Tesla is by far the leading electric vehicle maker in the US and worldwide. The Austin, Texas, EV company has already set a record with about 889,000 cars delivered in the first half of 2023, and its Model Y sports utility vehicle also became the world's best-selling car with about 267,200 vehicles sold in the first three months of the year. CEO Elon Musk's company surpassed former No. 1 vehicle Toyota Corolla, which sold 256,400 cars in the first half of the year.
Competition in the SUV market has been hot with EV companies chasing Tesla's Model Y, which is priced from the basic all-wheel drive for $47,740, Long Range at $50,490 and Performance at $54,490.
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Electric SUVs Compete With Tesla
Ford's (F) -) 2023 Mustang Mach-E Select SUV starts at $42,995, Premium $46,995, California Route 1 is $56,995 and GT is $59,995. The Los Angeles-based Fisker (FSR) -) began delivering its electric Ocean SUV, which retails as low as $37,499, on June 23. Volvo (VLVLY) -) on July 25 debuted its newest and smallest SUV, the Volvo EX30, at a New York event and will begin taking orders for the vehicle in fall 2023 with a starting price of $34,950, and deliveries are expected to begin in summer 2024.
GM filed papers with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to sell a new all-electric SUV in China that will be smaller than the Lyriq to be known as the Cadillac Optiq. The vehicle will also be less expensive than the Lyriq, but GM has not yet revealed the price. There's no word yet if the new EV will be introduced in the US.
In July 2022, General Motors (GM) -) unveiled plans for its new electric version of the Chevy Blazer SUV, which has been a popular internal combustion engine model since it first went on sale in 1969. When GM in June 2023 mistakenly revealed that its first Chevy Blazer electric SUV had rolled off the assembly line, the division had plans to offer four trim levels, 1LT, 2LT, RS and SS. Deliveries actually began July 31, InsideEVs reported.
The starting price for the 1LT was listed as $44,995, the 2LT was $47,595, RS was $51,995 and SS was priced at $65,995. The Chevy Blazer EV will also feature a Police Pursuit Vehicle, the automaker said in a statement when it unveiled the models. The models had multiple distinct trims, a range of up to 320 miles on a full charge, and front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations. Vehicles will include a 17.7-inch diagonal customizable infotainment touchscreen, full LED exterior lighting and Super Cruise hands-free driving technology.
Chevrolet
GM Eliminates One of Its Chevy Blazer Models
GM plans to deliver the Chevy Blazer 2LT and RS in summer 2023 and the SS in the fall 2023. GM expected to deliver the 1LT in winter 2024, but those plans seem to have fallen through. GM's updated webpage for the Chevy Blazer EV now lists the RS set for delivery in summer 2023 at a significantly higher price of $60,215, 2LT available fall of 2023 at a higher price of $56,715 and the SS available in spring 2024, but no starting price listed. In addition to that missing price, the 1LT model has completely disappeared from the GM Chevy Blazer webpage. GM has given no reason for removing the 1LT from its SUV lineup, InsideEVs reported.
The Chevy Blazer 1LT would have been a valid competitor to the Tesla Model Y with a price almost $3,000 less than the Model Y, but the 1LT seems to have been eliminated. Tesla is likely pleased that the 1LT has disappeared and the other Chevy Blazer EVs have had price increases.
