Despite regulatory changes and a massively uncertain economic future, General Motors has continued pressing forward with electrified vehicles. While it has said it would offer new hybrids and plug-in hybrid models as lower-cost alternatives to EVs, GM is reportedly cutting one of its gas SUVs in favor of its all-electric counterpart.
GM Authority reported that Chevy would end production of the gas-powered Blazer at the end of the 2025 model year, leaving only the Blazer EV on sale with the nameplate. Cadillac is also cutting the XT5 and XT6, and while they’re not considered direct replacements, it sells the electric Lyriq and Optiq in their place, as well as the full-size Escalade IQ. Chevy recently announced that the Blazer EV SS will pace the Daytona 500 this year, so it’s clear the automaker is putting all its Blazer eggs in the EV basket.
GM builds the ICE Blazer at a facility in Mexico, which will shift to focus on EV production. GM Authority noted that the location already makes the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Cadillac Optiq. It also manufactures the Honda Prologue at the facility, which is based on the Blazer EV.
The discontinuation of the Blazer removes a model from a key segment for GM, but the recently redesigned gas Equinox is still on sale, and GMC offers models across several segments. The move isn’t shocking, however, as Blazer sales have been slipping for a while now. That also makes it less likely that we’ll see a gas-powered replacement, though, as GM Authority pointed out, a more rugged off-road variant might be a smart move.
[Images: General Motors/Chevrolet]
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