Dive Brief:

• General Motors Co. is moving its electric BrightDrop commercial vans under the Chevrolet brand, the automaker announced in a press release Aug. 29.
• The decision will make it more convenient for commercial customers to visit a Chevrolet dealer for sales, service and maintenance needs, according to GM.
• GM launched BrightDrop in January 2021 with the goal of developing commercial EVs for logistics purposes and to help companies decarbonize their fleet operations. BrightDrop customers include FedEx, Ryder and DHL.

Dive Insight:

BrightDrop is similar to Ford Motor Co.’s new business unit Ford Pro. When it launched BrightDrop, GM initially planned for it to operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary, while the company continued to develop commercial EVs and expand its logistics business offerings.

But in November 2023, GM announced that BrightDrop would become part of its commercial products and services unit Envolve, in order to bring together the automaker’s digital offerings to BrightDrop customers. Envolve serves thousands of commercial and government customers, according to GM. 

“Integration into the Chevrolet portfolio will expand [BrightDrop’s] reach and accessibility and offer more customers additional tools to help achieve their productivity and carbon-neutral goals,” Sandor Piszar, vice president of GM Envolve, said in the release.

All Chevrolet dealers will have the opportunity to sell BrightDrop vans, as long as the dealers meet GM’s commercial EV requirements. Once certified, participating dealers can maintain and service BrightDrop EVs, creating an opportunity for additional revenue while allowing customers to keep their vehicles on the road.

“With the addition of BrightDrop to the Chevrolet lineup, we are combining advanced EV technology with the dependability and widespread accessibility that only Chevrolet can offer," Chevrolet VP Scott Bell said in the release. "This move strengthens our EV offerings and reaffirms our role as a leading commercial brand that enables businesses large and small to get work done."

Brightdrop currently offers two electric vans, the Zevo 400 and the Zevo 600, which offers additional cargo volume. The vans are built on GM’s Ultium EV platform. Both vans offer an estimated combined city and highway driving range of 272 miles. The vans are built at GM’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.

“This branding evolution is a testament to the potential GM and Chevrolet see for BrightDrop in the electric fleet market, and to CAMI’s production capabilities as Canada’s first large-scale EV manufacturer,” GM Canada President Kristian Aquilina said in the release.