GM folds BrightDrop into Chevrolet

General Motors is folding BrightDrop, initially envisioned as a standalone business focused on electric vans for commercial fleets, into its Chevrolet division.

GM said the move will open up sales for BrightDrop vans to Chevy’s larger dealer network. BrightDrop has sold vans through its own dealerships, but now all Chevy dealers will have the opportunity to sell BrightDrop vehicles if they meet certain requirements for commercial EV sales, according to GM.

BrightDrop EV410

“With the addition of BrightDrop to the Chevrolet lineup, we are combining advanced EV technology with the dependability and widespread accessibility that only Chevrolet can offer,” Scott Bell, GM’s vice president of Chevy, said in a statement.

The vans will be rebadged as Chevrolet BrightDrops and will remain available in shorter 400 and longer 600 configurations. GM estimates up to 272 miles of range for both versions with the larger optional Max Range battery pack. Range with the standard pack is estimated at 164 miles for the Chevy BrightDrop 600 and 159 miles for the Chevy BrightDrop 400. DC fast charging can add 160 miles of range per hour of charging.

BrightDrop EV410

GM launched the BrightDrop brand in January 2021 and began production the following September. The first vans were delivered to FedEx in December 2021, making them some of the first Ultium EVs to reach to customers. Higher-volume production started in 2022, with a subsequent order going to the Ryder rental fleet.

GM plans to continue manufacturing BrightDrop vans at its CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, which in the past produced vehicles for other GM brands as well as Suzuki.