The all-new Chevy Silverado is much improved for 2014. Photo credit: GM.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s most important products, and all signs suggest that the brand-new entries are set to be strong contenders. Meanwhile, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s old pickups are still selling strong: Silverado sales were up a big 29% last month, as that boom in pickup demand has enabled General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) to sell down its remaining stock without heavy discounts.
The all-new 2014 pickups are just now beginning to arrive at dealers, and will be gradually replacing the last of the old models over the next few months. Meanwhile, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) also reported solid sales in China, where it’s the market-share leader — and where its new small SUVs are finding lots of happy buyers.
Will these be Tesla’s biggest rivals?
GM and Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) made big news this week with an announcement that they’re teaming up to develop a mass-market fuel-cell system for future cars. The system, which is expected to debut in about 2020, chemically “burns” hydrogen to generate electricity without toxic emissions.
That electricity can then be used to power an electric motor: In other words, these will be electric cars, only without the batteries. GM and Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) also pledged to work on storage technologies for all that hydrogen, as well as on infrastructure — places to “get gas” for your future hydrogen-powered ride.
Tesla’s Model S is the best electric car so far — but rivals are coming. Photo credit: Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA).
This doesn’t mean that the world is giving up on battery-powered electrics, of course. Batteries remain heavy and expensive, and take a while to recharge, but Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has recently made it very clear that a great car can be built around a big heavy battery pack, despite the trade-offs.
But the GM-Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) link-up, along with Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM)‘s recent confirmation that it would launch a fuel-cell car next year (a car that seems likely to be aimed directly at the Model S, by the way), is a good reminder that battery-electrics aren’t necessarily the way forward, just one of several possible ways.
That’s something that investors in any car company, including Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), should keep in mind.
The article Auto News Roundup: Ford’s Sales Soar, GM’s Big Reveal, Toyota Taunts Tesla and More originally appeared on Fool.com is written by John Rosevear.
Fool contributor John Rosevear owns shares of Ford and General Motors. Follow him on Twitter at @jrosevear. The Motley Fool recommends Ford, General Motors, and Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Ford and Tesla Motors.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
