For those with the capacity to think back all the way to 2021, you may recall GMC announcing that the all-electric monstrosity that is the Hummer EV would come with a base trim after the limited launch edition (E1) became the less-collectable EV3X. The base model was to wear the EV2 suffix and effectively be a more affordable version of the EV2X by ditching the peppy tri-motor setup and running with the 400-volt electric architecture and a smaller battery pack. Originally estimated to retail for $79,995, it would have been the cheapest way to get into a modern Hummer.
However, it looks like General Motors has abandoned the idea — likely due to it not making much financial sense.
According to GM Authority, the base GMC Hummer EV2 had already been delayed and now doesn’t appear to be happening at all. The outlet explicitly states that there will be EV2 for the 2025 model year beyond the X variant (starting MSRP $98,845 after destination). While no source was cited, the outlet has a pretty good track record for being in the know about what’s happening inside General Motors and nobody from the company was willing to confirm that the EV2 was going to make an appearance before next year — if at all.
From GM Authority:
For reference, the 2 trim level was expected to share bits with the 2X — namely the two-motor powertrain — but feature a smaller battery and a shorter equipment list. Back in 2020, GM originally announced a $79,995 MSRP. For now, the 2025 GMC Hummer EV will be offered in 2X and 3X trim levels, as is the case for 2024 models.
Meanwhile, sales of the off-road-focused electric vehicle increased in the United States over the course of Q4 2023 with a total of 2,028 deliveries. More specifically, there were 825 units of the Hummer EV Pickup sold, along with another 1,203 examples of the Hummer EV SUV.
As a reminder, both the 2 and 2X variants were positioned as all-new trims for the 2024 model year, featuring technologies like GM Ultium battery and GM Ultium Drive motors. Output stood at a GM-claimed 625 horsepower, while range was quoted at roughly 250 miles from a full charge. Speaking of which, the Hummer EV 2 was expected to have a fast charge capacity of 400 volts.
It doesn’t make much sense to build a bargain version of what is undoubtedly GMC’s most impractical model. The Hummer EV is over 9,000 pounds of ridiculousness and has enough novel features to dazzle your friends for at least a couple months. While it can likewise be used for serious work, its powertrain doesn’t really lend itself to being a full-time working vehicle and our assumption is that isn’t what people are buying it for.
With that in mind, it likely doesn’t make much sense to drop a budget version boasting a maximum range of roughly 250 miles. Though, considering the large disparity between the 381-mile Hummer EV3 SUV and 314-mile pickup version, that 250 miles could be optimistic in certain configurations.
Either way, General Motors would presumably just be tightening profit margins on what is already a niche product. Despite the company stating its desire for EVs to go mainstream, we’re still a long way from that happening. Meanwhile, the kind of people presently buying the Hummer EV are likewise prone toward owning oversized garages and wanting the latest and greatest. It’s hard to imagine a surplus of bargain shoppers weighing Hummer trims against each other, since they’re probably not even looking at the segment.
Besides, whatever sales GMC loses by not having something cheaper than the EV2X will be made up for by the margins on the $106,945 (including destination) EV3X. There’s also the Omega Edition ($148,000 for the pickup or $138,000 for the SUV) for those who have to have that maximum amount of features and a unique paint color. However, any hue optioned other than white comes at a premium on every single trim.
GM hasn’t shown much interest in making the Hummer an affordable option for drivers. But the whole point of the vehicle is to be large and ostentatious, so why would it? Even the gasoline-powered Hummer H2 and H3 from the early 2000s retailed for quite a bit more than most other models that shared their platform. However, those vehicles did foreshadow the company’s bankruptcy proceedings in 2009. They’re also broadly considered failures for not living up the rugged nature of their namesake and being released shortly before America fell into a major economic recession that negatively affected sales.
[Images: GMC]
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