GM to Assembly Chevrolet Blazer EV 2024 in Mexico

US automaker General Motors (GM) announced it will assemble its crossover electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Blazer EV model 2024, in its plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila. The vehicle will enter the market in the last months of 2023, announced the company in a press release.

The news comes as GMs almost finishes its restructuration in Mexico, a US$1 billion program that will allow the company to assemble EVs. The project involved a six-week production stop to reconvert its production and is expected to finish on July 25.

With the release of the Blazer EV 2024, GM expects to gain territory in the Mexican market. “Blazer EV 2024 sets a new standard for electric SUVs, with intuitive packages and technologies that help position Chevrolet for leadership in one of the fastest-growing segments,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Chevrolet. “Along with the new Silverado EV and Equinox EV arriving next year, we are making great strides to offer more zero-emission vehicle options and alternatives that will make switching to an EV easier than ever.”

The company linked its capabilities to assembly EVs to the Ultium, GM's flexible electric platform that allows the stacking of large-format, pouch-style cells in the battery pack. “The flexibility of the Ultium platform allowed our design and engineering teams to develop the Blazer EV to offer an unprecedented range of performance and driving characteristics,” said Martin Hayes, Chief Engineer, Blazer EV.

Mexico’s electric vehicle market is expected to keep growing during the coming years, as previously reported by MBN. Electric and hybrid vehicles represent only a small percentage of Mexico’s total automotive sales. In 2021, 47,079 electric and hybrid vehicles were sold in Mexico, according to the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA). The growth of this market depends on many factors, including “the government’s interaction with automotive companies and consumers, as well as electric charge suppliers committing to reduce pollutants and policies for acquiring this type of vehicles because they are not so accessible in terms of price,” said Jana Boltvink, ICT Managing Partner, Frost & Sullivan, to El Economista.

GM has numerous plans for North America. This month it announced an alliance with Pilot Company to build an EV fast charging network across the US that will be installed and maintained by EVgo, as reported by MBN. This program includes 2,000 EV charging stalls. “GM and Pilot Company designed this program to combine private investments alongside intended government grant and utility programs to help reduce range anxiety and significantly close the gap in long-distance EV charger demand,” said Shameek Konar, CEO, Pilot Company.