General Motors CEO Mary Barra says the automaker is fully committed to a zero emissions future.
Those vehicles of the future are being developed using the profits from GM's gasoline-powered trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.
On Sunday, the night before official press days at the North American International Auto Show, GM introduced a new Cadillac SUV, the XT6, a three-row luxury vehicle.
The company also showed visuals of what it calls its first all-electric Cadillac. GM says all its future Cadillac electric vehicles will be built on a single, flexible platform, to speed development and lower costs.
It is not clear what will cause consumers to embrace EVs in larger numbers. Gasoline prices remain extraordinarily low, and sales of SUVS, trucks, and crossovers passed 70% of the market last year, with more fuel-efficient sedans losing ground yet again.
Pure EV sales were only about 1% of the total market, spurned because of their higher cost and limited range and utility. Automakers like GM are striving to reduce those costs, however, to reach parity with similar vehicles with internal combustion engines - as well as increase range.
GM says it is planning to develop EVs that can go about 300 miles on a single charge. The Chevy Bolt, GM's all-electric small crossover, gets about 238 miles on a single charge.
