-2 Platform

We have been tracking the transition to the updated T1-2 platform for months. This pivot back to internal combustion means GM is putting its full weight behind the next generation of traditional trucks. We already know dealerships are getting a sneak peek at the new designs right now. You can catch up on those exclusive details in our report on what Sources at the Dealer Conference Revealed About the Timeline.

With Orion Assembly switching gears from a planned EV hub to a massive gas truck factory next year, GM is preparing for a massive internal combustion product push. This perfectly aligns with the aggressive T1-2 prototypes our spy photographers have recently caught testing on public roads.

We have already seen the off-road flagship stepping up to 35-inch tires in the 2027 Silverado ZR2 Spy Shots, and we know GM is not forgetting about fleet buyers thanks to the physical proof in the 2027 Silverado 1500 WT Regular Cab Spy Shots. On the premium side, we have even secured an exclusive look inside the cabin with the 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali and AT4 Interior Spy Shots Leaked. All of this hardware in the wild points to a massive, immediate investment in the future of gas-powered trucks.

Enter the Hybrid: PHEV and EREV Possibilities

Since GM is walking back its “all-electric” promises, a middle ground has to emerge. Automotive News reports that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Silverado and Sierra is expected to be built at the Orion plant.

Furthermore, GM is actively talking to suppliers about an extended-range EV (EREV) propulsion system. This is an electric truck that carries a small gas engine onboard strictly to act as a generator to recharge the battery on the fly. We know GM is targeting massive range numbers for their next generation of trucks. Whether that comes from a future hybrid system or massive diesel fuel tanks is the big question. Catch up on the latest math in our breakdown of the 2027 Silverado 1,000-Mile Range Leaks.

A white GMC Sierra EV pickup truck parked on a paved driveway in front of a black metal gate surrounded by green trees.
While the current GMC Sierra EV will continue to be sold, development on a cheaper, next-generation model has been pushed back to at least 2030.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is the Silverado EV cancelled? No. GM is still producing the current generation of the Silverado EV at Factory Zero, but the development of the next-generation electric truck platform has been indefinitely delayed.
  • Is GM bringing back gas trucks? GM never stopped making gas trucks, but they are now diverting massive amounts of funding away from future EV development to focus on their highly profitable gas-powered T1-2 platform.
  • Will there be a hybrid Chevy Silverado? Yes. Current industry leaks suggest GM is developing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) platforms for the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.