GM says to end gas, diesel light-weight vehicle sales by 2035

General Motors, the largest automaker in the US, said Jan. 28 it plans to end sales of gasoline and diesel light-duty vehicles by 2035 as it shifts more production to electric vehicles.

GM plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040, it said.

"GM's focus will be offering zero-emissions vehicles across a range of price points and working with all stakeholders, including (the Environmental Defense Fund), to build out the necessary charging infrastructure and promote consumer acceptance while maintaining high quality jobs, which will all be needed to meet these ambitious goals," the company said.

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To reach its goals, GM plans to decarbonize its portfolio by transitioning to battery electric vehicles or other zero-emissions vehicle technology, sourcing renewable energy and leveraging minimal offsets or credits, the company said.

The use of GM's products accounts for 75% of the carbon emissions related to this commitment, the company said. As a result, GM will offer 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade and 40% of the company's US models offered will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025, it said.

GM is investing $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles in the next five years -- up from the $20 billion planned before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it added. The investment includes the continued development of GM's battery technology and updating facilities for electric vehicle production.

To address emissions from its own operations, GM will source 100% renewable energy to power its US sites by 2030 and global sites by 2035, which represents a five-year acceleration of the company's previously announced global goal, GM said.

As part of its carbon neutral commitment, GM said it has worked with some of its largest suppliers to create a sustainability council to share best practices, learn from each other and create new standards for the industry.

"In addition to the council's work, GM is collaborating with suppliers to set ambitious targets for the supply chain to reduce emissions, increase transparency and source more sustainable materials," the company said.