First Editions of the GMC Hummer EV truck are due to arrive in the fall of 2022. Those who want the First Edition SUV will have to wait two more years. Why did GMC decide to launch the truck body style first? Wouldn't it have been wise to reveal the truck and SUV together? In theory, perhaps, but that's not what happened.
Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, the Hummer EV's lead exterior designer, John Mack, admitted a truck's broad appeal was the main deciding factor. "I think the capability aspect of the truck, and that trucks are typically the more off-road variant between pickups and SUVs… it was done to get that initial capability out there." America loves trucks, plain and simple.
GMC also wanted to prove it could build a hardcore, pure battery-electric truck and to be the first legacy brand to do so. Let's face it, the Tesla Cybertruck isn't for everyone, the Rivian R1T is more of a lifestyle truck and the Ford Lightning was introduced just after the Hummer (though it goes on sale earlier). GMC, meanwhile, has been in the truck business for over a century.
It's important to remind everyone of the significant power difference between both First Editions. The truck has 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of wheel torque while the SUV has a still impressive 830 hp and equal torque. Why the lower HP? Because the SUV's wheelbase is shorter than the truck's and, therefore, less space for battery packs.
Needless to say, both vehicles are huge and weigh a lot; the truck in particular comes in at over 9,000 pounds. This could be cause for concern, safety-wise. It's legal in the US for trucks weighing below 10,000 pounds to be driven with a regular driver's license. The Hummer EV truck comes awfully close to that number and safety advocates have taken note.
For example, what will happen in an accident involving a 9,046-pound truck slamming into a conventional road vehicle? What if that vehicle is, say, a Mazda MX-5 Miata? It won't be a pretty sight but GMC insists the Hummer meets or exceeds all federal safety standards.