The future of automotive is electric, but not all auto dealers are ready or willing to make the transition. In some cases, automakers offer franchise purchases to dealers. But Chevrolet is unlikely to be part of that group.
Recently spoke to The Verge, Global Vice President of Chevrolet Scott Bell said the brand will not participate in the purchase. Cadillac had thinned its dealership through a round of buying, ultimately cutting nearly 600 outlets from the list. Recently, Buick announced that it will also offer dealer purchases for those who don’t choose to invest in EVs. With these companies all part of General Motors, most dealers carry multiple brands. But those who opted out of Cadillac and Buick had only Chevrolet and GMC left.
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Bell allegedly sees that as a good thing for Chevrolet, which has a much larger dealer network than Buick or Cadillac. He noted that most Chevy dealerships were already selling the Bolt, suggesting that this location is poised for an electric future. It’s unclear whether Chevrolet will require dealers to make expensive upgrades to sell EVs, which is a warning to Cadillac dealers to stick with the brand. And last we heard, GMC won’t be offering a purchase either.
Recently, Ford gave its dealers an EV ultimatum unlike Cadillac, but without a purchase option. Dealer investment is also higher, estimated at between $500,000 and $1.5 million. However, it outlines two levels of EV sales for Ford dealers, and if they don’t choose to make the investment, the location can still sell Ford vehicles. They just had to stick with internal combustion and hybrid models, which would be around for years to come.
Motor1.com contacted Chevrolet for additional information regarding its position with dealers going forward into the EV of the future. With vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Equinox EV, and Blazer EV coming soon, the electric Bow Tie lineup is set to expand rapidly. We will provide updates as new information becomes available.
