GM is joining the fight against the ethanol lobby and advocating for electric vehicles

GM executives decided to roll up their sleeves and the automaker joined the fight against the ethanol lobby, which is trying to delay as much as possible the creation of a battery electric vehicle market in Brazil. For the first time, Santiago Chamorro, president of GM Latin America, gave a public presentation comparing the advantages of an electric car over a hybrid car.

Recently, Chamorro had already revealed that GM intends to produce electric cars in Brazil in the next ten years and that the automaker will not participate in any hybrid car program, as it considers that this technology has already fulfilled its transitional role.

On the other hand, Stellantis and Volkswagen are leading a strong lobby launched about a year ago for ethanol to be chosen as Brazil’s energy model in the transition to 100% electric vehicles. One of the lobby’s demands is to end the import tax exemption for electric cars, and tax them at 35%. Anfavea likes the idea of ​​ethanol, but remains neutral in this conflict, as there are two currents among its members.

The two steps made by Santiago Chamorro – meaning that GM will only produce cars in Brazil in the future if they are battery electric – have weight in this conflict, which had one speech: hybrid ethanol as a solution.

But, despite the actions taken by Chamorro, the position of General Motors is still the same. Unlike Volvo, Audi and Porsche, which are investing millions in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, GM has only two vehicles to sell (Bolt EV and Bolt EUV) that will be discontinued. In addition, it offers chargers of up to 22 kWh to its customers.

It seems small for a car manufacturer that needs a strong market and many electric vehicles to realize its future as a manufacturer in the country. On the contrary, Stellantis and Volkswagen say that one of the advantages of the ethanol hybrid is the large distribution network already in the country. In three years, the two will have hybrid models in the most popular price ranges.

In the case of GM and in the case of Stellantis and Volks, executives point out the benefits that Brazil will have if it adopts a plan to promote battery electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles that use ethanol. Try to influence opinion leaders and legislators. But in reality, many companies defend their business models.

For GM, it is important for the Brazilian government to encourage the popularity of electric cars because, without a strong market, it may have to follow the path of Ford and become an importer of very expensive cars for a reduced public. After all, even if São Caetano do Sul wants a long-term change, Detroit has already decided that Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick cars will be electric worldwide.

For Stellantis and Volkswagen, it is important that the government creates benefits for the hybrid ethanol car in the future because this change will be cheaper, allowing both to keep the profits in the Brazilian operation to help finance the electric cars that are thrown into the European market, China and the United States.

Trying to remain neutral in this debate, Anfavea will announce on June 14, in Brasilia, the Anfavea Conference on Electric Mobility. This conference will target journalists, government, government and municipal leaders, academics and the private sector.

There will be 50 electric vehicles on display at the site, from passenger cars to light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, agricultural machinery and equipment. There will be panel discussions for participants to consider alternative ways that Brazil has to reduce CO2 emissions in the field of mobility.

It will be another opportunity for GM to defend its vision in favor of electric vehicles and for Stellantis and Volkswagen to show the advantages of hybrid ethanol vehicles.

This Tuesday, the 9th, on Linkedin, Santiago Chamorro posted a photo of himself next to the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. “Life is driven by challenges, and today I had the opportunity to participate in the Bolt EUV challenge, which has set a world record for freedom with an electric model”, he wrote. “All in all, Chevrolet’s newly launched zero-emission SUV lasted 901.8 kilometers on a single battery charge – more than double the claimed normal cycle.”