GM CEO Discusses More About Tesla Rival

The first news about General Motors’GMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
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possible electric sedan to take on the Tesla Model STesla Model SUnited States of America, 2012 > present2 photos
emerged late last week. Now GM CEO and Chairman Dan Akerson says that the car is in development as a CadillacCadillacUnited States of America, 1902 > present79 models
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. Akerson did not give a timeline for the car's release.

“If you want to compete head-to-head with Tesla, and we ultimately will, you want to do it with a Cadillac.

“What we see on the line of sight is a 200-mile battery car, but at the same time 200 miles is great, but it’s not going to satisfy the range anxiety that persists.

“But I do think when the [Cadillac] ELRCadillac ELRUnited States of America, 2014 > present16 photos
comes out late this year, early next — it’s certainly in the same postal code as Tesla, but now we’re going to move up. It’s not going to be a mass-produced car,” said Akerson.

The electric model is planned to cost $30,000 when it goes on sale.

GM has recently updated its Global Battery Systems Laboratory to add 35,000 square feet and make it the largest auto battery facility in the US. The laboratory is responsible for testing all of GM’s batteries before they are put into cars and organizing the research and development for future batteries for GM worldwide.

Akerson had good things to say about Tesla. The company builds its vehicles in a factory that was originally built by GM, and in the last several years Tesla has built its brand from building the RoadsterTesla RoadsterUnited States of America, 2006 > present2 photos
to the Model S. It has survived longer than FiskerFiskerUnited States of America, 2007 > present5 models
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, which was staffed by auto industry veterans. However, he says that the company still has progress to make because it has only had a profit this year because it has sold green car credits in California.

In the meantime, GM will introduce the Cadillac ELR in early 2014, which takes the powertrain from the Chevrolet Volt and wraps it in a more luxurious package.

“Am happy to hear that GM plans to develop an affordable 200-mile range electric car. Right target. Hope others do same,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

GM EV Sedan with 200-Mile Range in Earliest Stages of Development

Source: Detroit News