GM Draws the Curtain on Gasoline Engines

It’s not every day that the world’s largest automakers announce the end of an era. But that’s exactly what General Motors did, drawing a bold line in the sand: GM will cease production of gasoline-powered cars by 2035. As I sat in Los Angeles traffic—surrounded by a sea of Silverados and Malibus—the news felt both seismic and strangely inevitable, like watching the last reel of a long-anticipated film.

Accelerating Toward an Electric Future

GM’s commitment to all-electric vehicles isn’t new, but this timeline is. The company first signaled its intentions in 2021, promising to phase out tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles within 14 years. Now, that vision is crystallizing. Mary Barra, GM’s CEO, called it part of the company’s “aspiration to eliminate emissions from all new light-duty vehicles.” The move puts GM in step with rivals like Ford—whose F-150 Lightning has already captured imaginations—and Volkswagen, racing toward similar goals in Europe.

The Road Ahead: Models and Milestones

GM’s current electrified lineup includes the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV, Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV. Each brings its own flavor to the table: the Bolt’s nimble city manners, the Lyriq’s sculpted calm, the Hummer’s brute-force torque. Yet for all their promise, these models represent only the first wave. By 2025, GM aims to launch 30 new global electric vehicles across its brands—Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick—riding on the Ultium battery platform.

But there are gaps in this roadmap. While we know about ambitious plans and a handful of early models, specific details about upcoming sedans or affordable EV crossovers remain tightly under wraps. Some questions linger about how quickly these vehicles will reach showrooms—and at what price point.

Culture Shock: From V8 Thunder to Electric Whispers

This isn’t just a technical pivot; it’s cultural whiplash. For generations of Americans—myself included—the gentle rumble of a small-block V8 was more than background noise; it was a heartbeat. Climbing into a Chevy Tahoe or Camaro meant feeling the subtle tremor through the steering wheel and hearing that characteristic low growl at stoplights. Swapping this for near-silent acceleration will take getting used to.

The upside? Electric vehicles offer instant torque—a satisfying shove that makes merging onto Sunset Boulevard feel effortless—and a cabin serenely quieter than even today’s plush Suburbans at highway speeds. Yet there’s still something about twisting a real key and hearing cylinders fire that I’ll miss when it’s gone.

The Competition: Not Alone on This Highway

GM isn’t alone at this crossroads. Ford has put its Mustang Mach-E front and center; Tesla remains an ever-present force with its Model 3 and Model Y; Hyundai and Kia have made waves with the Ioniq 5 and EV6. Even Toyota, long a hybrid champion, is accelerating its battery-electric ambitions. For buyers, this means more choices—but also more questions about charging networks, battery longevity, and resale values as gas models phase out.

What This Means for Daily Drivers

For now, gasoline-powered GM cars aren’t disappearing overnight. Showrooms will continue to offer them for another decade or so while America’s charging infrastructure catches up. Still, if you’re used to filling up at dawn before a desert road trip or taking your Suburban camping up Highway 1, get ready for change. Range anxiety might give way to charger anxiety—or maybe just a new routine built around electrons instead of octane.

It’s easy to feel nostalgic for what we’re leaving behind. But as Los Angeles sunsets reflect off silent Cadillacs gliding down Wilshire Boulevard, it’s clear: change is rolling in whether we’re ready or not.