General Motors (GM) has marked 2035 for when it plans to halt production of all diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles worldwide.
In place of the tailpipe pollution emitters, the firm will only sell electric vehicles – and is set to unleash a new line-up for the occasion.
The American carmaker made the announcement Thursday as part of its strategy to become carbon-neutral by 2040, which also includes using 100 percent renewable energy at production facilities.
The move comes weeks after GM changes its corporate logo and launched an electric vehicle marketing campaign to reshape its image as clean vehicle company.
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The American car maker made the announcement Thursday as part of its strategy to become carbon-neutral by 2040, which also includes using 100 percent renewable energy at production facilities
Trading in gas guzzlers for electric vehicles has been an important topic over the past few years and two US states, California and Massachusetts, have committed to making the switch by 2035.
GM is the first automaker to step forward and its shares saw a 7.4 percent increase Thursday morning because of it – it now has a market cap of about $73 billion.
Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO, said: ‘General Motors is joining governments and companies around the globe working to establish a safer, greener and better world.’
‘We encourage others to follow suit and make a significant impact on our industry and on the economy as a whole.’
General Motors (GM) has marked 2035 for when it plans to halt production of all diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles worldwide. Pictured is GM’s electric Endurance pick-up truck that was unveiled last June
The firm is set to release 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40 percent of the company’s U.S. models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025.
The EV will also be available at different price points to cater to the general public.
The move comes weeks after GM changes its corporate logo and launched an electric vehicle marketing campaign to reshape its image as clean vehicle company
And GM is set to work with other companies in developing necessary charging infrastructure and promote consumer acceptance while maintaining high quality jobs, which will all be needed to meet these ambitious goals.
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) President Fred Krupp, said: ‘With this extraordinary step forward, GM is making it crystal clear that taking action to eliminate pollution from all new light-duty vehicles by 2035 is an essential element of any automaker’s business plan.’ ‘
‘EDF and GM have had some important differences in the past, but this is a new day in America — one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.’
To address emissions from its own operations, GM will source 100 percent renewable energy to power its U.S. sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035, which represents a five-year acceleration of the company’s previously announced global goal.
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
