- GM is suspending development of updated models including the Chevy Equinox and Silverado due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Several vehicles that were slated to go on sale later in 2020 now won’t arrive until 2021.
- Other future-vehicle programs are continuing development, GM says, including the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq.
General Motors has paused development of several updated models due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from Reuters which cites a memo that the automaker sent to suppliers. Arrival dates for mid-cycle updates to vehicles including the Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain, Cadillac XT4, Chevy Bolt EV, Chevy Silverado, and GMC Sierra have been pushed back.
Chevy Unveils Refreshed 2021 Equinox
Chevy spokesperson Kevin Kelly confirmed to C/D that the launch timing of some refreshed products would be delayed until calendar-year 2021. Most of the refreshed models were slated to go on sale this year as 2021 models, but will now arrive in next year as 2022 models. The 2021 Equinox had already been revealed at the Chicago auto show in February, but GM has not yet shown updates for the other models listed.
Kelly did say that the development of other “near-term” future-vehicle projects is continuing. This includes recently announced EVs such as the Chevy Bolt EUV, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq, along with the Cruise Origin autonomous vehicle, none of which are scheduled to go on sale in 2020.
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The Reuters report also cites the recently redesigned Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade full-size SUV as possibly being affected by production shutdowns, but Kelly said the launch of these models would see “little to no impact.” GM originally planned to begin production of these models in late April at its Arlington, Texas facility, but has said that its manufacturing situation remains “fluid.”
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
