Lengthy UAW strike could buy GM time to address nagging EV issues
By Paul Lienert
DETROIT (Reuters) — General Motors (NYSE:GM) is at greater risk than rivals Ford Motor (NYSE:F) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) of disruption to electric vehicle production from a prolonged UAW strike — though some analysts say that could also buy it time to repair nagging issues.
While Ford and Stellantis are introducing several revamped combustion-engine models this fall, GM's immediate focus is on electric vehicles — with plans to launch or ramp up production of at least five new ones. They include all-electric companions to its full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, according to researcher GlobalData.
GM has been struggling much of the year to smooth out hiccups in battery manufacturing as well as its EV supply chain and logistics, including delivery to dealers of its Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EVs.
The company delivered just 1,348 Lyriqs and 47 Hummers in the second quarter, far below expectations, in part because of issues with battery module assembly.
Chief Executive Mary Barra in July told analysts: «Our automation equipment supplier is struggling with delivery issues,» causing a bottleneck that had forced the automaker to assemble battery modules by hand.
In July, GM executive Rory Harvey said the company was working out delivery issues to dealers, noting that Lyriq and Hummer «have been going down the line in very limited quantities (but) we are building momentum.»
A longer strike could help GM address and potentially resolve some of those ongoing issues in its EV and battery operations, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions.
«A production stoppage could allow GM to solve bottlenecks,” Fiorani said.
The automaker has not
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