In a surprising moment of candor, General Motors President Mark Reuss has acknowledged that the company may have made some missteps in its product decisions over the past decade. Speaking to InsideEVs, Reuss admitted that discontinuing the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Bolt were choices GM now wishes it could revisit.
For a company typically focused on the future especially one leading Detroit’s charge into electrification this open reflection offers a rare glimpse into the hard trade-offs behind GM’s evolving strategy.
The Cadillac CT6: A Flagship That Deserved More Time
When GM pulled the plug on the Cadillac CT6 in North America in 2020, it was seen as a necessary casualty of the company’s EV transformation. The Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly Plant that once built the CT6 was retooled into Factory Zero, the hub for GM’s ambitious electric truck and SUV lineup.
That move, though bold, hasn’t paid off as smoothly as expected. Production slowdowns and weaker-than-projected demand for the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ have forced GM to temporarily lay off nearly 280 workers.
Meanwhile, the CT6’s story didn’t end everywhere. In China the world’s largest luxury sedan market the model not only survived but evolved. A second-generation CT6 debuted there in 2023, signaling that Cadillac’s large sedan still has a future, even if not in the U.S.
Reuss now concedes the CT6 should have stayed in Cadillac’s American lineup. “That was one we probably shouldn’t have discontinued,” he admitted. “It was a tough decision at the time, but hindsight tells us there was still room for it.”
The Bolt’s Missed Opportunity
Another regret Reuss highlighted was the discontinuation of the original Chevrolet Bolt. Once hailed as the affordable EV that could bring electric mobility to the masses, the Bolt was quietly phased out in 2023.
However, GM plans to revive the nameplate in 2027 but with a twist. The new model will replace the Bolt EUV, offering improved charging speeds, higher range, and a competitive price tag of $29,990, making it the most affordable electric vehicle in the U.S.
Still, many view the original Bolt as a missed opportunity to maintain GM’s lead in affordable electrification. At a time when the EV market is growing more crowded and volatile, losing momentum in the entry-level segment may have cost GM valuable ground.
Lessons From the EV1 and the Road Ahead
Reuss didn’t stop at recent history. Looking further back, he referenced the EV1 the pioneering electric car GM developed in the 1990s and infamously killed before the EV movement took off. “That was really quite a car,” he reflected. “It’s one we should not have canceled.”
The admission underlines how GM’s relationship with electric mobility has always been complex: visionary in engineering, but sometimes shortsighted in execution.
Despite the challenges, Reuss remains optimistic. “EV adoption hasn’t gone as fast as anyone expected,” he said, “but it’s still happening.”
His comments suggest a more pragmatic GM one willing to balance its EV ambitions with the realities of market demand. Case in point: Cadillac’s next-generation CT5, a new gas-powered sedan now in development. It’s a quiet but clear sign that the automaker is tempering its all-electric timeline.
A Company Learning From Its Past
GM’s openness about its regrets isn’t just corporate introspection it’s a sign of evolution. By acknowledging what went wrong, Reuss is effectively setting the stage for a more flexible, consumer-focused strategy.
Whether it’s resurrecting beloved nameplates or rethinking what “electric-first” truly means, GM appears ready to blend its bold vision with a dose of humility. Sometimes, the best way forward starts with admitting what you should have never left behind.
