GM CEO Says EVs Still the ‘End Game’ Despite Pullback, US EV Growth Predicted for 2026

On January 12, 2026, Reuters reported that General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the administration’s efforts to relax fuel-economy regulations have had a greater impact on the company’s operations than fast-changing trade policies.

Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event ahead of the Detroit auto show, Barra explained that policy shifts, including the elimination of the $7,500 federal electric-vehicle tax credit and plans to scale back tailpipe-emissions standards, forced GM to rapidly reshape its product strategy. “We had to make some fairly significant changes,” she said, noting that GM cut billions of dollars in EV investments while increasing its emphasis on combustion-engine vehicles.

The administration has promoted rolling back fuel-economy rules that guided automakers, arguing the changes would make it easier to sell gasoline-powered vehicles. The sudden cancellation of the $7,500 EV consumer tax credit in late September significantly weakened demand for electric models in the short term.

Despite the pullback, Barra said GM still expects EV adoption to grow in the United States as charging access improves and costs decline, calling battery-electric vehicles “the end game.” Without incentives, the transition will take longer, she said, but GM believes the market will still move in an upward direction over time.

Barra reiterated that GM is developing plug-in hybrids, which operate on battery power before switching to an internal combustion engine, and is also evaluating conventional hybrid systems. However, she emphasized that GM will continue to prioritize fully electric vehicles because the company views them as offering a superior customer experience.

Several major automakers have scaled back their EV plans, including Ford Motor Co., which last month recorded a $19.5 billion writedown as it canceled multiple electric-vehicle programs. Earlier this month, GM said it would take a $6 billion charge to unwind portions of its EV investments, following a $1.6 billion charge in the third quarter.

Barra said she is “a little surprised” by how quickly some competitors are retreating, noting that regulatory conditions in 2029, 2030, or 2032 remain uncertain. She stressed the importance of preserving strategic flexibility as future administrations could again shift policy direction.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year proposed substantially lowering fuel-economy targets for model years 2022 through 2031, setting an average requirement of 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031, down from the previously planned 50.4 miles per gallon.

EVinfo.net Predicts Significant EV Sales Growth in the USA in 2026

We believe EV sales will continue to grow in the United States in 2026. There are many reasons why, but one of the most important reasons is that this year automakers will launch a lot of new EV models. Other reasons include the fast growth of public EV charging and fleet electrification. All this growth is bolstered by the meteoric rise of autonomous vehicles (AV) and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) integration.

The U.S. market is entering a more mature phase with significantly greater consumer choice. Automakers are set to launch roughly 32 new electric models this year, alongside major updates and price reductions to existing EVs. That number does not include the dozen or so existing models that are getting big upgrades or price cuts.

New entries span every segment and price point, from affordable mass-market vehicles like the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt and Kia EV3 to high-performance and ultra-luxury models from Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, and Genesis. Major brands including Honda, Acura, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Land Rover, Lucid, and others are rolling out software-defined platforms, longer ranges, faster charging, and new battery chemistries such as LFP. Extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and performance variants will also expand options.

Here are all the models:

• Acura RSX (0 Series EV)
• BMW iX3 (Neue Klasse architecture)
• Chevrolet Bolt (2027 Bolt, next generation)
• Ferrari “Elettrica” (first electric Ferrari; final name not yet confirmed)
• Genesis GV60 Magma
• Genesis GV90 EV (three-row flagship SUV)
• Honda 0 Series SUV
• Honda 0 Series Saloon
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
• Jaguar Type 00 (ultra-luxury grand tourer EV)
• Jeep Grand Wagoneer EREV (extended-range electric vehicle)
• Jeep Recon
• Kia EV3 (including EV3 GT)
• Land Rover Range Rover EV
• Lexus ES electric sedan (ES350e and ES500e variants)
• Lucid midsize SUV (widely expected to be named “Lucid Earth”)
• Mercedes-AMG EV halo sports car (AMG.EA platform; previewed by Concept GT XX EV)
• Mercedes-Benz CLA electric (2026 CLA 250+ EV)
• Mercedes-Benz GLC EV (2027 model)
• Mercedes-Benz electric luxury van (production version of Vision V Concept)

Public EV Charging and Fleet Electrification Are Accelerating Rapidly in the United States

Electric mobility in the United States has entered a new phase of growth. While consumer adoption has drawn attention for years, two adjacent forces are now reshaping the market even more profoundly: the rapid buildout of public EV charging infrastructure and the accelerated electrification of commercial and government fleets. Together they are laying the groundwork for the next decade of transportation, and emerging technologies such as vehicle-to-grid capability and autonomous systems will only add momentum to this trajectory.

Public charging expansion is breaking through early adoption barriers. Range anxiety and lack of charging access were once primary obstacles to EV adoption, but that dynamic is changing quickly. Networks of DC fast chargers and Level 2 chargers are expanding along highways, in urban cores, at retail locations, and at workplaces. Federal and state incentives, utility investment, and private-sector capital are combining to accelerate deployment at a pace not previously seen. As coverage improves, consumer concerns are shifting from whether chargers exist to which EV best fits their needs, which is a clear indicator of market maturation.

Fleet electrification is also scaling rapidly and is fundamentally changing the economics of EVs. Delivery vans, school buses, municipal vehicles, ride-hail platforms, and corporate light-duty fleets are transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric drivetrains for compelling business reasons. Operators are seeing lower total cost of ownership driven by reduced fuel and maintenance costs, along with compliance benefits tied to increasingly stringent emissions requirements. They are also recognizing improvements in driver experience and are responding to corporate sustainability commitments. Because fleets operate at high utilization and can electrify in large groups, they accelerate technology learning curves and infrastructure development across the transportation and energy sectors.

Vehicle-to-grid technology is poised to convert EVs from passive electrical loads into active energy assets. With bidirectional charging, EVs can supply energy back to the grid during periods of peak demand, support resiliency during outages, and stabilize local distribution systems. School buses and commercial fleets are early adopters because they have predictable schedules and large batteries that sit unused for extended periods. As technical standards mature and utility programs expand, vehicle-to-grid solutions will open new revenue opportunities while also supporting grid reliability and community resilience.

Autonomous vehicle development will further accelerate EV adoption. Electric propulsion aligns naturally with autonomous technology because electric platforms offer simpler drivetrains, lower operating costs per mile, and easier integration with software-centric control systems. These advantages are particularly strong in high-mileage applications such as robotaxis and logistics vehicles. As autonomous operations scale, these use cases will increasingly favor electric drivetrains, reinforcing the broader transition. Waymo, Zoox and Nuro will keep growing fast, while Tesla keeps declining under a bad CEO.