GM
From Silverado to the moon
GM may be dialing back parts of its EV ambitions on Earth, but apparently it still has enough battery juice to help NASA go lunar. The company said its defense unit, GM Defense, will help supply battery-electric propulsion for the Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle.
Who’s actually doing what?
This isn’t GM going full SpaceX cosplay. Lunar Outpost is the prime contractor, and GM is a subcontractor on the project. Goodyear is also in the mix, because even the moon needs tires—or at least something pretending to be tires.
NASA’s award to Lunar Outpost is worth $220 million for the initial phase, though GM hasn’t said how much of that will flow its way. The vehicle is supposed to handle manual driving, autonomous operation, and remote control, with speeds above 9 mph. NASA is aiming for Artemis support in 2028, which is either soon or absurdly far away depending on your calendar mood.
The bigger GM plot twist
The moon news lands at a weirdly convenient time for GM. The automaker recently suspended development of the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup and has already taken billions in EV-related charges. In other words: less “all-in on electric” and more “let’s be selective about where we spend the battery budget.”
Big picture: GM may be trimming its EV dreams on the driveway, but it just found a shiny new parking spot on the moon.